Broken

First Day of School - Part 1

Elena POV

I awoke to the sound of my alarm. I groaned, today was the first day of school after summer break. My skin felt tight and sore from the abuse I had subjected it to the previous night. I climbed out of bed, careful not to open my wounds and went to the bathroom. After taking care of my business, taking a shower, brushing my teeth and hair, and putting some simple makeup on, I picked up my diary from my bedside table where I'd left it last night by accident and sat on my window seat.

Dear diary, today will be different. It has to be. I will smile, and it will be believable. My smile will say "I'm fine, thank you." "Yes, I feel much better." I will no longer be the sad little girl who lost her parents. I will start fresh, be someone new. It's the only way I'll make it through.

"Kids it's almost time to go!" My Aunt Jenna shouted up the stairs. She had been trying so hard to take care of me and Jer since our parents died. I sighed and hid my diary behind the picture above my bed. I changed into my pair of dark blue boot cut jeans, a white long sleeved top with a red blouse on top, my black Converses, and my dark brown leather jacket. I looked at the pictures next to and on my mirror before looking into the mirror and putting on my best smile before picking up my messenger bag and exiting my room...

...

When I get downstairs I see Jenna fussing about all over the place, she was clearly stressed and rushed. "Toast. I can make toast." She offered seemingly in her own world. It was almost amusing to watch.

"It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna." I spoke as I poured myself a mug of coffee.

Suddenly Jeremy joined us, "Is there coffee?"

Jenna looked at us both, her eyes darting everywhere. "Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared." She was disappointed in herself although she shouldn't be, we were both teenagers, I did understand how hard this was for her though. "Lunch money?" She asked, money in hand

"I'm good," I replied, continuing to sip my coffee. I didn't eat much these days. Jeremy accepted her offer and took all the money from her hand. I knew he wouldn't actually use it on food though.

Jenna looked at me, her eyes wide, stress and confusion evident in them. "Anything else? A number two pencil? What am I missing?"

I realised something as she finished speaking and I placed my mug in the sink. "Don't you have a big presentation today?" I raised my eyebrow.

She looked down at her watch and her eyes grew even wider. "I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at...now. Crap!" She threw her hair up in a messy bun and grabbed her bag and keys.

"Then go. We'll be fine," I assured her and I pushed her to leave. Once I heard the door slam shut I turned to Jeremy. "You okay?" I asked genuinely concerned, he hadn't been himself at all since we lost our parents and I didn't blame him at all, neither had I but no one knew that of course because instead of favouring public displays of drug and alcohol use, I favoured to keep my coping methods secret.

He looked at me with his usual annoyed glare, "Don't start." And with that he walked out of the house. I sighed and went outside to my car.

...

Usually I'd get a ride with Caroline or Bonnie on the first day of school but I wasn't fully ready to be a passenger after the accident that's why Jenna had given me the car that the insurance company had given to us to replace my parents. Caroline had been distant recently anyway, she hadn't spoken to me since the start of summer and it was starting to make me suspicious. Bonnie had tried her best to keep in touch over summer but she hadn't been around much because every time she tried to come over or ask me to come out I'd always say I was sick. Bonnie had offered to give me a ride but I had politely declined, I'd try to make up for this summer. Then there was my boyfriend Stefan, I loved him before summer but it wasn't 'true love,' although at the time I thought it had been. My feelings had changed however just as I had and everything had become clear. Stefan was also being suspiciously distant and deep down I knew I wasn't the only one anymore. He kept dodging my calls and not wanting to hang out. I couldn't blame him of course I hadn't been the girlfriend he needed. That doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.