I woke up the next morning with a terrible headache, I figured Kevin punched me pretty hard.
I walked to the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. There were a few bruises here and there, my knee got skinned, but besides that I was fine. I ran my comb through my brown curls, and surprisingly the part that always sticks out lay with the rest of my hair that morning. Hairspray was necessary to keep my hair from getting messy and thus making me look like a hobo or a drug - addict hippie.
I opened the drawer and searched for my lipstick, but couldn't find it. That was the only lipstick I had, and it even looked good on me. It was the kind girls like Darla wear, the kind that costs almost 2 dollars. I stole it. I put on the rest of my make-up, and it didn't look that out of place, so I figured nobody would notice. It always got on my teeth, anyway.
" Hey hurry up, it's almost time to go " Alex said from the other side of the door.
" Yeah, I know, I know " I sighed. Allen had already left for work. I checked the mirror one last time, just in case. My hair was neat, my make-up looked somewhat decent, and the hole in my shirt was sewn shut. Perfect. I shoved my books and a change of clothes for gym class in my bag and hurried out the door with my brother.
The weather in Colorado is unpredictable. Some years the winters are harsh, and other years it dosen't get colder than 40 degrees. The summers are always hot, though. School hadn't even started and I was already getting a bit sweaty. I hated being outside in the heat. It made my mascara smear and get all over my face.
Alex and his girlfriend Darla were holding hands as they walked behind me. Darla was one of the rich girls that everyone hates. She thought she was better than everyone else, had too many friends, and she was always getting in trouble for her skirts being too short. She was also on the cheerleading team, and somehow she's considered an athlete even though all she does is clap her hands and wave around pom - poms and yell chants with the other girls. I couldn't stand cheerleaders. They're annoying.
" Boo ! " Risha hollered as the jumped on me from behind. She was skin and bones, and couldn't weigh more than 120 pounds, so I wasn't taken by suprise. She liked to scare people.
" Hey, Risha ! What's up ? " I replied.
" Oh, nothin' much, I just got accepted into HCSP ! " she announced, waving her letter in the air. HCSP stood for Highly Capable Students Program, a special club for the smart kids. Only people with perfect grades could get in, and they meet in the library on Tuesdays and discuss smart kids stuff.
" Good for you ! " I said, giving her a high - five.
Risha and I were put in the smart kids classes, but only one of us was actually smart ( it was Risha ). I just copied her work and changed a few of the answers so the teacher wouldn't get suspicious. If it wasn't for her I would've gotten held back.
" You doin' anything this afternoon ? I was thinkin' about goin' to the park and causing trouble. Lookin' for buried treasure or somethin' like that " she asked.
" Sorry, I can't go. I'm grounded " I sighed.
" How long ? "
" I dunno " I answered.
" Allen said a week " my brother announced.
" Sorry, Risha. Maybe next time " I offered as we walked through the doors of the school building.
For one reason or another, it always smelled like glue. Lakeview Area High wasn't exactly known for being a good school. The dark green lockers were starting to rust and the paint on the walls needed replacing desperately. The people in it weren't much better.
Risha's locker was on the other side of the hall and Johnny's was upstairs. He skipped class a lot and was still a sophmore even though he was 17. I opened my locker and took out my English book and a pencil from my bag and put away the rest.
Smart Kids English is all the way on the top floor which meant walking up 4 flights of stairs. Risha and I always walked to classes together. It's kind of awkward walking alone through a crowd of nerds, jocks, jerks, gossipy girls and mean teachers.
" Come on, we're gonna be late " I warned her as she shuffled through her bag. " You can borrow someone else's pencil. The bell's gonna ring any second now "
Punishments at my school were harsh. One time, a guy got sent to the principal's office for spraypainting the walls and came back crying with bloody knuckles.
" Sorry " she muttered.
" We gotta hurry " I said as we pushed our way through the crowd. We walked into the classroom just as the bell rang.
English wasn't something I was good at, even though it's the only language I know. Risha learned English a few years ago when she came from Mexico and she got As on almost all of her tests.
I was never smart and never will be.
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" Y'all seen Alex ? " I asked.
" I think he went out with his girl again " Layla suggested, blowing smoke rings into the air. Everyone in my neighborhood smoked except me and my brothers, Allen would kill us if he ever caught us with cigarettes. Even Risha smoked, but usually only a pack each month.
" I wonder what their doin' this time " Johnny said.
" I bet they eloped to Canada !" Layla joked. We all knew Alex would never ever do that, though.
We arrived at my front door, and since Allen wouldn't be home for a few more hours, I let them stay. Risha was studying, Johnny was looking for food and Layla threw her cigarette butt out the window.
" That Kevin guy give ya any trouble ? " she asked.
" No. I don't think he was even at school " I answered.
" Good. He and Jim Nelson try and fuck with y'all again I'll kill 'em both " Johnny announced, and we all knew he would.
" Not if I get 'em first ! " Layla challenged, fake punching him. I looked over at Risha, she was awkwardly trying to ignore the mention of what happened last night.
" Hey, calm down you two " I said.
" Alright, alright. We gotta go, anyways. I gotta check in with the probation officer " Layla gave in.
" My parent's are probably lookin' for me " Risha admitted as she put her books away and headed out the door with Johnny and Layla.
I decided to take a nap since I was really tired. I woke up just before Allen and Alex got home. For dinner, Alex made spaghetti. He does most of the cooking since I always end up getting burned accidentally and Allen just can't cook.
I didn't feel like going to sleep that night. It was a Friday, which meant no school tomorrow. On the weekends me and all of my friends hang out in the woods while my brothers are at work.
I sat on the floor watching That Girl on TV. I don't watch TV very often, but when Lassie and I Dream of Jeannie come on my eyes are glued to the screen. Mom used to tell me that I would go blind from looking at the screen to much. I missed my parents. They weren't supposed to die in that car crash. Dad was supposed to be on the porch smoking a cigar and Mom was supposed to be yelling at Alex. Get over it I told myself. We're all gonna die sooner or later. I don't cry very much, but for one reason or another, tears rolled down my cheeks as I bit my lip to keep from sobbing.
" Addie why the hell are you watching TV in the middle of the night ? " Allen whispered. I whipped away the tears on my sleeve as I stood up and headed to my room.
" Sorry " I mumbled.
" Addie, what's goin' on? Why are you cryin' ? " he asked. Great. Now I have to make an excuse. I thought.
" One of the characters.....on the show uh - died " I lied.
" Nice try, Kiddo. Seriously, Addie. What's wrong ? " he asked again, hugging me.
" Nothing " I answered.
" Come on, kid. You never cry. Who do I gotta beat up this time ? "
" You don't gotta beat up no one " I replied, rubbing my eyes.
" Seriously, what's wrong ? " he questioned. I sighed and decided to tell him so he wouldn't freak out.
" I just miss Ma and Dad " I muttered.
" It's okay, kid. I miss 'em too" he said, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
" Hey ! Put me down ! " I yelled pounding my fists on his back.
" Tomorrow's your birthday. We're goin' to the movies " he announced walking down the hall to our room.
" Wait, it's the 24th already ? ". I'm terrible at keeping track of the date and sometimes people had to remind me what day it is.
" Sure is " he replied, putting me down on my bed.
" Shut up. It's in the middle of the night go to bed " Alex demanded.
