Broken

Before. Chapter 1: Normality

My eyes open, staring at the blank ceiling above; my body heavy, my body numb. With much effort I peel back the covers, slowly sitting up before finally standing. Routinely, I grab my towels from the hanger inside my closet and stealth-like I slip away into the bathroom, closing the door without a peep. The only sound is the click of the lock and the patter of the water spray as it hits the tiled shower floor. Sluggishly, I remove my pyjamas, tossing them to the wash basket in the corner of the room and move in under the steaming water. I stand, motionless, letting the water cover my body and drench my dark hair, plastering it to my scalp. After what feels like hours but are only the slow minutes and uncounted seconds, my pale hand reaches out, turning off the water. Dripping, I step out and wrap a towel around my hair, before placing a towel around my body. Again, the sound of the lock is heard as I open the door, poking my head out for the all clear before making the two quiet steps back to my still dark room. I dry my body with care and thought. Opening my closet I grab a pair of black jeans, my favourite sneakers and a black jumper before getting dressed and applying my make-up.

I peer at my bedside clock. 7:30a.m. Time to go to hell. I thinks silently to myself. I slide my Mac book into my bag, followed by a small plastic container into my pocket. I grab my iPhone from my bed, placed in the head phones and selected a track by Bon Jovi and left my room towards the front door. In the kitchen my parents yell at each other. The view of my parents are very much like a silent movie, the screams blocked out completely by the music blaring through my earphones. Without a single ounce of attention my way, I walk out the door. Waiting for me is my bouncy and outgoing best friend Charlotte Martin and my adorably sweet and loving kid sister Elaine. The difference is two years but she's fun and understanding and I love her to bits "Good morning, Miss Kennedy, so nice to see you," Charlotte beams at me. She is tall, blonde, pretty and very bubbly. Its written all over her face how much she wants to wrap me in her arms, but my Haphephobia stops her. It strains her to not hug me or touch me. I can tell, but she accepts it and I love her for her loyalty. Side by side we walk to school. Joyful and loud, Elaine and Charlotte chat about the upcoming school dance and after party.
"I don't know if I want to go to the dance," Elaine says from beside me.
"But why? It will be heaps of fun," Charlotte questions.
"Well, no....no one asked me yet." A deep blush sweeps across her cheeks displaying her clear embarrassment as she whispers her response. 
"What about, what's-his-name? Jake, the boy from your English class?"
"He'd never," Elaine says sadly.

"Don't say that. You don't need a boy to go to a dance with anyway. We will all go together, Laney,"

"What about you?" "She asks me.

"I don't really want to go." I keep my voice low, barely audible.

"Cadence, please," she begs. I shrug my shoulders and keep my head down, watching my Chucks, one in front of the other.

~xoxoxoxo~