Everything I Never Said

Kyla // 1

     Shadows zipped past me almost as quickly as they appeared. I pulled my knees up to my chin to ward off anybody from wanting to talk to me.

I waited. I wondered when she would come back.

People are too scary for me to interact with, and the last thing I'd want would be for someone to come up to me and ask me what was wrong. I just wanted my Mum's familiarly warm hands wrapped around mine as we sipped hit cocoa next to the fireplace.

Sitting at the corner of the busiest street in town wasn't a pleasant way to spend your Saturday afternoon... at least, it wasnt compared to what I've experienced in the past. A nasty concoction of smoke and gas wafted through the air, somehow always leading back to me. It singed my nose hairs and burned the back of my throat, but no amount of coughing would fix the amount of pain. It was a numbing feeling.

Time was the last thing on my mind yet was the only thing I was thinking about. I couldnt tell how long it had been, but I desperately wanted to know when was she coming back.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and hope filled my chest, though when I locked eyes with this person I was severely dissapointed. "Who are you?"

He was a boy around my age. He seemed lost. His hair was curly and bright blonde, stained from ash and dirt. He was wearing some  overalls and a white shirt; both of which were tattered and much too large for him. His eyes were a deep blue, almost being able to suck you into a different dimension. His face, however, gave off a different expression.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed.
I looked away from him. Mother warned me about talking to strangers.
"You won't survive out here for long," he prodded again.

"My Mum went to the shops. She'll be back soon."
His gaze softened. "I highly doubt that."
He merged back into the crowd and that was the last time I saw him. He must have horrible parents if they let a 9 year old out on the streets by himself.

----

The brown paper bag was sagging in ny hands. I clutched the underside incase the contents decided to spill out. I swore under my breath and tossed it into my backpack. I couldn't care anymore.

"Are you leaving?"
I wanted to get out of the house at that moment, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. "Yes. Yes I am, Dad."
I walked away from the front door and back into the narrow hallway. Leaning against an open doorframe, I saw my Dad lying on the couch. He had long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail and an odd stubble that was bald in some places. His eyes were closed but the television was still running, playing the latest football match on catch-up.

"Goodbye sweetheart."
"See ya."
I rolled my eyes and dragged my heels back to the front door. I yanked on it with all my might, the bottom of the door dragging along the wood panel flooring. I stepped outside, breathing in a mixture of wet grass and rain. Perfect.

I pulled on the door again and it nearly closed all the way. It was left partially adjacent but the 7 years we had lived here nobody had broken in. Yet.

I began on my way to school. I could've possibly wandered around the neighbourhood or gone to the shops, but I was compelled to go to school today. I knew what Principal Henry had in store for me.

I pushed through the gates and shoved my way through a crowd of people. I never really liked crowds, but I've learnt how to deal with it since. Just push your way through until you get to where you want to go.

The Principal was waiting for me outside the locker room. "Ms. Addams, please follow me."

I rolled my eyes at him and opened my locker. "Why."
"I need to talk to you," he snapped. His voice raised quite quickly. He clearly wasnt in the mood.
"Mhm. Be with you in a second," I muttered. I shoved my bag in the messy compartment, contorting it and its contents into a weird shape. I slammed it closed, my padlock being broken for years. Oh well. What could I do about it.

"Let's go."

He lead me past swarms of kids scrambling for the lockers just so they can alleviate the back pain from the overwhelming amount of paper in their bags. Everyone was whispering, their voice echoing off the walls. I could make out some words, but no whole sentences.

"What are they talking about?" I asked as Henry unlocked the office door. "Probably Owen Williams."
"Whos that?" I asked as I slammed the door closed behind me.
"A student in you year who passed away yesterday. I wouldnt be surprised if Cameron decided not to show up." He replied with a sneer. He hung his coat up on the wall and sat down at his desk. "Take a seat."

I did as I was told. This situation was all too familiar to me.
"Now... Kyla. You know why you're here, correct?"
"I'm telling you I wasn't the one who hijacked the power tools."
Principal Henry's eyebrows raised. "I didn't know about that one, but thank you for alerting me about that issue. I was talking about your maths exam."
I sighed and rested ny head in my hands.
"What punishment are you going to give me today?" I muttered.

"The teacher's and I all agreed that it would be best to move you down a grade. So you can establish your presence better."

I looked up at him in disbelief. "You're joking."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Henry smirked. "Don't you have any motivation to do well in school?
"I did once. My mum said I would make a great politician."

"So why dont you do your work if you're apparently so 'well acclaimed' for you talents? Wouldn't your mother be dissappointed in you?"

"My Mother disowned me" I snapped. That seemed to shut Henry up, but the scowl remained on his face.
"She left me on the edge of a street corner when I was 7. Orphanage took me in and got put into foster care."
"What about your Dad."

"Bold of you to assume I have a Dad," I spat and narrowed my eyes at him. "My foster-Dad is an overweight alcoholic who lives off his savings from his childhood birthday parties and sleeps all day. I doubt he'd partake in any interest in my education."

Henry leaned back in his seat and looked up at the ceiling. "Why don't you care then. What do you want to do when you're older?"

"I want to help people. Make them feel better. Help them succeed at life and be happy.
so they dont end up like me."