Cope

Chapter 5

      Students burst out of the doors as soon as the final bell rings. They leave with more enthusiasm than for when they came to school. Shina, however, slumps out of the school completely drained from the day's chaos. Shina looks around for her bus stop.

      The bus was nowhere to be seen. Figures. Buses are usually a few minutes late. Shina sees her bus stop at the very back of the line of stops. Shina begins to move towards the gathering students when a hand grabs her shoulder. She turned around forcefully and sees Hancock looking down at her angrily.

      "Why are you running away?" he growled. Shina feels herself turn cold. Frozen like a statue. "Answer me!"

      "Wh-Why are you bothering me?" Shina spat. "You're... scaring me!" Hancock glares and tightened his grip causing Shina to wince.

      "What! You're too afraid to face me?" Hancock yelled. "Why do you have to be so afraid? You're a coward! Have been and always will be!" Shina furrowed her brow and shoved Hancock knocking him down. Shina instinctively runs away for the arriving bus. She looks over her shoulder and sees Hancock being rounded up by a guard. Shina jumps onto the bus almost stumbling up the stairs. She secures a seat and melts into it relieved. Adrenaline and blood surge through her veins as she tries to calm down.

      Please... No more drama...

      Shina gets off the bus. The sun was slowly but steadily setting in the distance as it peaks through the trees. She was happy to be anywhere but that dreadful school. It saddened her to think that she would have to go back for four more days for weeks on end until her four years are up.

      Shina began her walk home. Taking in the sights and sounds of nature helped calm her down. The sounds of the usual day animals were winding down.

      However, Shina could feel an odd presence. An unfamiliar presence. She looked around but the forest was thick. Shina stepped up her pace trying not panic. God knows how much her heart could take more stimuli.

      Shina sees her house after turning down a dirt road. She quickly opens and slams the door behind her.

      "Don't slam doors!" Cathy barked. "What's with you? You look like a cherry." Shina breaths deeply.

      "It's been a long day..." china sighed. "I really don't want to talk about it. I need to go work." Shina began climbing up the stairs.

      "I didn't say that you could leave," Cathy said crossing her arms. Shina almost face palmed and groaned agitated but she knew that she needed to keep her cool.

      "I'm sorry, mom. Please, understand that I need space," Shina asserted.

       "Stop avoiding me! Why are you so reserved and shy?" Cathy asked. "Do you think I'm going to kill you or something?" Shina tightens her fist.

      "Fine! I'll tell you what's going on!" Shina retorted. Ethan comes into the room from the back door. "Some dumb bimbos were saying slurs towards me for being Japanese, the principal wouldn't do a damn thing about it and rebuked me, and this boy keeps harassing me!" Cathy and Ethan stare aghast at Shina's outburst. "It hasn't been one day and I hate that school!"

      "Go to your room," Cathy said pointing behind Shina. "And don't come out for the rest of the night! You're grounded!" Shina's jaw almost hit the floor. "Don't stare at me like that! Go! Now!" Shina throws her hands up in the air and stomps up the rest of the way. She slams her door shut causing the adjacent walls to shake. "What did I say about slamming doors?!"

      Shina flings herself onto the bed and covers her face hiding it from the world tears gushing. She was fed up with her life. Why did her previous parents abandon her? Why did she have to live with parents that were either harsh or apathetic? Why did so many people at school hate her?