Exposed.

{4}

"Brookie? Are you home?" My dad calls from downstairs. I walk as quick as I could to my closet and grab and sweatshirt. I can hear his footsteps up the stairs and take out my notebook and a pen. I open up the laptop on my bed and look at myself through the black screen. My face is moist and colorless. I take the corner of the bed sheet and wipe the bottom of my eyelids and my waterline to make my eyes look dry. My arms feel numb making it hard to I hear a knock on my door and flinch a little.

"Come in!," my voice is a little strained. I hope he doesn't notice.

"Hey, how come you didn't answer?" He glances at me and sees what I'm doing. "Oh, you're studying! Alright, I won't bother you then." He leaves and shuts the door. Through the door, I hear him say, "I brought back subs so come down when you're hungry!"

I lay back on my bed and sigh. My roll up my sleeve and stare intensely at the now black lines in my arm. I need a shower.

I went to sleep as soon as I got out of the shower. My dad didn't seem to mind, he was too busy watching Criminal Minds to notice I didn't come down for dinner. Whatever, I wasn't hungry anyway.

I check my phone once more before shutting my eyes for good. The texts. Their still unopened. I totally forgot to delete them. I swipe across my phone and think for second. Finally I decide to screenshot the messages and then delete them. The words still replay in my mind. There's plenty more where that came from. I try to shut them out, but they keep crawling their way back into my head, making my stomach drop. I'm not gonna be able to sleep now.

I stare at the ceiling for hours, clearing my head. They're interrupted by my alarm. Shit. Its time for school already? I didn't sleep at all last night. I rise from my bed and head straight for the bathroom. I take a look in the mirror and my eyes look like I've smoked 20 packs of cigarettes. It also doesn't help that under my eyes are bags that look like I slept with makeup on, which I did. I have to act like nothing happened. Grabbing the toothpaste and toothbrush, I begin my morning routine.  I put on jeans and a red sweatshirt and my white sneakers. I take my bag and droop it over my shoulders. I decide to keep the hairstyle I have on right now, the bun I did when I to sleep and kept in my hair. I head downstairs and my dad hears the stomps of my feet.

"Hey, did you eat dinner yesterday? I didn't hear you come down," my dad smiles at me. Boy, that's hard to do.

"Umm..yeah. I came down and had a bite of the subs," I try to avoid as much conversation as possible. I twist down on one of the steps and my arm brushes against the hard wood. "Ow!" I shout.

"You good?" He tries to help me move but I jerk away fast.

"Yeah. I just moved my arm the wrong way," I chuckle a little hoping it will add to the act. He glances at me looking at my eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem to be off your radar."

"I'm fine, really." I grab a piece of toast from toaster and open the door to head for the bus.

I get to school much quicker than usual. I guess the day is going by fast, hopefully. I trot over to my locker and thankfully Caroline is nowhere to be seen. I take my textbook out and look again in my mirror. I do look horrible. I should've put some concealer on. Oh, whatever. I get to my class and everyone still stares at me. Am I late again? My head travels up to the clock and its two minutes before class starts. That's weird. I sit down in my seat and the eyes on me fade away. All but one.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" I say harshly, not intending to but it already came out.

"Sorry. You just look...different," he says then moves his head forward to look at my eyes.

"What are you doing?" I turn my head to the left, away from him.

"Nothing," he's facing the board now. The board. With the notes. OMG! I forgot to take the notes! The test is today!

" Alright class, you know the drill," Mr. Callahan states and passes a packet of papers to each row. "Write your name, Rodger, cause I'm not hunting  you down, trying to figure out whose it is." I get my packet. I. Know. Nothing. On this test. "Okay, you can start."

"Fuck," I whisper quietly, no one notices except the same person as always, Jonas. He leans over to me.

"You okay?" he whispers, gazing into my eyes.

"What?" I pant. "Yeah, I'm good." I know he can tell I'm not.

"You forgot we had a test today, didn't you?" How can he tell? I nod at him. "Stop worrying. Leave it to me," Jonas gets up and talks to Mr. Callahan. What is he doing? Before I could ask, he leaves the room. Thanks for the help, dick. 10 minutes go by and I still haven't written anything down.
Alright not to worry, lemme just answer the first question: Which of the following will result when a base and an acid react with one another? What the fuck. How the hell am I supposed to know this?? Whatever, next question.

RIINNGGGGGG!!!!!!
"Alright, everyone be calm. Evacuate like usual. Door on the right please," Mr. Callahan announces.
Oh thank god, a fire drill. Wait wheres Jonas?