STRANGE LOVE

chapter 3

Alia's p.o.v

"Hey, baby how are you, "Mum said at the door of my room, I rolled my eyes and turned to the left, I wasn't ready to talk about my first day at school, I could still feel the shame and embarrassment Claire had caused me, the memory of it brought a new set of tears rolling down my face every time.

"Would you like to be alone?.." Mum said softly at the door, she didn't want to push it cause she knew I would only end up crying if she did.

"Fine... I will go get you a bow of ice cream so after that you can go to bed cause tomorrow is another day of school okay, no matter what happened you have to show them that you are no longer the little Alia they knew okay" Mum said and left.

If only she knew how wrong she was, I was still the little Alia they knew, I was always the one being bullied at school directly or indirectly, and I didn't know how to stand up for myself I rather cry than speak up, and no matter how hard I try to change, it never works maybe because I was always the new girl, or maybe because I lived like a passer-by, or maybe I was just naturally weak. And the thought of being weak hurts like hell.

"Hey baby.. here's your ice cream and I brought some homemade doughnuts which I know are your favourite, my love, I heard what happened.... and all I have to say is you need to start standing up for yourself baby people shouldn't always walk on you, soon you would be eighteen, my love..you are no longer little Alia any more but people won't believe you if you don't show them...I love you so much but I also want you to be independent, and I want you to command respect from everyone around you..try and get some sleep okay cause tomorrow is a big day you need to put that Claire of a girl in her place I love you" mum said and kissed me on the forehead hesitantly she left my room.

When I heard the door close I broke down in tears, the fact that my mother was so right and that there wasn't anything I could do about it hurt, how do I stand up to someone like that?, she was everything I could dream of, the way she looked and could command people's attention, I could never reach her talk less of beating her.

The thought of everything overwhelmed me and for the first time in my life I didn't bother to touch the ice cream or doughnuts, I turned my back to it and cried myself to sleep.

"Hey Emerald wake up"I heard Daniel's voice calling me out from my sleep.

I yawned and used my hands to shield my eyes from the sunlight coming in from the window, after a few minutes my eyes adjusted to it and I could finally look up at Daniel and Tracy who were busy setting some clothing beside me on the bed.

"Good morning guys, you didn't need to come to wake me up," I said as I got out of bed.

"What are friends for? And besides after what happened on your first day in school, being here for you is the least we could do" Daniel said and pulled me into a hug.

"The least you could do Daniel speak for yourself cause I am going to give that girl a peace of my mind when I get to school"Tracy said and placed her hands on her hips.

The fact that they were here for me brought a kind of warmth to my heart, I had people who cared for me and that is something I am grateful for.

"Tracy you don't have to, just let her be okay, that shows we are better than her right?"I said as I made my way to the bathroom to get ready.

"Really or is it because you are still scared to face her Alia...I think you should finally grow up don't you think?"Tracy said in annoyance.

I couldn't say a word because I knew she was right, everyone was right but the problem is how do you grow up when you are scared of offending people that could end you when you are always on the run for your life, I didn't know how to grow up.