Fat Chance

Regrets

I stood under the stream of hot water as it poured out of the showered and onto my body. Even though I would have to face my disgusting naked body in the mirror when I got out, I still enjoyed showers. Something about them just relaxed me.

After what was not nearly enough time, my mother banged on the bathroom door. "Some of us need to shower too!" she screamed. 

I sighed. Quinn received zero breaks from feeling like shit; even when she is in the shower.

I turned the water and the shower head connecter off and stepped out of the bathtub to grab my towels. One towel is used to wrap around my wet hair and the other is used to dry off my body, although I can barely get the towel to wrap around the front of my body. 

When I walked out of the bathroom, my mom, dad and Alex were sitting in the family room watching some kiddy cartoon show. Alex giggled with glee at the different colored shapes dancing around on the screen. 

I hurried through the room, hoping to get by without any snide remarks made from either side. But of course, things never work out as planned. 

"QUINN! COVER YOUR ASS!" 

I froze and turned around. My mom was looking at my with pure disgust, as was my Dad. Alex was still looking at the TV, thankfully, unaware that his sister was being terrorized. 

My cheeks went red as I tried to adjust my towel to cover my buttocks, my parents laughing at my effort. 

Eventually, I just gave up and rushed out of the room, through the kitchen and down the stairs, their laughter echoing around in my head. 

I fought back tears as I pulled on my PJ's. How could anyone ever be so cruel, especially to their own child? 

I guess I could be less fortunate. I could be in a home where my parents beat me constantly, where I had no food, or where I had nobody at all. At least I  had Alex. I don't know what this family would do without him. 

My air mattress felt very deflated when I lay down, so I got up and pumped some air into it. After the mattress seemed full enough, I rolled onto it and rapped my blanket around my beefy body. 

My iPod said it was only 7 pm, but I could have sworn it was midnight. Today was a long day. 

My best friend is pregnant. 

My FIFTEEN YEAR OLD  best friend is pregnant.

I could still hear her loud sobbing, tears running down her face that was buried into my shoulder. I remember being frozen, standing there still as a stump. No words of comfort or chastisement could leave my mouth, nor could I make any movements. I was completely in shock. 

Things after that got a bit blurry. I don't remember getting on the bus to get home, but I also don't remember anyone coming to get me. All I know is that now I was sitting in my dungeon, alone, regretting having said nothing to Stella. 

All I could see

All I could think about 

Was her. Her face. When she made the announcement. 

The look in her eyes....

It was straight out of a horror movie. 

And all I could think about

Was what the hell I could do to help her

What I could to stop this.