Dollhouse

Chapter 4

I decided to go back to school, but only to get away from those creepy dolls for as long as possible.

Caden still walks with me to the door even though I told him not to.

"You look different." He says, eyeing me. "What's with the new look?"

"Nothing." I say, avoiding eye contact.

I don't see why it matters that I'm wearing darker clothes. It's just a hoodie, jeans and converse.

"You usually wear all that girly stuff though. This is just...weird for a girl like you."

I look down at my feet.

"And that makeup too. Kinda dark, don't you think? If you're gonna go for the emo look,"

I stop walking. "Why do you have to be so judgmental?!"

He stares at me as I walk away.

~

"Finally decided to come back, huh?"

I turn around.

Julia Creeds stands in the middle of the hallway with two girls from her clique flanking at her sides.

"Your boyfriend loves me more than he loves you, you know." She calls after me. "And why should he love a lowlife like you? To him you're just another piece of candy." She laughs with her friends.

I turn around and walk away.

She yells after me and I start to run.

I'm running to the bathroom when I bump into someone.

"Sorry." They say.

I look up.

It's Jack.

"I don't need your apologies." I step to the side.

He steps in front of me. My face turns red as I wonder how I should deal with this.

"Do you still love me?" He asks.

I feel as if the world has stopped just for this moment.

"Why should I? You betrayed me."

"I know. And I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Your promise means nothing to me."

He leans down to kiss me.

I push him away before our lips touch.

"I can't believe you." I spit. "You're no different from any of them. No... you're the worst of them all."

I spin around him and rush to the bathroom.

I'm horrified at what looks at me from the mirror. My skin is pale and my heavy makeup is running down my face.

I get a paper towel wet and rub at the mess. The makeup smears my cheeks until my face looks like a zombie.

"Crap." I moan. "There's nothing that can be done about this." So I pull my hood over my head and grab each side of the sink while I sob.