What's Behind Those Wandering Eyes?

Chapter 1

My pleasant slumber is disturbed by an alarm clock that doesn't stop if I don't move, I guess that's typically what alarm clocks do but wouldn't it be nice if we had voice activated alarm clocks, I could tell it to shut up and not bother me again, or I could tell it to break and then I would live in peace. After the persistent ringing becomes too much I slap my hand onto what I think is my alarm clock but nothing stops so I navigate my hand until I feel the horrid shape and slap the top of it and my world is in peace again. I open my eyes expecting to see my bedroom, but instead all I see is blackness, my world of blackness. I sit up in my bed and try to think of what my bedroom looked like before the accident. My bed was a double bed with white sheets, I'd had some light blue fairy lights around the bed head but I'm not sure if they're still there. My floor was a soft beige carpet and I would roll around on it and some times fall asleep, straight ahead of me will be my closet, a mirrored sliding door, to the left of me, my glass nightstand, with my stupid alarm clock and my sunglasses and my cane. I also have a vanity, but it arrived after the accident so I don't know what it looks like. I stop thinking about everything I could see, because no matter how nice my room is, all I will see is darkness, forever.

I grab my sunglasses and put them over my broken eyes. I feel around for the cane and flick it out and begin my descent down the stairs. Once I find the handrail I grab onto it for dear life and slowly walk down. I make it down without killing myself and navigate my way into the kitchen.

"Oh you made it down." I hear my mother exclaim.

"Yes I did. Did you expect me not to?"

"No I just thought that well..."

"Yes the answers yes."

I hear her sigh. I start to walk toward what I hope is the pantry. I grab the handle and pull, it is the pantry, a smile creeps over my face. I feel around for the cereal and mum simply hands it to me. I mutter a thanks and go off to find the milk.

"Bree, the milk is already out."

"Oh."

"To your right." I feel around and wrap my hand around the handle. Mum hands me a bowl and I pour the cereal in, I hesitate before grabbing the milk, I can feel Mum behind me ready to help, I grab the milk and pour a small amount.

"Bit more." mum tells me.

"No I'm not very hungry."

"Less milk won't change that."

"Milk is filling and makes you fat."

"Milk is healthy and gives you strong bones."

"Milk comes from cows who are killed and made into burgers and remember who is the vegetarian."

"Stop trying to outsmart me, it's not working." we both giggle but I still don't pour more milk. I finish my breakfast and make my way back up the stairs to get ready for the day. I feel my way to the closet and then to the floor next to it where my clothes for the day lie. It feels like some leggings and an oversized jumper. I rest my cane on the ground and pull my clothes on. I shout for mum so she can make sure it's on the right way. She comes in and gives me the all clear and then I find my cane and brush my teeth and my hair. I shout for her again and she sits down and fixes my hair. It feels really soft today. It's now my least favourite part of getting ready, makeup. In the accident I lost my eyesight, but I also got 3rd degree burns to my face, and after 6 months of a plastic mask I'm allowed to wear makeup again. I apply a burn cream and Mum does the rest. No need for eye makeup the glasses are staying on. In my 6 months of wallowing in my misery and plastic mask, I went to a school for the blind and learnt to read brail and how to navigate around easier, today I'm going back to regular school, my first day back and I couldn't possibly be more nervous, I don't know if I still have friends, they sure as hell didn't come and visit me in the hospital.

"You look beautiful." mum tells me.

"Haha."

"Don't laugh."

"I didnt, I said "haha""

"Bree."

"Sorry."

"Ok let's go."

I nod and link arms with mum and we make our way to the car, grabbing my school bag on the way. We get in the car and I'm safe for the time being. Before I know it the car slows. Mum turns off the car and opens her door.

"What are you doing?" I snap.

"I'm going to help you get into school."

"You can't do that!"

"You need it."

"No I'll be fine, I made it up and down the stairs fine at home it's no different here, people will help me."

"Will they?"

"Yes, now please leave."

"Ok, I love you, be safe and have fun, I'll pick you up from the same spot as before the accident."

"Ok bye." I hop out of the car and flick out my cane. I find the curb and hear the voices of the students of my high school. Mum drives away and I make my way to the steps. A hush comes over the school as they see me. The blind girl with burns, Bree. I hear footsteps running and am suddenly overwhelmed with people telling me who they are and apologising for what happened to me. I keep walking with my head down but I have to stop because my cane is tangled in peoples feet. I become so overwhelmed I can't even breathe. I hear people asking what happened and why my face is shrivelled and if my vision can be restored. It's then when my useless eyes start to cry, no one can see though because if my glasses. But then I sniff and everyone knows. They start to hug me and I'm terrified. The bell rings and they all rush off leaving me standing alone. I don't know where to go, it's hard enough knowing my way around with vision, without vision I'm useless. I hear footsteps, they sound like a boys canvas shoes. The footsteps stop and I hear a paper rustle, a map probably.

"Hey." The boy with the presumed canvas shoes and map says."

"Hi." I say and pause for a moment. "I'm Bree."

"Jake. Do you want some help finding your class?"

"Yes please." I say a little too excitedly. He chuckles and walks over.

"Are you ok? You know with all the like fake sympathy you got?"

"Not really, but it will get better, probably."

"You will be fine, trust me."

"How do you know this? Have you been in this situation before?"

"No. But you seem like a very loveable person."

"You barley know me how could you be so sure."

"Just a hunch."

I chuckle.

"What class?" Jake asks

"A5."

"Convient, I'm A5 too."

"Really?" I say again too excitedly."

"Yep." he says and I hear the smirk in his words. He is silent for a moment and then I hear a slap, probably a face palm.

"Did you hold your arm out?"

"I held my arm out."

"Hold it out again."

"It is held out."

I link my arm around his and tingle with the contact. He snickers and we walk off to A5.