Broken

All I heard was the whip of the belt before I felt the familiar stinging. The only time I had in between lashes was when He paused to take a breath or say something menacing. In that few seconds all I could think of was my mother, and everything that filled my brain was a question. "Where did she go?" "Why did she go?" Then, without notice, the belt would hit and I would feel a searing pain as I make a quick mental note to wear long sleeves tomorrow.

"How does this feel?" He laughed, then swung the belt.

The first day of school at a new school is a big deal. Especially when you're not the friend making type. Especially when you're not popular. Especially when no one knows you. He was sleeping late and I had woken up about an hour ago. When I saw the yellow bus pull up, I hesitantly walked out the front door to the door of the bus.

"I'm Amy, but y'all gotta call me Mizzzzzzz Ammmmaaa!" The bus driver greeted me somewhat enthusiastically.

"I'm Olivia..." I said somewhat unenthusiastically.

I climbed up the bus stairs and immediately felt panicked. Where was I going to sit? Kids looked at me with unwelcoming faces. I saw a red headed kid in glasses sitting next to a blonde boy with orange all over himself. Orange socks, shoes, shirt, shorts. Obnoxious, but, I was not going to be quick to judge, for my clothes weren't exactly 'to die for' right now. I wore hand me downs from my mother's closet that were two sizes too big on me. It was my way of remembering her, I guess.

When I found an empty seat, I sat down, staring at my scuffed shoes. There were about 6 more stops and then we were at the school. No one sat by me, still. When I got to school, I looked at the number written on my hand, 101. My room number. I looked all around for it, but couldn't find it. Was it underground? My mom had always homeschooled me. I've never been in an actual school. The kid with glasses was getting a drink at the water fountain, I was desperate, it was getting late.

"Um, hey, excuse me?" I asked timidly.

"You must be new here. I'm Ian."

"Yes, I am. I'm Olivia."

"What was it you needed?"

"Oh, yeah, do you know where room 101 is?"

"Follow me,"He said, walking toward what looked like a closet. "Can you call me Fabu? I'm trying to get more people on that."

"Where are you going?"

"I know it looks like a storage closet, but it's a classroom."

"Huh, interesting." As we a walked in the room, it really was a classroom. Fabu walked off to one side of the room, while I tried to approach a teacher. This morning was going to be tough.

After all my morning classes, in which I knew no one, it is finally lunch time. I didn't know what to expect, really. Everyone greeted me with cold stares as I walked up to the line. I saw Fabu, Orange, and a bunch of other people I saw earlier today in line. When I got my pepperoni pizza, I wasn't sure where to sit. I saw an open, empty table and sat. It was a lonely lunch. It was a lonely day.