Don't Worry, I Bite

1

"This doesn't taste how mom's eggs do."

Ashley was inhaling the eggs I made, not even stopping when some got on her clothes. At only nine years old, she didn't understand what had happened to mom. She thought mom was going to come back any day.

I served myself some breakfast and sat across from Ashley.

"Maybe because she used to smash up your vitamins and put them into your food."

Ashley didn't even acknowledge what I had told her; the sausage was hanging out of her mouth and bread was being shoved in at the same time.

Ashley's cheeks were plump, perhaps from all the food she ate. She was always eating, even though we had tried to get her to stop eating so much. I admired her blonde hair and green eyes that she had received from our dad. It was a sharp contrast from my dark hair and blue eyes.

"Beck, when's mom coming home?"

She asked that question everyday. I never knew how to respond and after a while, I stopped. I played with my eggs and looked outside.

Snow was coming down slowly and frost was created on the windows.

I put my fork down and grabbed my coat.

"Ashley, come on. You gotta get to school." I grabbed my backpack and Ashley's Snoopy backpack and headed towards the door.

I heard dishes being thrown in the sink and the refrigerator door being opened.

I sighed, "Ashley, come on! You're going to be late!"

She came running through the corridor down to the front door and handed me her coat. She turned around as I put it on her, zipping her up and giving her the backpack.

She opened the door and began tugging on my hand. "Come on, Beck!"

I close the door behind me and headed towards the street, watching as Ashley ran ahead, making foot prints in the snow.

"Ash, don't run! You're going to fall!"

Sure enough, she tripped and fell. She got up quickly and dusted herself off. She ran back to me and showed me her right hand.

"I scraped it, Beck," she said. She was still smiling, even though she had fallen moments before.

I took her other hand and headed to school.

"Come on, I'll fix it when we get to school."

"Okay," she said, skipping by my side.

When we got to the steps of her school, I sat her on the steps, taking out a disinfectant wipe from my backpack and a band aid. As I was cleaning, I noticed someone staring at me. I disregarded it and continued to clean Ashley's cut. When I finished, Ashley hugged me and ran inside, stopping only to look back and wave at me.

I walked to the high school that was next door, showing my ID to the security guards. I put my stuff in my locker and walked to my first period class of the day.

Before reaching the door, I knew we had a sub because my class was loud and paper balls were being thrown out the door. I walked slowly into class and took my seat, right by the door.

The sub handed out worksheets and began calling out names for attendance.

"... Nadine Copper... Tony Derrick... Xavier Dirk... Beckett Disalvo..."

I raised my hand, wishing I had been given a different name. My parents used to go to this crack pot doctor who guessed the gender of unborn babies. The idiot said I was a boy. Guessing by my boobs, I could safely say I wasn't. Even after discovering that I was in fact a girl, and not a boy, my parents refused to change my name. They said that Beckett was decided as soon as they discovered I was to be a boy. My aunt Darla tried to persuade them, but all they did was give me Ariana as a middle name.

Beckett Ariana Disalvo.

It did have a ring to it, but I didn't like it. When I was younger, I used to dream of different names for myself. But after my dad left, I stopped. I stopped dreaming. I stopped doing anything a twelve year old would do. I had to grow up. My dad was gone, my mom was a mess and my sister was only three. I had to step up and take care of my family, even when family members said they would take care of us.

I learned that I couldn't trust anyone. I had to do everything myself. I had to take care of Ashley, my mom, and the house.

And with that lesson learned, I always kept it in mind.

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This is going to be a short story, maybe 20 chapters? Or less. I only have the first two chapters planned out. Any question you may have will be explained soon enough, promise.