Broken Lives

Rebellion

Lia POV

It's freshman year. New school, new life. The area is not much nicer than before, there are so many windows that there is never a dark corner but at the same time, you can't go five minutes without seeing a dying bird. For the first week most people screamed whenever they saw one dead. They are used to it now. Used to the death. Like me. A lot of my friends from my previous school are in my new school now. At least it won't be awkward when the teacher tells us to introduce ourselves in front of the whole class.

With my exercise books hugged towards my chest, I walk down the main hallway of the school. When I reach my locker, I open it and carefully store my black backpack inside it. The minute I close it, that's when I see him, striding right up to me.

Remember that? That was the 1765th letter in this story and onwards. Well, this time it's not my father, this time it's Leo Selrenè, my half-brother. The minute I see him, my day suddenly begins to brighten up, Mum used to be like that, before she got ill. To me, even his presence is enough to make my day. I don't care if he's my half brother or not, I will always be there for him. It's still hard to get used to not waking up to despair and agony in the morning. Luckily, Leo's's mum let me live with them and treated me like her own daughter. I still can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore because I realized how much I look like my father. Now that I've met his mother, I have noticed how Leo looks so much like her and he now hardly even looks like my father. I guess I just wasn't thinking when I first met him.

I see her, with my own eyes, at first I think I'm hallucinating but when I pinch myself and don't wake up in my bed, I know it's real. I know I'm in my discusting room, standing face to face with the soul of my mother. Yes, I'm creeped out. Yes, I feel like screaming. Something stops me. Something that gives me an urge not to scream. Leo and his mother are downstairs watching TV. Her voice echoes across the room as she says, "My darling, Lia, I'm sorry I had to go. I just couldn't deal with that man any longer. I'm very sorry. Wondering why I am here? I kept a secret from you for a rather long time and I am sorry that I have. Sweetie ... please don't be angry when say that you are, in fact, adopted." My heart stops, I tremble to the ground, there's sweat trickling down my palms. I haven't realized that there are millions of tears rolling down my cheeks. I don't say a word, I can't even look my mother in the eye, even as she gradually fades away. My words are lost, hidden away, somewhere I can't get to them. Once she's gone, I hear Leo coming up the stairs, he knocks then walks in. His eyes are wide when he sees the tears on my face. His goofy smile is gone, I open my mouth to talk but end up just mouthing some words. He looks confused and realizes what's going on, and hands me a notebook and pen. How does he know that I can't talk? Did he know someone who used to have mutism? Because he didn't look too surprised. I scribble on the paper, 'This is hard to say ... or write but my mum came back in her spirit form and told me that I'm adopted ... Don't look at me like that, I know it sounds crazy but it's true. Please believe me. Please.' His mouth is wide open with shock and disbelief, I can already tell that it's going to take a lot to make him believe me, but I'm wrong. Almost immediately, there is a belief written all across his face, What the... Why is he so happy? He just found out I'm not his half-sister and he's happy?! Tears are still falling then he hugs me close to him and softly says, "Hey, it's gonna be okay. Trust me. I know you've been through a lot but you still have me, and I will never leave your side. No matter what happens." A smile spreads across my face as I pull him into a hug, he doesn't even care if I'm getting his shirt wet with my tears. I look up to him and stare into his soft blue eyes, and he stares back. We both stay in this position for what seemed like forever until I snap out and look to the wall as I push him away. I'm about to open my mouth but then quickly make snap shut. I write down 'Thank you.' His whole face is beaming, it almost looks like he's going to burst from all the joy ... to be honest, I think I might too. Even through this... all of it, I'm still smiling, because of him.

Another day of school and I have fallen into a huge state of depression, I feel like people's eyes are literally glued onto my notebook that is hugged towards my chest. I keep my lips pursed together, I don't know what to do, I just keep walking and don't dare to look anyone in the eye. That's when I see it, my best friend laughing with the school bullies. I see them look over at me with a look disgust written all over their faces. Quickly, I make a left and walk into a new corridor, that look keeps on flashing in my mind, I feel like I'm going to break down into tears but I hold it in, I hold it all in. How could she? I trusted her. Suddenly rapid stomps are coming towards me and I turn around, absolutely terrified of what was going to face me but instead of Riley, the timid face of my best friend surprised me.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"Oh um, nothing I just wanted to see what's going on in your life." She replied smiling genuinely. That's what triggered me, without thinking what I was doing I screamed back, "IF YOU HADN'T DITCHED ME FOR THOSE EVIL WITCHES LIKE A REAL BFF YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY MESSED UP LIFE! SO DON'T JUST COME UP TO ME FROM OUT OF THE BLUE AND ASK ME HOW I AM, OK? YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK YOU'VE TURNED INTO ONE OF THEM!" Completely out of breath and red in the face, not stopping to think about how I may have overreacted a little. I storm off, a million eyes staring at me. Just as I'm about to enter the commonroom, a wild round of applause is flooding the hallways but I'm so tightly wound in my fierce ball of rage I don't realize that it's for me until some random guy who somehow knows my name comes bursting through my homeroom door beckoning me and to come outside whilst complimenting me for standing up against Riley.. When I take my headphones off I come to my senses and realize everyone is chanting my name.

"Lia, Lia, Lia!" everyone stops as they look behind me and run to form. As I turn around expecting a teacher but I'm faced with the same blade that Riley cut me within the bathroom. Before I know it I've collapsed and a loud thud echoes the hallway as my head smashes against the floor. The last thing I remember was the blurry face of Kat with a smirk across her face, holding the blade. She was meant for that gang. She was meant to be against me. My oldest friend.