This Means War (Selene)(COMPLETED) 2 ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Two My Healed Cuts

Most Girls- Hailee Steinfeld

     I lay on my stomach on my bed with a textbook in front of me as I stare at the pages with words on them. I didn't want to read, but my mom was planning a picnic out in the park today and I really didn't want to go. I knew if I said I had a paper to write that was due tomorrow, she'd leave me alone even though she will be mad. Today, I just want to be inside, I want to rest. I let all of my energy out yesterday and I need to just pull it all back in. If I'm gonna survive I need to.

     I slide my hair over one shoulder and I sigh staring at the pages again and swinging my ankles back and forth. I'm going to hate just laying here all day but I am really tired. I really need a break from life for at least a day. Just one tiny break. I groan and look around my room for something to draw my attention to. Something that I can do to pass time. I hear footsteps coming and my heart begins racing as I perk up and grab my pencil writing random things down in my notebook.

     My eyes keep going between my book and my notebook as my door opens and I pretend to read the book before I start writing in my notebook again. Being as calm as I can pretend to be as my heart races. "I told you to get up and get ready." My mother says. "We're going to have a picnic."

     "I was getting ready when I remembered I have a paper to write that's due tomorrow. I won't be able to focus at a picnic." I say finishing what I was writing and then looking up at her. "Maybe next time." I look back at the book pretending to read when I feel her judgmental eyes still on me. I sigh and look up at her.

     "You can't stay in this house all day." She says shaking her head.

     "How else am I supposed to get my paper done?" I ask and she crosses her arms over her chest. I have a slight feeling that she knows I'm lying. Uh oh.

     "What's the paper for?"

     "Science." I blurt out. She smirks looking at my book.

     "Isn't that a math book?" She asks and I look down at it.

     "Math is a science." My mother rolls her eyes but something clicks and her smirk quickly fades.

     "How long are you going to keep up this childish act?" She asks motioning to me with her hand as she leans against my door frame. I have a feeling she's not going to leave until we get this conversation over with. I put my pencil down and I prop myself up on my elbows looking at her.

     "As long as I need to." I say. "And it's not childish. It has many reasons. The people chasing us might not know where we are because they won't recognize me. Maybe it will help us stay here longer."

     "A wig doesn't change who you are." My mother says. "You're hiding from your past, that's all this wig is to you."

     "Mom, that's not true." I sigh running a hand through my hair.

     "Yes it is and you know it deep down. You just don't want to believe it. The wig is nothing but something to hide you from your own inner darkness."

     "You wouldn't even know." I mutter looking down. "It helps hide me from them. The people chasing us-"

     "And the people chasing us? They're not chasing us Selene they're chasing you. They might not know where you are. Us moving around, it's all for you so they don't get you. Every single time they show up, we have to drop everything and everyone and leave so you don't get hurt."

     "It wasn't my idea to move." I say pushing myself into a sitting position. "It was dad's idea. He chose to move. He said it was for his job. He said that's why we needed to leave. For a fresh start."