Broken Vessels

| Chapter VII- Veronica |

| October 2, 2017 |

*

*

*

Good afternoon loves! I'm back again with a new chapter. Hope y'all enjoy this one :)

***

| Chapter VII- Veronica |

*The worst kind of pain is when you're smiling just to keep the tears from falling. -Hiro Mashima*

(A/N: Not gonna lie. I slightly fangirled when using this quote for this chapter because it's used in Fairy Tail! Props to you if you know what that is xD We could fangirl together :P)

***

To pity me and to judge me. That's something I always wanted to avoid since the start of high school. I always felt more vulnerable out in the open because half the time I felt like I had this sign on my head telling people my home life and situation. But no one ever questioned me or anything. Maybe my smiles really were that solid.

But sometimes it hurt to smile. It hurt pretending everything was okay. It was more painful that way. Because when you smile to hide the pain and tears, it deceives everyone else but you. Because you know the truth that you aren't alright and that you're just putting on a mask.

I took a deep breath as I sat in my car, parked in front of the school. It was frustrating, having to do this every day, just mentally preparing myself to plaster on the smile and to keep it on. It was frustrating because all I wanted to do was to show my brokenness to anyone and see who really cared enough to ask me what's wrong. But I didn't want it. Because no one would ask. They would make assumptions and spread rumors. Rumors that will only hurt me and break me even more.

I then took a deep breath and grabbed my bag before getting out of my car. I gave smiles to everyone I passed by and said their hellos first. I tried to keep to myself for the most part. I found it easier that way. But some people were too stubborn for their own good.

"Veronica! Hey! How's it going? You left so suddenly yesterday," Allison stated as she joined me at my locker.

Today she was wearing a cute purple turtleneck sweater with dark skinny jeans and black ankle boots. Her bag was slung at her side. And her hair was put up in a cute messy bun. She was a beautiful girl who shone with pure happiness. No one could fake being that happy if they weren't. Especially not me.

"Oh, morning Allis...Ali," I quickly fixed when I saw her raise a brow in my direction. She grinned when I fixed it.

"Good morning. Off to your first class?" she asked as I closed my locker.

"Yeah. The sooner I get there the better. No crowds then," I offered as I slung my backpack over my shoulder and made my way towards English.

"I have History but it's in the same area. Mind if I walk with you?" she asked as she began to follow me. I was slightly annoyed but maybe having some company would be nice. I did kind of need it.

After last night, I was hit with this sudden loneliness and it felt like I was suffocating. It felt like I was drowning and there was nobody there to pull me out and rescue me. If I had friends, would they stick by my side even if they knew my story? Huh. Definitely not. I was just wishing for the impossible.