"Hmm?" The sounds of birds chipping invade my ears. "What time is it?" I turn around, disoriented, to check the time. 8:17 AM
"Oh fuck!! It's late!" I yell as I get up as quickly as I can. It's been a while since I've last been late to school. I guess I was really tired, my stomach grumbles almost as if in cue, hungry as well.
I look at myself through my mirror hanging behind my door, "I'm still wearing the same clothing though." I stood for a few seconds until I came to the decision of keeping the same clothes, "doesn't matter. I'll just go like this." I run out of my room and head to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth and out the bathroom I go.
Oooh, wait! I thought to myself.
Quietly, I walk into the kitchen to find a $10 bill with a note under it sitting on the countertop. I pick up the note to see what it says
Figure it out. I'm not your damn babysitter. - Mary Mei Lin
"How wonderful." I scoff.
Quickly, I grab the $10 bill and shove it into my pocket as I run out of the kitchen. I pick up my bag up from where I last left it and swiftly leave the house
Hopefully, Adrianna and her girls don't take my money again. It irritates me how weak I am. Don't get me wrong, I have tried, but it didn't go the way I planned it to go.
Flashback
"Aahh!! Let go of me!! You're hurting me!"
"Who told you to run?" Adrianna laughs as she kept pulling my hair harder.
"There's four of you and one of me! This is unfair!! Let go of me already!" I scream.
"Hold her tighter," Adrianna demands her two girls as their grip digged into my arms, holding me like a rag doll against its will. Arms stretched as the pressure bites through skin and muscle, locking me in place.
"That shit hurts! Let go!"
"No! Gimme the money first!"
"Alright! Take the money, you assholes! It's literally just ten dollars!"
"Free drinks" she shrugs, proceeding to give a last yank at my hair for fucks and giggles before letting go. She quickly demands Carla, the girl standing behind her, to check my pockets. Like it’s routine, she dives into my pockets and snatches the $10, handing it over to Adrianna.
"Thank you," Adrianna smiles and takes the money.
I shoot her a glare. "Aw. She thinks she’s better than us? Look at her. She’s fucking pathetic" She yaps as she drills her sharp nail on my forehead, leaving behind a print.
"Fuck you!" I spat out rebelliously.
She says nothing. Her hand rises with ease and snaps against my cheek quick, merciless. The sting spreads like fire before my brain can catch up.
I don’t react. Not at first. My brain tries to make sense of it, why it happened, what I did wrong, and by the time the sting sets in, it’s too late to pretend I’m okay. I yelp in pain.
It’s not just laughter, it’s humiliation in surround sound, bouncing off the walls like it belongs there. "Let's bounce," she snickers.
In agreeance, one of them shoves me, slamming me against the wall and making my balance slip. The floor rushes to meet me. They don't even wait to see if I'll get back up.
“Pathetic,” one mutters, the word slicing sharper than the slap did. Another scoffs, rolling her eyes, and turning away like I’m not even worth the effort anymore. Their footsteps echo as they walk off
Present time
The sound of their laughter still rings in my ears. Even though it's long gone, the memory remains sharp. I remind myself, that was then, this is now. I exhale slowly, pushing the past back where it belongs… at least for now
YOU ARE READING
When The World Turns
Teen Fiction"When the World Turns" follows Max Mei Lin, a girl struggling with bullying at school and abuse at home, she meets Ethan Gomez, a compassionate boy who offers her support and a chance at healing, sparking a connection that could change her life. An...
