This is Where my Demons Lie

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: What happened to us
Reverie Lark
To say I was better was very optimistic. And boy I wish I was. But I wasn't. As usual.
  I glared at students as they passed me. Each one eyed me warily or made a face, some even flipping me off. It was normal.
  The day dragged, and I found myself sneaking outside to smoke most of the time. During lunch, I simply gave up on school and left the building, strolling down the sidewalk. Nobody noticed, and if they did, they didn't care.
  Cars rushed down the roads, people walked dogs and chatted with friends. I felt a familiar hollow ache in my chest. It was a longing to be so openly loved and cared about.
  I stepped into a cafe, ordering myself a hot chocolate. After receiving it, I left, sipping my drink as I made my way to the park. I threw my cup away and approached the tallest tree. My hand gently touched the trunk and tested branches. Soon, I was a good four feet off the ground and still climbing. When I was at the top, I sat there, watching cars zoom by and people socialize. From here, I could see my high school. Students were already departing. I had a feeling Nathan would be coming over.
  Something told me to stay out for as long as possible. And I was going to do just that.
  It wasn't that I disliked Nathan, quite the opposite in fact.  But I couldn't be the person he made me want to be around Tammie and Jonathan. I sighed, staring at the sky. It would be night in a few hours. Maybe an hour or so after the stars would rise.
  My eyes fluttered close. A rush of memories came upon me, clouding my mind. I inhaled sharply.
  I was younger and it was cold. Very cold. Marie and young me were wearing ice skates. My little sister squealed in glee as she glided over the ice. I smiled, following her a little less gracefully. She was so happy, even in my presence. Then she fell. Her butt hit the frigid ice and Marie cried out. I skated toward her, taking her hands in mine and comforting her. She wasn't repulsed by me.
  Mom was pregnant with Marie. I was constantly worried sick about her and Dad decided to take me out for a 'bonding day.' We visited the city fair. Dad won a stuffed fox for me. It was one of the best moments of my life. He challenged me to a basket shooting competition and I won immediately. I remembered his pouty face. We were laughing when we got home. I had never doubted his love.
  Mom was cheering and shouting at the top of her lungs. I was twelve and Marie eleven. My family was watching my team play the school's 'rival'. I scored a basket and Mom screamed with approval, waving my school's colors like crazy in the air. She was so proud of me.
  I snapped back to the present. A small smile graced my face, yet it immediately disappeared upon recalling more recent events.
  Everything hurt. The whole day had been spent hiding from kids at school. Marie did nothing to prevent the 'Reverie Hunting', though she refused to help. My body was covered in bruises and their words haunted me. I locked myself in the bathroom and cut until I felt dizzy. I was fourteen.
  Another time. Tammie yelled at me, ranting about how useless I was. Jonathan glared at me over the brim of his newspaper and Marie smirked. I bit my lip, shouting, " If I'm so useless, I might as well go kill myself!" I was sixteen.
  It wasn't surprising, but it still hurt. Nobody bothered to celebrate my birthday. Not even my sister. I was officially eighteen and not a single soul cared.
  Tears slid down my face, and I carefully climbed down the tree, tempted to just jump. I took my time going home, often stopping to observe small things. I treated this like my last time that I would see the world. Maybe it would.
  Rows of houses, all the same. Except for the one at the end of the block. Tall, lots of windows, three happy people. And only happy because I wasn't there. Not shocking.
  I opened the door roughly, heart sinking when my ears were met with laughter. Nathan's voice. Then sounds of lips moving together. I winced.
"Get a room," I shouted as I entered the main room, scaring Nathan and pissing off my sister. I smirked at them even though I was hurting.
"I-uh, Reverie, where've you been," Nathan stammered, fumbling for words.
"Avoiding you sucking my sister's face off," I teased, stepping onto the banister. "Anyways, Nathan, don't try anything. Use protection."
  I snickered at their shouts of protests as I entered my room. Shutting my door, I hid my face under a pillow.
"What happened to us?"