Clemency (DNF)

i

I type out the last words of the post.

And I'm out for now!
- MiMi77

Quickly hitting Publish, I open a new tab and fly over the keyboard as I write the web address to Buzz City, the most popular social network on the web.

My eyes dart to my notifications list. 105?! This was going to take a long time. And two dozen messages. I sigh. But I was happy. At least my online world wasn't totally sick of me. Unlike my school--

"Miriam!" My mother's sharp angry voice shouts. "Come out this instant!"
I trudge out of my tiny room.

"What?" I say, staring her down. I was in a bad mood today. But Mom didn't notice. Didn't care, either, probably.
"Your dinner is getting cold!"

"Fine."

Mom probably thought I was going to sit down and eat dinner with her. Pshh. Right. I had things to do.

Grabbing my plate, I dash down the hallway of our apartment and into my room, silently laughing as I hear my mother get angrier.

She was alone today since my little siblings had a party at their school in which parents hadn't been invited. Unfortunately for Mom.

Plopping down on the chair I scroll through my feed as I take giant bites of the casserole Mom made.

Wait. Oh no. It was Sunday! I had to go to school tomorrow. Ugh. Why couldn't my mother just homeschool me?

Kids don't like to go to school because they don't like waking up early or they don't want to get out of the house or they don't like being around a lot of people. I'm the last one. You could say I'm asocial. Or I'm shy. Or whatever. I just simply don't like big crowds. I don't deal nicely with them. I've had a 'bad incident' with them. Specifically one at school. But I'd rather not tell anyone about it. I'd rather just hole up in my bedroom with my laptop. What could go wrong in there? Not much if you're just another anonymous person online. Well. A popular anonymous person. Not that I'm bragging...

I glance at the clock on the lavender wall. 10:07. I'd better get some sleep.

I cover my face with my hair. I look down at my feet as I walk with the crowd of students. Don't panic. DON'T PANIC.

Another voice speaks up: But they all know what you did. The terrible thing you did. They are angry at you.

Tightening my hoodie around me, I lower my head even further. Bad move. I bump into someone. My fall on the ground as I try to keep upright.

"Sorry," he mumbles and starts to pick my up. But then he looks up at me. Realization and hate and anger and so many other emotions flicker through his ocean blue eyes. He drops my things and stands up.

"Actually, I'm not sorry," he says, shooting daggers at me with his eyes. He pushes past me and stomps off. I could almost see clouds of steam puffing out of his ears.

A pang of hurt stings my heart. Shouldn't I be used to this by now? The anger? The disgust? The hate? But this was different. That was Ethan Blackwell. That was her brother. The dark brown hair, the deep blue eyes. Just like hers. Tears threaten to spill from my brown eyes. I shut my eyes tight, willing them to stop. I swallow.

"Move it!" someone yells from behind me. I run off, pushing through the crowd.

The bell rings. Shoot. I was late! The crowd scatters into different classrooms. I slip into mine. The teacher wasn't here yet. Phew. But what's new? Ms. Gardner was always late.

Five minutes later, when the teacher was well into the lesson, Ethan knocks on the door and steps inside.

"Sorry, Ms. G.," he walks over to her desk and hands her a yellow slip of paper. She reads it and nods at him to sit down.

I look down at my book as he passes my desk. I don't want to look at him. Something drops onto the page. A note. I look up. Ethan.

Watching the teacher from one eye, I stealthily move the note under my desk to hide it, and I read it, reluctant at first.

I need to talk to you. Meet me at Eli's Cafe at 4.

Ethan.

It wasn't a question. He was ordering me. But no. I wouldn't do it. I could never face him. Or anyone in his family in fact. They hated me. And honestly? I didn't blame them.

After checking if the teacher was looking, I turn around in my chair to face him across from me. That took quite a lot of courage. I had never been able to look him in the eye before after what happened...

It doesn't take long for me to catch his eye. He was already looking at me. Waiting for an answer. I shake my head firmly, saying no. I could never. He would kill me. Maybe even literally.

I guess he understands what I'm trying to say, because he furrows his eyebrows in anger.

Why?

I shake my head once more and quickly turn around again. I can't look at him anymore. I zone out for the rest of the class. What did he want to say? I was curious. But I wouldn't take the risk to find out. No way.

I was afraid.

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A/N

I KNOW. I KNOW. I know what you're thinking. Wtf is this trash?

The first chapter is horrible, I know. But it gets better. I promise. My writing gets better thtoughout this book. So please continue reading?

*makes puppy dog eyes* *fails cuz she fails at everything*