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Drown in Dreams [Ch.2]

I just stood there for a moment, in shock. The boy in front of me grinned menacingly.

It took me a moment to realize what he'd just done.

"What? Are you gonna do anything about it, fatty?" Jameson smirked, giving me an innocent smile.

I took a deep breath. I didn't want to get in trouble for something another kid started. I looked him dead in the eyes for a moment, then turned around and ran to the teacher.

"Ms.Jain!" I called her name. She looked up at me and gave me a cold glare. She has the spelling test from about ten ago spread out in front of her on her desk.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom?" She asks.

"No, but-" I try to reply, but she cut me off.

"No buts. I told the entire class, including you, not to interrupt me when I'm grading these tests.

"Go back to playing."

My breath hitched. She was my teacher. She was supposed to care that I was being bullied. However, she didn't bother to ask.

I return to my seat, defeated. I could feel Jason's stare, but I said nothing. I sat there, staring at my desk and trying not to cry.

I could hear him laughing... And I hated it. It echoed in my mind, torturing me inside and out. It became much harder to stay silent.

What felt like an eternity later, the teacher announced that it was time to line up. I did as told, getting up and getting in line. He cut in front of me.

"Haha, I'm gonna punch the fart out of you again!" He laughed, hitting my belly. It didn't hurt me physically, but it was another hard hit to my already fragile pride. I snapped.

Swipe! He dodged once.

Woosh! He dodged twice.

Fwip! After my third attempt, he began to taunt me. After my fourth, the teacher spotted me.

"ALICE! What are you doing!?" She snapped. My eyes darted in her direction, and I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Bu- He started it!"

"All I see is you trying to fight another student." She growled. Her words echoed, and I couldn't see anything but her scowl and Jameson's smirk in the corner of my eye.

It was that moment that did it for me. Hot tears spilled from my cheeks as she forced me to apologize to him. I said the bare minimum and nothing more as I watched my world fill with water for the first time.

I, alone, was drowning, and no one wanted to save me.

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I sit up in bed, gasping softly. I hate that memory... Well, more of a memory/dream hybrid. First grade... Everyone says highschool is worse, but...

I sigh softly, shaking it off. I have no idea what I could have done to make that pop up again. I'm completely different now, anyways. I'm no longer a weak, ugly, defenseless and fat child. I'm better. Stronger. Faster.

There's no way something like that can happen to me again. Never again.

I sigh, climbing out of bed. I pick up my phone off the dresser, checking the time. 3:30 A.M., meaning I've only gotten five and a half hours of sleep. After that dream...

I stretch, deciding to do more research on the prospective role. The more I know about my character, the better I can become her, the more likely I am to get the role.

I slink over to the shared desk, deciding to do this before I take care of my bed head and anything else.

I take out the script. It was meant to be a reading, but not a cold read. Why else would he give the girls trying out a sample of the script? Not to memorize, but to study.

As I read through, I noticed something I didn't notice before. "I spent most of my life in New York, actually." The character, Alaina, had said. Which means her accent shouldn't be southern like it would be if she's always lived in Florida.

Of course. I'll have to keep this in mind, because this changes a lot about her voice and demeanor.

I kept reading through for the next couple of hours, before the 5:00 alarm on my phone went off. I stretched, standing up with a loud groan.

"Alice, you're already up?" Naomi, whom is now my roommate, asked as she peered into the room.

She had been renting a two bedroom just in case something like this would happen. I just have to help pay rent when I'm able, which shouldn't be long in any case.

"Yeah, I am." I respond, standing up and stretching once again. She sighs softly, shaking her head at me.

"Don't know why you insisted on me waking you up if you were able to do it yourself." She responds before leaving the doorway. I sigh softly.

Normally, I'm a heavy sleeper, so of course I would've needed help. If it was a normal night.

I head to the bathroom, doing my normal routine. Brush hair, bathe, brush teeth, put my hair up. It's gotten thicker still...

As soon as I'm done, I head to the kitchen area, passing in front of the couch. "Bathroom's open." I hum nonchalantly towards Naomi as I pass her. She nodded, getting up and heading to it as I got to the coffee maker.

I poured myself a cup of coffee, leaving it black. Some may say it's like drinking brimstone and lava, but I personally love it like this. I take a sip as I head back to the living room. I can't eat since I'm stressed...

It's not that I have a stomach condition that makes my stomach tighten, or anything that actually makes it physically impossible... It's just, if I eat when I'm stressed, I risk reverting to my old habits. It's been five years, I can't risk it now.

I look up at the television, watching the cartoons Naomi had on. Tom and Jerry. An interesting choice.

Even after she got out, we sat there, watching old school cartoons. It was relaxing.

After a few hours of this, I went back to my room. 11:00, the audition is at 1:00. I should prepare my things, in case I have to leave early.