I stretched my arms above my head, turning my alarm clock off. The sun tried its best to light up my room, but the pale, yellow curtain blocked its way. Then, throwing my blanket off me and swinging my legs over the bed, I stood up. I was dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a pale orange polo.
I walked across the hall, directly in front of my parent's bedroom, to the bathroom. I brushed my short, light brown hair and teeth before rushing back to my room to grab my phone. Then, with the item tucked away in my pocket, I went downstairs to the kitchen, the smell of eggs filling the house already.
My father sat at the kitchen table, coffee mug in hand, while he scrolled through his phone. My mother was busy in the kitchen making what looked to be scrambled eggs and buttered toast. I saw some toast still sitting in the toaster while one piece was buttered and on a plate.
I happily walked to the toaster and pulled one of the cooked pieces of bread out, grabbing the knife next to the butter to get to work. My mother turned to me with a soft smile, her dark brown hair falling down her shoulder.
"Thank you, dear."
I smiled back at her, and we finished making breakfast together. I carried two of the three plates to the table, setting one in front of my father and the other in my spot. I knew that it was very selfish to serve myself, but I did so anyway. I'll punish myself before going to school.
We ate in silence, my father eating happily with his phone resting on the table instead of in his hand. My mother ate as well, smiling as she looked out the kitchen window behind my father. I took a few bites of my toast and ate only half of my eggs before asking my father to finish the rest of them.
"Max, you should finish your food. You'll need the energy."
Eating everything means that I'm selfishly absorbing everything for myself. But eating nothing makes it seem like I hate my mother's cooking. So eating half and giving the rest to another is the best way to eat.
I rudely ignored my mother's protest and gave my food away. My father seemed not to care either way as he took the food for himself. I'm glad to make my father happy. I excused myself from the table and walked back upstairs. I quickly pulled down my jeans and rolled up my underwear, revealing several markings on my thighs.
Cutting the thigh was the best route, considering that my mother and father won't see the marks, and neither will my friends and classmates. However, I am starting to run out of room which is quite a predicament. I looked at the time and sighed; I don't have enough time to punish myself before going to school.
I adjusted my clothes to their regular position and walked quickly to my backpack just before the door. It had three zippers, a small one at the top, the main zipper that opened up to all of my belongings, and a medium zipper at the bottom. I opened the medium zipper and pulled out a small notebook. I opened to the next fresh page, put the date at the top, and marked a tally.
Throughout the school day, if I'm ever selfish or rude, I mark a tally in my notebook. Each calculation represents a mark that I'll make on myself. Today would start with two tally marks. One was for serving myself, and the other was for ignoring my mother.
I put the notebook back in its place and ensured that each zipper was secure before putting the item onto my back and racing down the stairs. I rushed into the kitchen, hugging my father before my mother since I did the opposite yesterday. I waved goodbye and said my 'I love you' to each of them after putting on my shoes and walking out the front door of our beautiful home.
The walk to school was peaceful as always, the morning birds singing their morning song as they got to work. Some cars passed by, the drivers keeping their eyes on the road as they should. Before I knew it, Dixie High School was in view. I quickly walked across the street to the building and pulled open the doors, the wall of sound pushing its way into my ears.
As I passed the rows of lockers, I received a few waves from random students; I waved back. I put in my combination, stuffed my things inside the locker while placing the desired items I needed for my first-hour class in my arms, and shut the door. I walked up to the second floor without being stopped and took a right. Two doors down, I found my first-hour classroom. I put my things on my desk and began organizing what I needed.
"Max! There you are!"
I looked to the classroom door to find Dain skipping happily over to me. I smiled at her, focusing my attention on her, "Ah, good morning, Dain!"
We smiled, laughed, and talked for what seemed like hours. Her bright blue eyes and short red hair were a wonder in themselves. It's rare for a person to have both, but that makes Dain even more special. Oh no, I was zoning out. I still heard what Dain was speaking, but my attention wasn't entirely on her. Guess that makes three!
The five-minute bell rang, sending Dain to her classroom while I opened my small notebook. I placed the third tally mark next to the others and put the item away. So unfortunate, three tallies, and I've only been up for two hours.
Classes went by, and I made sure to pay close attention. Halfway through the day came lunch, where I made sure to be second at the table. Being first meant I was selfishly deciding where we sat, and being last meant everyone was waiting for me. Being second or third is the best option.
Dain sat beside another friend, Remee, while I sat beside Akira. Remee and Dain talked loudly to one another, passing opinions back and forth while Akira and I listened. The girls were the closest of the group, spending almost every day after school together. I'm closer to the girls than I am, Akira, the said male being Remee's childhood friend.
Don't get the wrong idea, though. Akira and I treat one another as equals. We don't have much to say to one another, that's all. The five-minute bell rang once again, signaling that lunch was almost over. I was so focused on my friendship with Akira that I wasn't paying attention to my other friends. Number four.
I paid attention in all of my last classes and met up with my friends at the end of the day, backpack with me. I was third to arrive at our met-up area, to the left of the school doors. Akira was the last to join, and we all sat down in a tight circle.
Dain clapped her hands together to achieve everyone's attention, "Alrighty, so, Remee and I have been talking, and we think that the two of you," she pointed to Akira and me, "need to get closer."
"Why?" Akira's voice was deeper than mine but not enough to be scary.
"Because," Remee smiled, "Dain and I are having a sleepover this up-and-coming weekend, and we want you two to have one too."
Akira sighed, "Boys don't have sleepovers."
The girls giggled to one another and pointed at the two of us, speaking simultaneously, "They do now!"
I laughed at this, earning a glare from Akira. I cleared my throat to compose myself; this would be number five. I had no objections to it, personally. I wouldn't mind getting closer to Akira, but only if he wants to do the same. By the looks of it, though, it seems he would instead do anything but that.
"Akira, stop being mean! Tomorrow's Friday, so make sure you have everything you need for the sleepover. Max, would you mind if it's at your house?" Dain asked.
I smiled, "Of course not!"
With that, our meeting was over. I walked alone to my house, keeping a mental note of the number five, my number of punishments. I had already put four tallies in the notebook, so keeping a mental note of one more was simple enough.
My parents are at work whenever I come home; they won't be here until five. So, with it being three as of now, I removed my shoes and walked up the steps into my room. I closed the door, even though no one was home, and I placed my backpack next to my door so that I wouldn't forget it tomorrow. Then, I proceeded to remove the small notebook from its compartment.
I walked to my desk across the room and grabbed the pen lying on it. I put the fifth tally down, ensuring it crossed the other four, before placing it back in my backpack.
Five marks, five punishments that is what needed to happen. I removed my pants and rolled up my underwear. I sat on my bed and reached underneath it, pulling out a medium-sized blade.
One: for selfishly serving myself food.
Two: for rudely ignoring mother.
Three: for not focusing on my conversation.
Four: for ignoring my other friends.
Five: for hurting my friends' feelings.
With the blade covered in blood and my thighs screaming in pain, I began cleaning up my mess. Ointment so the cuts wouldn't get infected, bandages so I wouldn't ruin the area around me, and my pants to cover everything up. I took a tissue from my desk and cleaned off the blade before putting it back underneath my bed.
"Let's try not to make any more mistakes today, OK?" I spoke to myself.
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