Neighbors

Neighbors IV

Chapter 4

 P L A Y E R  A L E R T

The shower water runs over my body and into the drain like smoke moving into a ceiling fan. I stand in the shower for a while, wondering what is going to happen today. Today being Monday, the most dreaded day of the week, and also happens to be my first day going to the Salt City High School. I remember dreaming of walking in the hall like I was bigger and better than everyone else. I remember wanting to be a senior and stalk past the freshman acting like a powerful and confident woman. Now, I'll be doing that. But I wouldn't have travel through the grades of most of high school or even eighth grade here.

I get out at some time and wrap myself in a towel. I have to admit though, I am sort of excited for my first day. First days mean new starts. I mean, if people dot remember me, which is likely. And, oh my God. What about James? James. James was my old bully. Even though he was 12, he was still evil. He would throw eggs at me, like a devil, then call me crazy and make the motion by his ear. He would run into trees and say I pushed him. And I still remember him. I wonder what he will look like. Will he even be there? Will he remember me? Will he bully me if he does?

I shrug my shoulders at the mirror and gather my clothes. I walk out of the bathroom in my towel and just let the clothes fall. I hum to a song as I walk over to my dresser and grab out a cardigan and jeans. I also get my white chucks and throw them onto my bed. I get underwear  and throw them on the bed as well. I also get socks, add them to the bed. I look to my windows and see my black curtains closed. I think I'm safe to get dressed now. Although I have been walking around naked. I should really get dressed in the bathroom now.

I slip on my clothes and sit on my bed to put on my chucks. The sky grows lighter each second, and I can hear the wind chimes mom and I made years ago go off as a soft breeze whispers through the air. I've always been told morning is amazing. Birds start to chirp slowly, as if waking up and the dew on the grass leaks to the ground on the grass strands. I inhale deeply, smelling the fresh air as breezes blow past my curtains and into my room. My hair already dries, due to its thin type, and curls around the bottom like normal. I'm thinking about chopping off all my ends so that my hair doesn't reach the middle of my back and only barley reaches my shoulders. I think it will look good.

The breeze helps my hair dry, and in a couple of minutes its dry and pin straight but not at my ends. I walk over to my vanity and look out the curtains, wondering if I can see Parker. Nope. I grin in relief and start to put on my makeup. Only some concealer and mascara will do. Mom says I have natural beauty and don't need that much make up. I don't believe her. I think my cheeks need more color and my eyes need to pop more. Mom said that my cheeks have enough color, because they are mostly stained red from years of living in South Carolina.

Walking down the stairs, mom calls my name and I walk over slwoly.

"Yeah?"

"Here, take this. You have to get to school." She hands me a granola bar and my leather black backpack that is pretty much empty except my blue folder and paper. Pencils are probably in here, along with highlighters. I don't know.

"Okay."

"Okay, now darling," she says the word 'darling' with such ease I almost puke in disgust. I lost all the names for my mom when she used the money on herself and didn't even shed a tear when the news of my father's death came. She just shrugged and said she needs to make plans for the funeral. Heartless. "The school is just around the corner, I'm sure Andrew or Parker can show you. Actually, why don't you get a ride from one." I nod, thinking Ill choose Andrew of course. But I also want to drive on my own, and show off the car mom got me. I know it was a present from mom, but I still love my Charger to death. The shiny red hood with pin strips running the length of the hood and the tires creating marks on the streets is what I love about my Bullet. Yeah, I named her Bullet. I got my love for cars form my dad, and ever since he got that old Dodge Charger, I've always wanted one from myself. And now I have a newer one out in the garage that's been covered up since we moved here. I don't even think anyone saw it when we moved in. I immediately got to the garage, to claim it as mine for my baby. Mom didn't agree, but after I told her that it couldn't sit outside for some reason, she shrugged and said to take it with venom. That was a couple days ago, when it arrived from grandmas.