Broken Vessels

| Chapter I- Veronica |

| July 18, 2017 |

Above picture is of Hilary Duff, whom I am using as an image to what Veronica kinda looks like :) 

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| Chapter I- Veronica |

*The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask. -Agatha Christie*

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Be brave. Don't show them your weakness. Hide the truth. Be happy. Fake your smile. Pretend your life is perfect. Keep your mask on tight.

That was my life motto at the moment. I couldn't show anyone my weakness. Especially not the people who saw me everyday. I didn't need their pity or their judgements.

I took a deep breath as I clutched my school bag in my hands and stepped into the school campus. It was a new school year yet everything was the same. Same faces, same stories, same life.

I quickly made my way past the swarm of students, ignoring their talking and their fakeness. Everyone knows that in school, you're only friends for benefits or not to look like loners.

I went straight to my new locker and put in the combination. I printed out my schedule this year two weeks in advance so I wouldn't have to worry about the hustle and bustle in the hallways.

My locker was empty but soon it'd be overflowing with books, journals, and notes. Fun times. Definitely looking forward to it. Not. But I don't necessarily mind it. Keeps my mind off certain things. And that's a luxury I can't always afford.

"Veronica! I missed you!" a voice suddenly exclaimed to my left and I turned to look and see who called my name.

Allison Thames. A very sweet redheaded girl with bright green eyes and a super bubbly person in general. Ever since she moved to this school in the sophomore year, she made it her life goal to come into my life and, as she said it, "Be the friend who I can rely on".

Suffice to say, it scared the crap out of me because I needed someone to come into my life to get my mind off my current situation and she just showed up. Of course, she's hardly my friend still and it is the beginning of senior year. But I plan on keeping her out of my real life for the rest of this high school year because I'll be long gone once graduation hits.

"Hi Allison," I greeted with a small smile as I closed my locker and adjusted my bag on my shoulder.

"Please, I told you to call me Ali. Allison is too formal," she explained as she leaned against my locker. I took this moment to take in her appearance.

Her fiery red hair was placed up in a half bun. Her other half lay nice and curled down her shoulders. She wore skinny jeans with a dark green shirt that hugged her figure modestly. She wore golden earrings and her makeup was enough to compliment her facial features and enhance them. She never caked on makeup like most other girls in this school did.

"Sorry. Ali. How have you been?" I asked as I glanced down at my schedule and read through the list.

First period was English Literature with Mrs. Jordans. That started at eight forty-five in room 307. Luckily I loved English. I heard Mrs. Jordans was tough to please. That would prove to keep me busy. 

"I've been great! Summer was fantastic. I went traveling with my parents, went to summer camp, and made a few new friends!" she exclaimed as her eyes shined with pure joy.

I felt jealousy flare in my gut but I reigned it in. She didn't know that she was stabbing my heart with her words.

"That's awesome," I responded with a fake smile. I then tucked my paper nicely in my bag and shouldered it before pushing a little past her. "I'll catch you later," I added as I made my way towards room 307.

I had about fifteen minutes left before it was time to start but I wanted to get my seat and remain in quiet for as long as possible.

The door was open but no one was in yet. Not even Mrs. Jordans. I was thankful for that because I just wanted to have time to forget everything that happened today so far. I didn't have the greatest of mornings and add in the fact that it was the first day of school, it made the whole thing more stressful for me.

I sighed as I sat down in my seat. I wasn't in the back nor was I in the front. I placed myself in the middle towards the wall closest to the door. The faster I got out, the easier it was to maneuver in the hallways and get to my next class quickly.

The sound of footsteps entered my hearing and I looked up to see, who I assumed was Mrs. Jordans, with her nose stuck in a book.

"Oh hello," she greeted as she pushed her blonde hair away from her face. "You're early," she added with a slight smile. I gave one myself. Time to put the mask on.

"Yes ma'am," I responded as I clasped my hands together under the table.

"What's your name?" she asked as she set her things down on her desk and took a seat on the edge of her desk.

She was surprisingly young for her age. She had rich, long blonde hair that was pushed back with a headband. Her honey brown eyes were accented with long and thick eyelashes that was coated with mascara. She had nice, tanned skinned as if she spent her time in the sun and she wore a classy, nude, knee-length skirt with a cream colored blouse.

"Veronica Dayton," I responded as I placed my hands on my desk subconsciously.

"Well Veronica, I hope that you enjoy my class," she told me with a smile as she stood up and smoothed out her skirt.

"I'm sure I will," I answered with a smile of my own. She nodded and walked around her desk and finished preparing her materials for the class.

I pulled out my phone and noticed we still had eight minutes until the start of class. So far, no one was in yet but that would change within the next two minutes.

I scrolled through my texts and noted that I only had one. From my younger sister. I clicked at it and opened it.

Cindy: Hi Ronnie. I arrived in my class safely all thanks to you printing out the schedule beforehand. Caleb is in his class as well so no problems there. Hope you have a good day! :*

I smiled as I read it. I then hit the reply button and typed in my message.

Me: Glad to hear that. Both of you behave. Especially Caleb. Tell him I'm watching him with my super sight powers. Love you both! <3

I then closed my phone just as the next person came in. I looked at him and noticed that he was the quiet type right away.

He had long dark hair that just missed his shoulder blades. He wore dark colored jeans with a black sweatshirt. He also had a beanie on his head and earphones in his ears.

He walked to the seat furthest from the front and plopped himself down, never looking up or around the room. I just shrugged and faced the front again just as more students began piling in.

Soon enough, the class was filled and the bell rang, signalling the official start of the school year. Or as I like to see it, the official start of the end of my life here.

"Welcome to, as most of you call it, hell. But here it's called school where we learn and grow and prepare to advance in this life. So phones away, chatter away, thoughts of the past summer away, and it's time to focus on the work in front of you instead," Mrs. Jordans began as a slow smile grew on her face. The groans around the class was almost comical. 

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