The Free (Unedited)

Galas Galore

If last week was short, this weekend was even shorter.

I sat at school, my cute clothes that I kept only to satiate my mother hanging awkwardly around me. What's more awkward is all the guys staring at me. I hated the attention.

For some reason, I couldn't seem to focus on anything today. My mind flitted from one thing to another, straying after less than a minute. By the time lunch came around, I hadn't learned a single thing. I felt tired and frustrated. And to add on to that, my family is a hot mess with everyone living under the same told again.

I sat in the library, as usual, trying and failing to read a biography when familiar thin arms wrapped around my neck.

"Hey cutie," the voice of Amber whispered in my ears.

"Hey," I replied.

For me, our relationship was weird. It had only been a week or so, but this girl already had my friendship. Loyalty? No. Trust? Not really. But she was... different all the same.

I remembered I had had no friends when I was growing up, especially from the time my parents left. The friends that I had before then were very superficial, and they were there so I could just get by as a regular human being with regular human needs.

But this one person...

I was suddenly jolted out of my thoughts by a snap in front of my blank eyes.

"Are you ok?" A concerned Amber asked me.

"Yeah," I replied, getting up to get ready for lunch.

It was an awkward walk to the cafeteria for me. I was embarrassed that I had spaced out. I never did that anymore. I sighed silently as we approached the doors of the lunchroom and pushed them open.

Inside was a kind of typical high school lunchroom. The only difference was that we had way better meals prepared for us by cooks that made way more than regular public school cooks.

We walked through the doors of the cafeteria, passing all of the people talking and laughing. I got into line with Amber and grabbed some food. After we got our lunch we drifted around the cafeteria. Today, I felt restless, but I didn't know why.

"Hey, do you just want to walk around?" I asked Amber. She just kind of nodded her head.

We put our bags in the next class we were going to, then just ambled around the school eating our lunch.

"You know this will give us cramps right?" Amber asked teasingly.

I had never had a friend like this. Even me and Laura weren't close, and, like she points out all the time, I'm like a mother to her.

I smiled, and we walked in silence, both of us in our little worlds.

The bell rang, and Amber and I split up to go to our classes. This is the last class of the day for me.

The bell rang for school to end, so I walked out to my car, stepping in and lighting the engine. I sat for a few minutes, playing on my phone and waiting for all the dumbasses to get out of the parking lot. 5 minutes later, I was pulling out of my spot... and almost ran over my sister.

She was crying, tears stained her face and her figure was in disarray.

I braked immediately and rolled down my window. "Hey," I called to her. She looked up at me. "Get in."

The ride back home was silent. I drove and she sat, sniffling and staring into the seat.

I stopped in front of the house and turned off the engine, but I could tell Laura was not ready to go anywhere, so I sat there with her. Then she finally opened her mouth to speak.

"I... I saw him with Audry," she said quietly, staring at her hands, her voice shaky and her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm so sorry," I said softly.

"I don't need your pity!" screamed before getting out of the car and storming up to the house.

I slowly lowered my head to the wheel, feeling its leather on my skin. I breathed deeply, trying to gather myself. I don't know how long it took, but when I did, I stepped out of my car and walked into the house.

There, I saw chaos.

People were everywhere, making food, setting dishes and getting ready for a gala of some sort. Our greeting room was turned into a reception, and our formal living room was turned into a dance floor with the couches pushed to the walls. Apparently, mom had some plans tonight.

"Um, mom?" I called, moving past some hired help looking for her.

"She's in her room," my dad called, looking disgruntled.

"Thanks," I replied before jogging up the stairs. I threw my bag on my bed then walked to my mom's door, opening it and walking inside.

Her room was a mess, dresses and shoes everywhere, makeup on every surface, and hair products on top of the makeup. I sighed deeply.

The woman of the hour was in a chair, talking to one of her beauticians about what she was going to look like. I didn't hesitate before walking up to her.

"Hey mom," I greeted. She jumped at my voice, before turning around and giving me a wide, sunny smile.

"Hey baby!" she smiled softly and opened her arms.

I complied and gave her a short hug before pulling away.

"What is this?" I asked, looking around me again.

"Oh! I'm just having a little return party for everyone that hasn't seen me in a while," she told me.

I sighed and forced a smile on my face.

"She shooed me out almost right after. "Go get ready," she said before turning away and talking about her dress with her people.

There was no way in hell I was going to this party. I walked to Laura's room, knocking on the door.

"Hey, mom is having a party again to you want to go get some-" I started before opening the door fully and seeing her not in her room.

She had snuck out again.

***

Unknown POV

I slowly walked in to the dark room, the skimpy outfit I was told to wear clinging to my every feature. I breathed shakily. He wasn't in here yet, but I knew he would be soon.

I sat on the bed, steeling myself for tonight, my eyes filled with tears that would not fall, thinking of the worst.

The door creaked open, and another girl, this one 15, slinked in, the little light in the room showing through showing the utter fear on her face. My heart hurt for her. This was her first time.

I held her for as long as I could, her short hair falling on her shoulders as she cried into my breasts.

The door creaked open, the tall silhouette of him drawing our attentions.

He walked in, his body growing bigger as he got closer. He beckoned both of us to stand up, then took my companion's chin and lifted it up so he could see her face better.

"Let's begin," his voice boomed in the darkness.

We both quaked in fear of the future.

***

A/N

I think by now you know who unknown is, but I'm still gonna keep them that way. And don't worry, the story will go the way i want it to very soon.

Love y'all
Renny