Born an Angel

Chapter 8 - Tears

Crystalline's POV:
"Crystal," my mother calls out. "There are some girls at the door for you!"
I start walking downstairs where mum is holding the door for Annabella, Piper and Tommaline.
"Hey," Anna says, her smile too cheery for my liking. Piper and Tommaline introduce themselves to my mum, whilst Anna gives me a small hug.
"Since when do you have friends," mum asks. "No offence, but last time I brought up friends you shut me down saying that friends are a waste of time and that education is all that matters."
At this, the girls start laughing awkwardly, but trying not to give it away. Big fail.
"Actually, they need help with homework," I say. "And this way, I won't be distracted by Jake."
"Jake?"
"Yes mum, the guy you thought I was with."
"Oh! Yes, him. Well, better get busy. You girls want anything?"
"No thank you, Mrs... uh, do you have the same last name as Crystal here."
"Yes. Yes, I do."
"Well then, thank you Mrs Delbry."
"Your welcome."

Anna tugs on my wrist, urging me to lead them to my room. The pressure she had on my wrist was quite hard, so I lead her up the stairs to the hallway, and the first door on the right had a 'C' on the front of it, along with a drawing of an angel sleeping, that I drew. It had a quote next to it that said, 'An angel's sleep is very important. Privacy is wanted beyond this point.' I could hear Tommaline try to stifle her laughter, obviously because she found an innuendo in that quote. Privacy is wanted. Of course she'd laugh, a virgin like me with something like that. We open the door to my neat room, covered with white or pale colours. They happily sat on my bed, getting comfortable, shuffling into the perfect spots. I saw Anna sit with her back against the wall, next to my window., which makes me feel uneasy because that was the exact spot that I had my first kiss. With Jake. I shake the thought and sit on the swivel chair at my desk, opening one of the neatly stacked text books on my desk. Math. I find a page to start with, which ends up being page 235.
"Okay," I begin, gaining their attention. "Let's start with this one."
Annabella's POV:
Ugh! I can't figure this out! Why is this so hard?! 4a - 8b + 7(c - 5) = 22?! What the actual fuck?!
"I don't understand," I whine. "What does multiplication have to do with this?!"
"I get it," Piper shouts excitedly. Of course she would understand it before me! Why did my parents put me in so many pageants that I didn't learn math properly?! I shoot Piper any envious and threatening glare, causing her to shrink back to her book, writing down another equation to figure out. I lean back against the wall, crossing my arms.
"Okay, I don't understand how you don't understand," Miss Smarty-Pants says. "This equation is easy!"
"For you, Crystalline, because I didn't learn math properly!"
"Wait, what?"
"Long sob story not worth telling. Just make me understand this!"
I watch her sigh as she looks over her textbook, looking defeated as every equation seems either harder or the same. She suddenly perks up, an idea popping into her head.
"Okay. I'm going to test your math," Crystalline announces.
"Haven't you been doing that already," I question, obviously sicker than sick of maths.
"I'll do it differently. This way is easier. No pressure, just answer these questions as quickly as possible."
"Yeah. No pressure."
"What's 1+1?"
"Uh duh! I'm not that dumb Crystal! Do I look like a kindergartner to you?"
"No, you look like a classic snobby white girl." I hear Piper trying to stifle laughter as I look at Crystal in shock.
"Now," she continues. "What is 1+1?"
"Ugh... 2!"
"2+2?" Uh oh... not this test! I hate this! I shuffle in my seat, confidence fading quickly.
"4."
"4+4?"
"8..."
"8+8?"
"16..."
"16+16?"
"Thirty... uh... two?"
"32+32?"
"64?"
"64+64?"
I feel sweat dripping down my brow, knowing that all other three members in the room are looking at me. Sixty plus sixty is... one hundred... and... twenty, so... It must be...
"I don't know," I yell before curling my knees up to my chest, sucking myself in, feeling embarrassment curl around me like a cocoon. I feel one small tear run down my cheek, remembering my father's words once again.
~FLASHBACK~
I felt myself slam against the wall along with my report, the paper cutting my hand as I went to block it from hitting my face. My eyes dared not to look up at my raging father, his glare burning my skin liking the tears streaming down my face. I listen as my mother's heels clicked along the floor, in hurry to calm my father down. I could just hear her scared and worried breathing, as she knew she couldn't stand up for me, but calm down my father for my advantage instead.
"But, whilst she isn't the smartest of her class," she began, her voice's just above a whisper.
"Or smart at all," my father huffed, cutting her off.
"She still wins us all that money from the pageants," she continued, trying to lift his spirits. "So, she isn't the most... horrible girl in the world. Imagine how much money you'll get from the State Beauty Pageants Finals! You'll be rich!"
There was silence after that. Some say silence is sweet, but it's torture for me. Silence means there's more to come. I knew that father had more anger to get rid of. More anger to put on me. That anger was released, and it hit me like a boulder as big as his ego crushing me so hard I didn't see it coming until it had struck.
"You... are the worst mistake I ever made... and that's all you'll ever be to me... a mistake."
I felt a gut wrenching pain fill my chest as his heavy boots trudged away. I put my hand up to my chest, my breath shaky and my eyes wide with tears and fear. I closed my eyes, shutting them tight, my hand gripping my lace t-shirt, the tears leaving my eyes one by one. My breath was no longer shaky, my body felt weak, but that was what it always was. That's what I was. Weak.
~END OF FLASHBACK~
I hold back the tsunami of incoming tears, fighting the urge to show my sadness. I fight because if they see me cry, they'll ask to know why, then asking why will lead to me telling, then them telling, until my father becomes revealed as a non-loving parent who abuses his "mistake". Me. I feel a tingling sensation on my right arm as something warm touches my skin. I realize someone's hand is holding my shoulder. All my sadness is buried and replaced by curiosity. Neither of Piper or Tommaline would touch me when I'm like this. They just don't do that. So... who would? I look out from the dark cavern I made from my knees, arms, chest and head, to see a face with soft skin, freckles, sweet, blue eyes, blonde hair shaping her face, becoming blonde waves. Neither Piper or Tommaline had these features... but Crystalline did. Crystalline had the courage and caring heart to come and comfort me, even when everyone knows that I shouldn't be, especially like this. She had worry in her eyes, showing the compassion and gentleness I never saw. I acted the way I was treated for so long, I never knew what hid behind the curtains.

"Why are you upset," she asks. "Maths isn't easy for everyone. I just didn't realize how hard it was for you."
"I, um... I'm not very smart."
"Well... Would you mind if I used some very basic tactics for you? Like, kindy basic? It'll make it easier to understand."
"Uh... okay."
I opened up my cavern sitting back in the normal position I had been in. It was then that I realized Piper and Tommaline were gone. Crystal must have seen me looking for them, because she answered my question almost immediately.
"They left the room. They said that you don't like being disturbed. I don't think they realized you were crying."
"Crying?"
"You were sobbing. I could hear you."
"Oh... Well... Thank you, Crystalline."
A warm smile came upon her face as she looked down at the textbook. I could see her happiness, pouring out into the textbook. Who would've guessed that I would've thanked her for something she didn't mean to do? I looked down to my notes as she wrote out the simplest equation, explaining as she went.