Only Once

Chapter Seventeen: Returning

Chapter Seventeen: Returning

Erika opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, anxiety quickly filling her when she realized that she had to go to school. It was Wednesday morning, and she knew she had to go back. The previous days, she had managed to fake being sick but she knew she could only do that so many times before her parents got suspicious.

It was time to man up and face the world.

That thought alone made Erika feel like barfing.

Whimpering slightly, she got out of bed and quickly got ready. After brushing her teeth and hair, Erika slipped into the first things she could get her hands on, a pair of jeans and a shirt that had a ketchup stain on it, before she made her way downstairs and starting eating cereal for breakfast.

Erika was halfway through eating, when her dad entered the kitchen. Mr. Russo was dressed in his business attire and carrying a suitcase; he was going to work.

"Hi," she finally said when her father made no move to greet her.

Mr. Russo turned and looked at his daughter uncertainly; as if he wasn't sure she was there or had imagined her voice.

"Hello," he said after a moment.

Erika put another spoonful of cornflakes in her mouth, suddenly no longer feeling hungry. Instead, the all-too familiar feeling of being sick rushed back to her.

"Excuse me," Erika muttered as she quickly got up from the chair and rushed to the bathroom where she emptied what little contents there were in her stomach. After rinsing her mouth with cool water, she returned to find her father casually leaning against the kitchen island with a concerned expression on his face.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she replied. "It's just a...bug."

"Oh," Mr. Russo looked uncomfortable, he knew his daughter was lying but he didn't want to call her out on it. Instead he simply looked down at his child who was seemingly all too similar to him; the same petulant ways, gawkiness, stubbornness, and on went the list.

"Uh, so you have to take me to school, Dad." Erika told him, unsure of what else to say. None of them were going to bring up the weekend's incident, it seemed. Not that Erika was complaining; the weekend was the last thing she wanted to talk or think about.

"Okay," Mr. Russo looked like he wanted to say something else. But instead he simply turned and quickly stalked off in the opposite direction, leaving Erika feeling alone and demented.

Sighing but feeling no particular feelings, Erika made her way to the great room and took a seat on one of the leather couches as she waited for her father to come back. He had probably forgotten something and had gone to retrieve it, something he tended to do a lot.

Cupping her chin in her hand, Erika stared at the wall. She had reached a point in her life where she didn't care anymore. Everything was worthless, futile. She knew she was alone. She had always known, actually. But instead of admitting to it, Erika had always simply ignored the fact that she was socially awkward and didn't have any real friends, instead surrounding herself with airheads like Melanie and Jenna who served her no purpose and benefits. They were merely attempts to fill the pathetic fact that she was a freak.

Everyone knew that Erika Russo had moved to town with her rich family right before Freshman year. They knew that she was moving from a larger city and had experience with living in busy, urban areas as well as with rich, city kids. What they didn't know, however, was that Erika had made it all up. Before moving to the little town of Weston, Erika hadn't exactly been high on the social status chart. Instead, she was regarded as the annoying girl who said stupid things and as a result, not that many people appreciated or wanted her presence. Having constantly been ignored both at home and at school, Erika soon grew to be awkward and hermetical.