Chapter 1
“MISS BELL! WOULD YOU KINDLY TAKE THOSE OUT OF YOUR EARS AND GIVE US YOUR PRESENTATION.”
I groaned and popped out my ear buds. “Come on Mr. Perry! We both know I got an A on this.”
“Helena, just do your presentation before he gives you another detention,” said my best friend, James. I sighed and handed him my iPod. “Watch my baby, and don’t mess with my playlists.” I narrowed my eyes before walking up to the front. I took a deep breath and started, “For my presentation of real world circumstances, ladies and gentlemen, I give you abuse.”
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“Helena, Helena slow down!” I ignored James calling me and bolted to the girl’s bathroom. I closed the stall door and slid to the floor sighing. I rubbed a little of my make-up off my cheek and winced. Yep, it’s still there. I bit my tongue to stop from crying and I heard the door open and the clacking of two pairs of high heels. Instinctively I stiffened and moved away from the stall door.
“Did you see that freak? Really, if she was that hurt about it why wouldn’t she tell someone? I think it’s a load of shit.” The first voice said as I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists.
“Oh, give her a break Vanessa; the little nobody wanted some attention. Can you imagine how hard it is to be at the bottom of the food chain in high school?” said the second laughing a bit
“No, and I don’t care. That attention whore needs to keep her problems, real or fake, to herself and her nobody friends,” Vanessa said.
“Oh well, at least that was the last presentation.” Just then the warning bell rang shrilly in my ears. I heard them leave and someone else came in.
“Lena, I swear if I get caught in the girl’s bathroom for you I won’t speak to you for a week,” James said trying to make me laugh. I stood up walked out of my stall and was immediately crushed into a hug.
“Thanks,” I whispered. He pulled back and looked me straight in the eyes. “I’m always here for you. Even if that means I have to come to this room of perpetual pinkness.”
I giggled and hugged him again. “We’re ditching today, and I’m buying this time.” A smile spread across his face, and his grey-green eyes sparkled. “Jesus, relax, it’s only ice cream,” I said punching his shoulder playfully.
After we safely made our way to Pinkberry I couldn’t help but think about the morning.
“You little bitch! You are the loudest most ungrateful piece of shit I have ever met. I work all day to provide for you and this is how you repay me? By waking me up and taking my money?!?” I winced at the acid in her voice. “Mom, I wasn’t taking your money, I was putting it back.” Right like she was going to believe that. Now that she was looming over me I knew what was coming next. SLAP! I set my jaw and waited for the rest of it to come. “Too strong are you? Mommy, can fix that.” Now the hits came one after another mostly to my stomach and legs. She kicked me down to the ground and with one last stomp on my chest she spit on me and walked out. I sighed, and I almost thought that I would have to miss school. But I soon heard her car drive off and I very unsteadily stood up. Taking the fifty in her sock drawer I flipped open my phone. Wonderful, I’m going to be late.
“Lena, wake up,” someone said shaking me.
“Please don’t hurt me again,” I whimpered, my eyes still closed.
“DAMNIT, she hit you again, didn’t she?”
With that my eyes fluttered open. We were in the parking lot of Pinkberry in James’ car. “Oh, shit.” I mumbled to myself. He sighed and got out of the car. I closed my eyes but I could hear the muffled curses he shouted at the sky. James was a delinquent, arrested for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s how everyone saw him, except me. I saw him as the boy who saved my life, my best friend. But that’s all I could feel for him. Never again would I let someone in just so they could hurt me. Don’t get me wrong I love James, but he’ll never love me back. So I block out my true feelings. Only, during times like these, I wish I didn’t have to. I sighed and got out of the car putting my hand on his shoulder. “Relax, Gee. I’m living and I’m seriously craving some ice cream. Come on.” I saw him relax and give me an apologetic look. I shrugged and we walked into the building.
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A/N Yes? No? Let me know.
