Hotter.
I turn the water in the shower up once again and lean my head against the tan shower tile. The water running down my back, the heat making my body turn red.
Hotter.
I reach for the dial, not able to turn the heat up anymore. I lean my face into the water, letting it run down my body, my dirty blonde hair heavy with the weight of the water.
Her face flashes into my thoughts, her beautiful features smiling at me. Her appearance the last time I laid my eyes on her was the complete opposite as what I remember her as, but her personality and demeanor remained the same. Up until her very last breath.
My hands move the water from my face, along with a few tears. Her pin straight, shoulder length, brown hair appearing in the tile beside me. Her brown eyes that were somehow so unique. I reach for it, knowing once my fingertips reach it, I'll only feel tile.
"Mom," I mutter, "come back."
I step out of the shower, wrapping my hair in a towel and another around my body, noticing how the towel doesn't completely close around my stomach.
I wasn't blessed with my mother's thick, beautiful figure. Instead I got a short, fat body that, for the 17 years I've been alive, only got the attention of males who wanted sex and nothing else.
I took a deep breath and looked down at my wrists. 'Be strong' and 'look forward' written in my mother's handwriting stared back at me. I sighed walking into my room, I knew this year wasn't going to be fun. Opening my closet door I reminded myself I only had four months left, four months and I could escape.
I pulled on dark jeans, a grey v-neck, a pink zip up hoodie, and some black vans. It was only August but the Indiana weather didn't know what it was doing, kind of like me. Walking back into my bathroom I brushed my hair, drying it the rest of the way with a dyer and watching it fall do my mid-back. All I could see in my mirror was my hazel eyes and freckles, a normal girl. But I'm not normal, I'm far from it.
Before making my break outside, I threw on some mascara and concealer to mask the puffiness under my eyes. My house was quiet, which was usual now. My father was most likely at work, or on his way. I walked down the hall and into the kitchen where a note laid on the countertop.
"Staying at Sherry's tonight." I read aloud, "go figure." I said rolling my eyes. My father was barely ever home, his pathetic excuse for a daughter wasn't his priority, it was beer and Sherry. I grabbed my bag and hopped in my car dreading the five minute drive down the road. Quickly I grabbed my phone and sent a text to my best friend, Taylor.
It sucks you don't go to Lakefield anymore.
Two years ago Taylor moved to the town over, which meant she had to transfer schools too. She was the only one who was there through all of it, the nine months of me watching my mother deteriorate in from of me, the countless times I was fucked over by guys I thought actually wanted me for me, my dad becoming someone I never thought he would, sometime I despised.
I know, but if it makes you feel better I've already been back to school for a week. Love you Cora x
I smiled at her sorry excuse of what was supposed to cheer me up. I started my car and began my not-so-long journey to what would surely be an eventful day.
The parking lot was already almost full when I pulled in, luckily there was a spot not too far from the doors. I took a deep breath and stepped out of my car, grabbed my bag, and braced myself for the day.
Everyone was buzzing with smiles and laughter when I walked through the double doors. People happy to see each other after the break, people checking their class schedules to see what classes they had together. But there was something strange about this place, something seemed darker than usual, and for me that was saying something.
Some guy I didn't recognize locked eyes with me. His shaggy brown hair swept across his face near his eyebrows. He wore a black sweatshirt and jeans, red vans, and he smirked tucking his hands in his pockets.
Who is this guy?
I made my way to my locker, dropping my newly boughten supplies in the bottom and hanging my bag and keys.
"Hey." I turned around quickly, the guy who I had seen earlier stood behind me.
"Um, hi."
"You're new here right?"
"No."
"Oh, well you seemed kind of lost when you walked in here. Thought maybe I wasn't the only new kid."
"I'm sure you're not, there are probably a few transfers or some shit." I closed my locker and headed for the surge.
"Damn, alright then feisty." I could feel his eyes burning into my back. Footsteps drew close behind me and soon he was beside me, "since you're not new, think you could show me around?"
"I don't make it a hobby of walking places in this school I don't need to go." Which was true, I knew my way around this place probably better than anyone except the teachers but that didn't mean I would ever step foot anywhere I didn't have to be.
"What's your problem?" He asked me. I turned to face him, his eyes locked with mine and I took note of their deep green color.
"That's a long story and I don't just tell it to anyone. I have a lot of problems and right now the first one on my mind is how to get you to leave me alone." His face shrunk in and he turned and walked away.
"Problem solved." I whispered to myself and walked to my first class of the day.
English and writing were my strong suits, my counselor, who just so happened to be my god mother, knew how much of an outlet that was for me so it made sense that my last few months of school would be full of me sitting in a room doing my favorite things. My first period was Advanced Composition, so basically we'd be reading and writing about what we read, and researching topics and writing about them. To most people that was probably pretty boring but to me that was hours of me writing away and blocking out the world.
I sat in my usual desk at the end of the second row in Mrs. Harp's class. I took out my phone and noticed Taylor had texted me again.
That guy that almost killed that kid from Lakefield transferred there!
Was that the guy who tried talking to me earlier?
Class was about to start and most people had shuffled in, taking seats next to their friends. I felt eyes burning in the back of my head, but I figured it was probably Conner.
Conner was the one person who had ever liked me. He was scrawny like a twig, kind of like a meth head, which Indiana has a lot of, or maybe like a toddler that only got taller and never gained weight. He had a million freckles and bright blue eyes covered by nerdy glasses. He was a sweet guy, I tried to like him but I guess I only fall for assholes.
"Alright everybody let's make this a good year!" Mrs. Harp's voice rang, I smiled at her enthusiasm.
Just as the bell rang signaling the start of class, the guy from earlier came tumbling in. It was then I noticed just how tall he was, at least six foot something. His eyes landed on me and he made his way over to the closest empty seat, he smirked and I rolled my eyes.
What is his problem? Not to mention I'm pretty sure he is the guy that tried to kill Alex.
