Forever Mine

School

CHARLEY'S POV
CRASH
"Hank! I just want to get her an education!" Mama screams as Daddy throws a bottle at her arm.
"She doesn't need school! She's too dumb to understand!" Shouts Daddy.
I run to the cupboard and crouch inside.
"Education can get her out of this dump...."
"What was that?"
"U-um.... Education IS bad because school is a dump?"
"Nice try, b*tch."
CRASH BOOM!
I cower close to the wall and a board creaks.
"Where is the brat anyway?"
I squeeze my eyes shut.
"Where arrrre you?" Steps approach my hiding spot.
"Gotcha!" Daddy grabs me out of the cabinet and throws me on the ground. Mama gasps and I smell that smell again. I look down to see a puddle of blood around my head.
Daddy grabs a frying pan and brings it down.
I scream

I shoot up and hit my head on the ceiling. This is not my first nightmare tonight. Demi enrolled me for school today. Tomorrow is my first day. My stomach twirls. What if Daddy finds me there? I hug the nearest stuffed bear. I can't go back to sleep, the dreams will come back.
I want to go to Demi's bed, but will she be mad? Will she hate me? Does she hate me? Will the school hate me? Does Hercules hate me? Why do I have so many questions?
I stuff my face in my pillow and remember yesterday. Yesterday Wilmer brought Hercules back from the doctor. Then he and Demi made smoochy faces. It was disgusting.
I sigh and flip over to see the popcorn like ceiling. I turn over again and look out the window. The stars winked at me and the moon spoke to me. It seemed to tell me to go to Demi.
I carefully carry Hercules off my bed and run quickly to Demi's room. I creak open the door and hear snoring like fog horns. I plug my ears and walk closer. I jump on her bed and snuggle under the blankets. I quickly fall asleep with Demi whispering,"Forever Mine."

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I wake up too hear an alarm going off. I jump and poke Demi's stomach. She hurls over and glares a silly glare at me. I frown and point at her phone. She groans and looks at her phone. She surprises me by jumping up and running to her bathroom. I sit up and stare after her. She sticks her head out of the bathroom and shouts,"We're going to be late! Hurry!"
I leap up and rush to my room where Demi laid out my clothes. I'm wearing black short suspenders, a long sleeved shirt, frilly socks,and black boot things.
I run to my bathroom and brush my teeth, comb my hair, wash my face, and floss.
I walk to the living room slowly to see Demi packing my book bag. She zipped it up and looked at me.
"Beautiful! Let's get a picture."
Demi ushers me to the front steps and tells me to sit down. After failing to get me to smile, she takes a picture and shows it to me:

I think I look really ugly, but Demi types furiously on her phone and seems to like it.
After ten minutes, I scream,"Demi! We are going to be late!"
Demi looks up, panics, whips out her car keys, and carries me to the car.
I sit and buckle quickly with Hercules by my side.
Demi looks at us and groans.
"Why is the dog here?"
"His name is Hercules and I need him." I reply and set my crutches next to me.
Demi sighs and we dash off to school.

Demi hugs me and tells me to go to class, but I grab her hand. I look up into her eyes and feel shame at the tears gathering in mine. She crouches down.
"Do you want me to take you?" She whispers. I nod eagerly and grip her hand tighter. I then adjust my crutches and we stumble into the school. There's a long hallway with lots of doors. I look over to one side and see an office with important people. We walk into there and Demi talks to the lady at the front desk while I sit in a poofy chair. I stare at my feet and make patterns on the floor with my toes.
"Okay, thank you!"
Demi then drags me down a few more hallways and we stop in front of a classroom that is very less colorful than the others. She touches the door knob and I slap her hand away. Demi looks at me.
I shake my head and wipe my eyes. Butterflies swarm my tummy.
"Please..."
Demi takes my hand and engulfs me in a hug.
"You have to, baby. Don't you want to be smart and make friends?" I shake my head and Demi sighs. She pushes away and looks into my eyes. She brushes a wisp of hair from my face. I look down and let a tear fall to the floor.
"I don't want to go, Mama." Demi's face over flows with pride.
"Thank you, Charley. I'm glad to be your mom."
I just look at the floor. My vision is blurry from the tears. Demi knocks on the door and wipes away my tears. A young woman with an angry face opens the door and quickly smiles a fake smile.
"Welcome, you must be Charolette."
"She prefers Charley, ma'am."
"Very well. Come in Charolette."
Demi let's go of my hand and I quickly reach for it again. Demi waves and smiles at me. I just wipe another tear away. I know none of these people. Demi left me.
"Charolette, please come in."
I trudge slowly into the classroom, not looking up.
"Class, we have a new student today. This is Charolette Cunningham." I glare at her and whisper,"My name is Charley Kit Lovato."
"Speak up! No one understands gibberish!"
I swallow a flood of tears and speak up a little louder.
"Please call me Charley." I say.
"Look up to me when you talk, Charolette! Now please tell the class about yourself."
I look up slightly to see many kids my age sitting in desks. Some are giggling. I quickly look down again and whisper.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not, ma'am."
The teacher glares at me.
"It's not like you have a choice!"
That's it. I let the tears stream down my face.
"Good God, child! Just go take a seat!"
I quickly walk to an empty desk in the front row and sit down. I reach to get a pencil and feel a piece of paper. I grab the piece and look at what Demi drew.
She drew a heart with a picture of me in the middle and a few words I can't read at the bottom.
"What- Hand me that note!"
I shake my head. The teacher snatches the note out of my hand and reads it to the class. The class laughs and I put my head down.
I shouldn't be here.