The Letters To Her Heart

Chapter 5: Letter One

I slept through the night pretty easily. There was a slight breeze coming from the open window so I covered up with the white comforter. I looked at the time on the digital clock on my night stand, 7:00am. Cole would be going to school today, but Mrs. Greer has given me the week off to grieve for my mother. I don't know what I'm suppose to do for the rest of the week here alone. My thoughts will tackle me inside and I'll feel so... so confused and lost.

I have to make Cassandra convince it's okay for me to go to school. I flew out of bed, not even making it, running down the stairs in my tank top and shorts. I nearly ran over Mr. Greer in the process with his hands full with a bowl of cereal and the newspaper.

"Sorry!" I called off in the distance as I found Cassandra on her back patio, sipping orange juice.

"Cassandra." I decided to call her by her first name, considering she would just correct me if I didn't.

"Oh you're up early dear, what can I do for you? Pancakes? Scrambled eggs?" She started to sit up.

"No, sit back down!" I demanded, coming off a little too mean.

She was stunned and sat back down in the lounger.

"I want to go to school." I came out with it immediately.

"B-but." She said.

"No buts, I'm going to school. I need this." And with that, I walked back into the house through the sliding door and back to my room.

"What are you doing up?" Cole asked as he walked out of his room with his backpack on his back.

"Getting ready for school, I'll be down in ten." I swiftly shut the door before he could ask a million questions. 

The first thing I did was open the drawer from the vanity and opened letter number one. I braced myself for whatever was written in this letter. I slowly flipped it open and read:

Marissa darling, you've found him. You're lost and confused but he will help you. Trust him. Much love always,

Mom <3

I set the paper down on the vanity and backed away from it slowly. Who was she talking about? Cole?! 

There was a whole stack of letters. Did she spend her days sick in bed writing to me about my future? The thought made me shudder but excitement filled me as well. I folded up the letter and put it on the corner of my vanity.

I walked over to my closet and picked out skinny jeans and a pink tunic, today was a little chilly. I slid on my gold gladiator sandals that Cassandra bought me yesterday and brushed my hair. Usually I would curl it or straighten it but I wasn't exactly in that kind of mood today so I tied my hair up in a ponytail and called it a day.

I came down the stairs in exactly ten minutes and met Cole at the bus stop. He did have a car but he was apparently all about saving the earth so he takes the bus. I don't even have my license, if I had that and a car, I would most definitely drive myself to school.

"Marissa, I have to ask. What are you doing?" Cole shook his head in disbelief.

"Well you see here Mr. Cole, I actually value good grades and seek an opportunity when one is given. My mother was sick, I have to return to normality at some point."

He had no response but a chuckle.

"After you Miss Marissa." He said like I was the princess and he was the prince when the bus opened its door for us to get on. 

I took an empty seat and leaned my head against the window. Cole being Cole sat next to me.

"Do you know what personal space is?" I asked in a rather harsh tone.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should've known." His face flustered red and started to get up.

"I'm kidding Cole." I smiled and touched his hand with mine.

He smiled back and the ride to school was quiet and awkward but I liked it.

~~~~~

"What is she doing here?"

"Does she have no heart?"

"She's nuts."

The voices around me were starting to suffocate me. These people had no idea what I went through and now they're judging me for being here.

"I bet her and Cole hook up every night." Another person said which caused my blood to boil.

"He's the greatest in bed." I spit out sarcastically to the moron who said that. They zipped their mouths and walked away.

"Hey, you want to get out of here?" Cole was at my side from out of nowhere.

"No, I'm fine. Are they talking about you too?" I whispered.

"Yeah, apparently I'm a man whore who takes in the homeless then gets rid of them after you know..." He couldn't finish talking without it sounding completely disgusting.

"Yeah, I'm the class slut with no heart." I laughed a little to break the tension.

"Such fools we go to school with." Cole shook his head and we walked to our first class.

"You sure you're alright? I can tell it's getting to you." Cole, who was sitting next to me in English class, whispered.

"Yes Cole, for the 100th time today." I shook my head at his concern, although it was kind of cute.

"You do remember what tomorrow is, right?" He asked and my mind was racing for the answer as Mrs. Tickle was talking about our research papers.

"Of course I do." I whispered back. I could never forget even though I tossed it to the back of my brain.

"You're not coming back here until Monday, you need to gather your thoughts and just relax. This isn't good for you and you know it." Cole was very forward and didn't make eye contact as he spoke.

"Mr. Greer is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Mrs. Tickle asked, the class turning around to look at Cole and I.

"They're probably talking about what time they want to smash tonight." Rebecca Waters giggled.

"Hey, none of that talk in my classroom!" Mrs. Tickle yelled.

"Attention back to me class." Mrs. Tickle gave me a sympathetic look. I slouched further into my seat so that my chin was at the desk.

"This isn't worth it." I whispered, taking deep breaths.

"None of you are worth it!" I stood from my chair, yelling. My hands were balled up into fists, ready to take down the next bitch that wanted to say something vulgar.

"Miss Strong, are you okay?" Mrs. Tickle turned her attention to me and the class gasped.

"I-I'll be right back." I left the room in a rush, the blood flowing through my veins. I punched a locker to get my anger out, tears falling out of my tear ducts from the pain emitting from my hand and heart.

I slouched down against the locker as I felt my heart break into pieces. She's never coming back. Cole is all I have left and the letters... the letters to my heart.