|| Present ||
Much to my dismay, the Christmas Break was over and we had to go back to the hellhole I was bonded to be for another six months. I really couldn't wait to get the hell away from here. The past trimester I'd been working really hard on my marks, since there are no chances I would get an scholarship from photography as I initially planned and Granny couldn't affort to fully pay my enrolment with just her pension. I found a job three nights in restaurant not far from here and on weekends I volunteer in a Studio in the city.
But it still not enough. I needed to improve my marks since this past trimester I only got three +A. At any other moment or situation I would had been more than glad with my straight A curriculum and only one +B in Maths, but now it wasn't enough.
I heard the roar of the engine before the loud honk and I know they were here, so I get up, picking my back and kissing Granny on the cheek before heading out and into Norah's yellow Jeep. Subtle, I know. But opposite to myself, Norah Mendley crawled for attention. She loves it on her. You can easy tell by her pink medium lenght mane and her blunt way to approach people.
She was so not the kind of person I would had befriended, but her sweet side melted me and her loyalty is admirable. She smiled at me through the rearview mirror.
"Hey, girl! Ready?"
"Not at all." I snorted softly clicking the seatbelt as she pulled away with a chuckled.
"Know the feeling. I was hopping the break never end! Roma was so awesome by the way. Oh, Alyson you would had love it. It was all so big, and old, and just amazing!" she cheered and his good mood immediately lighted mine. "Right, Conny?"
Connor grunted by her side on the passenger seat, plugging in the earpieces proving how uninterested he was on our conversation. Not that it was a surprise, he was kinda the opposite of his twin. Ever since the course started he made it pretty clear he didn't want to interact with any kind off living being. He just sat at the back, or hide on the corners, ignoring the world and wanting the same treatmen in return. His ever present scowl and unexpressive eyes clashed with Norah's natural joy. Moon and sun.
Yeah, they were the new twins I had to show arround the first day to make credits. It turned out it wasn't that bad. Norah made it everything easy, and as for Connor... the only time I get to stay alone with him during the tour as his sister used the bathroom I did what I usually do when I'm nervous: I rambled like there was no tomorrow. He glared at me and told me to leave him alone. Which I did, affraid to upset him.
Norah kept explaining how awesome Italy was I couldn't but die from jealousy, I've never set a foot outside american turf. When we arribed the school's parking Macy was already leaning against the bench looking down at her phone. Connor, true to his nature, bolted out the car as soon as it was parked not saying a thing and disappeared. Norah rolled her eyes and I giggled at her mocking face as we got out as well. My eyes immediately searched arround for a certain face, but despites not founding it my chest tightened in apprehension.
"You're okay?" asked Norah coming by my side after closing the Jeep and I gulped before forcing out a smile.
"Yep, sure. Why wouldn't I?"
But her expression wasn't the one of someone convinced.
"I don't know." she shrugged, lacing our arms and tugging me towards our other friend.
Macy Larson had been the only friend I could keep from my childhood. After the bullying started, people began turning their backs, but not Macy. She was always there by my side, holding each other up when things go rough. She moved here when we were like seven and kids immediately started making fun of her because of her skin -which I really couldn't undertand 'cause in my opinion she was super pretty. That was the very first time Brett and I had an argument. When I sat with her on the lunch he told me not to but I didn't heard. Back then, I thought it was cute he wanted to protected me. So naive.
I really don't know what possessed Norah to join our little outcasted duo when she came, but I'm super glad she did. I mean, I love Macy like my own blood, but Norah brings laughs and craziness to the group and we really needed that.
The good enviroment from the reunition suddenly change when Macy's eyes found mine and a hint of concern flashed down them. "Are you alright?"
"Sure." I grinned but none of them bought that and my stomach churned.
"Yeah... I asked her the same but the chick didn't feel like answering honestly." Norah huffed. "What got your panties in a twist? Is it because of that bitch of Stefan? 'Cause I tell you, this time I'm gonna kick her if she comes near you, no matter what you say."
Jade Stefan.
She was my best girl friend before Macy; but as I said before, she was one of those that left me when Brett decided to oppenly hate me. Worst. She not only left my side but completely turned against me. So hard I realized she'd must never really liked me in the first place. Isn't hard to figure out why: she's always hanging by Brett's arm so if he hates me she does it double. But the dark hatred I saw in her big blue eyes everytime our gazes meet... I'd never thought she could loathed me that bad. I never did anything to her!
And the fact that she was the cheer captain didn't actually help my case. Her influence dig deeper. I shivered when I remembered how on our first day as seniors she poured her entire smoothy over my head and warned me to stay away from them or this would only be a preview of 'how this year is gonna be'.
That broke my whole schedule. I'd been hoping that since Brett was boarding schools the first trimester the bulling would stop, but no. She took it upon herself to made me miserable, finding creative and awful ways to make my life a living hell.
Nobody tries to stop her. Nobody ever does. Only Norah wanted to punch her in the face but I know fight back would only lead to more mess, so I just take it and hope for her to tire up.
"I think the actual problem is him, isn't it?" wondered Macy oursing her brows and I bit my lip, clinging harder on the straps of my backpack.
"He? What the... Oh. He." Norah nodded in realization when she remembered what we'd told her about it and then looked a me with concerned. "He is coming back today? Is him who everyone's been talking about?"
I nodded my head yes. That's him, Brett Ryder. Popular and loved in Clayton's High. Contrary to me. And I dreaded the moment when he returned and joined Jade in her wicked games she'd been puting me through in his name.
The bell finally rang and everyone began making their way inside the old building. The sensation of a sniper aiming right in my head didn't leave me. It was like everything could turn sour really quick and I hate the anxiety it helplessly brought me. I hadn't even saw him and I alredy felt like this.
Macy and I had the first period together so we split from Norah and headed towards our class. And then it happened. I caught a glimpse of his auburn hair through the crowded hallway and my heart literally stop. All color drained from my face when I saw him standing there, about ten feet away from us, casually laughing with his friends.
Brett.
Macy saw him at the same time I did and cursed under her breath. My mind was in shock and I couldn't bring my legs to move. Luckly he had his back on us and hadn't seen us yet but my heart clenched like he had. Using that little head-start, my friend took it upon herself to drag me towards the nearest bathroom so I could breathe again.
"It's fine, Alyson. Your above all this." she tried reassuring me, whispering sweet words and finally I was brought back to reality. "See?" she smiled when I met her dark eyes. "He's just another jock. Not that big of a deal."
She was right. I was ridiculous.
"He's not, is he?" I mumbled back, trying to convince myself and she nodded.
"Absolutely."
But as the knot in my chest began relaxing the door behind us opened abruptly and hit my back sending me to the floor. My knees whined and I heard a known giggle.
"Oh, well. Look at that. The dyke and little excuse of a girlfriend she got."
I didn't dared to looke up, knowing Jade malicious smirk would made me feel even more pathetic. They'd been using Macy's sexuality against her ever since she confessed to Julie Grey on eight grade. They called her ugly names and mocked her in a way made me wanna slap some maturity on them. And as for me, they used it to say the only thing that made her stick up to a poor, ugly girl like me was that she wanted to get laid. Disgusting, I know. But hey, this is high school.
Macy helped me up and glared at Jade.
"Leave us alone, Stefan."
But the cheerleader just rolled her eyes, flipping her perfect blond hair over her shoulder and moving towards the tap to wash her hands and fix her outfit. "As if you bother me that much."
If we don't bother you just leave us alone! I wanted to scream but instead I bit my tongue and tugged Macy's wrist to the door. "Let's just go."
But before we reached it her melodical voice stopped us. "You see who's back, right freak?" I froze midstep, not sure what should I do next and apprehension tightening my chest painfully. Is this when I get humiliated again? I never know what would she do and that freak me out.
"Don't listen her." whispered Macy and Jade laughed walking towards us when she finished with a mourderous look swirling in her perfect blue eyes. One wouldn't had thought Satan's seed would look so angelic but she was the living proof it is. How could I ever be friends with her?
"Oh, no I think you should listen to me. Really closly." she reached us and used her position on heels to look down at me disgustedly. "You see, Alyson, you had no place in here. You've stay away from us, all of us. Other way this will be only the beginning."
I was trembling like crazy but managed to somehow not drop my gaze as I always do. That didn't seem to fit her well since anger burned under her light gaze.
"W-what have I ev-ver done to you?" I managed to stutter. Yeah, I tend to do that on the presence of the devil.
Jade glared at me, seeming ready to kick me right now, and I didn't know if she would actually do it. I didn't know where her limits were anymore.
"Like you don't know." she spat at me and stormed away, but not before shoving me towards the wall on her way out.
"Hey!" yelled Macy and was ready to chase after her but a I halted her. Fighting back only lead us to more trouble. I know, I'd been there.
The past months, the harrasment had reached an intensity I'd never experienced before. Brett used to mess with me and some other joined too but it never had been in this level of humiliation as Jade explored last semester. Picking on me in front of everybody and completely helpless. I felt like trash.
And now he was back to took over where he left it. They'd team up to bring me down even further. Why? I didn't know. We used to be a group. Them both, Macy and I. Until Brett decided it wasn't worth and threw our friendship away to bully me relentlessly.
And it was only the first day.
Welcome to my living hell.
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Hey! So here it goes the first chapter. what do you think about it? I know I don't update regularly but I'm working on my other book Drag Me Down that you can find in my profile, and this one is more like an spontaneous project that I write when I have time. Please let me know what you think about it, I would love to read your thoughts.
Oh, and Brett would be appearing next chapter :)
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