She Paints A Pretty Picture

She Paints a Pretty Picture (chap 3)

Chapter 3 – Big Bird in a Small Cage (by Patrick Watson)

Imogen lay in the back seat asleep. She didn't sleep last night. Not only because she was nervous about school but also because Randall was at the party last night. He had raped her goodbye until she returned which for his sake was soon. When the going away party was over Imogen tried sleeping but couldn't so instead she spent the night packing her things for the next day. When it reached 4am Imogen longed for sleep and as the nightmare replayed she craved slitting her wrist missing the woozy feeling she often went to sleep on. She told herself no and looked at the creek in the door. She could go get some sleeping pills out the cabinet but resisted urge. Sighing she pounced on the pillow ignoring the desire and simply looked up at her ceiling. She had forgotten she painted her ceiling like the night sky. A navy blue sky with a million stars. And that’s all she did last night was look up at her ceiling wishing on her painted stars hoping they’d count as much as real stars did.

The car pulled in the gates of the creamy coffee shaded boarding school. Her mom looked in the back seat rocking her a little until she woke up. They all said nothing and instead got out the car simultaneously. Her dad grabbed her bags from the trunk of the car and they proceeded into the building. The family of three walked through the metal detectors and patiently waited as security checked their bags.

“You guys must be…” the lady looked down at her clipboard. “The Moreno’s?” she flashed a smile. They nodded their head and the lady held her hand out. “Well I’m Harley. I’m kinda new here. But if you want I could give you a tour of the place and show you to your room.” Imogen looked Harley up and down. The girl couldn’t be more than 19 or 20 years old. Her red-ish brown hair was pulled into a bun while her grey eyes sparkled. Imogen was so amazed by her. “Imogen?” Harley said looking at her. “Did you want me to show you around?” Imogen bit her lip and turned to her parents giving them hugs goodbye before nodding her head yes. “Great.” She gestured for her to walk forward. “This is the little TV area place.” She pointed to her right. “People sit; do homework, things of that nature.” Imogen gave a faint smile and kept walking. “That’s the nurse, she gives us medicine and stuff.” She shrugged and kept walking. “And that’s the bathroom. It’s coed so you might wanna knock before entering. That’s about it for today.”

“What about my classes?” Imogen asked looking around.

“Because you just got here you don’t start for about 3 or 4 days. Take it as a little vacation.”

“So I’d just be spending my days alone?”  Imogen looked at her not liking the idea of being alone.

“Not really. You could talk to counselors if you get bored. Or you could use your laptop to pass the time. But they monitor everything.”

“Fun…” Imogen said sarcastically.

“It’s actually not that bad when you get used to it.” Harley put her hand on her shoulder. “Trust me I’ve been here two years.”

“I thought you said you were new?” Imogen looked at her skeptical.

“Yeah…new at being a part of the welcoming committee usually your roommate welcomes you.”

“Oh…so you’re my roommate.” Imogen asked a smile on her face since Harley seemed nice.

“Oh…oh no…no I’m not…your roommate is Bianca…Bianca DeSousa.” Harley bit her lip.

“Well where is she?”

“Not here…she ran away…but she’ll come back…she always comes back.” Harley said as she directed her to her room. “Here’s where you’ll be staying. Other people can be in your room until ten at night, that’s when we go to bed.”