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“For a time I would feel I belonged still to a world of straightforward facts; but the feeling would not last long. Something would turn up to scare it away.” 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuPbFZeWEb
192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYWCbMwLdW
Then the next day I woke up. I sat in bed, stewing in misery that was colder and more old than fifty-year-old freezer shavings.
You should get up.
“Yeah, I know.” And I did know. But actually, I didn’t want to get up at all or in the least. By the way, that was my internal voice speaking. It does that, like a lot, all the time. Right now though I mostly wished it would just shut the Fuck up.
What about school? Your grades are dropping. If you keep this up you’ll drop out and Maraen will have even more reason to pick on you.
“FUCK SCHHOOL!,” I said, angrily, souplexing my pillow, scowling all the while. Then I realized something. “Although,” I murmured quietly, sitting up and straightening my hair, “Joshery will probably be there. AND HE’s totally hot.”
You should focus on grades.
“Come on, he’s so hot.”
…true, yeah. He is definitely hot, for sure. Totally.
It was decided then. I hopped out of bed and ran to the closet, throwing my school outifti waway. I need something better, I thought, silently. Quickly I pulled my makeup kit from underneath my floorboard along with a bad of clothes. If you think that’s weird, fuck you, but it’s because I have to hide all my shit because Maerlee is such a itch she takes my clothes because if she thinks they look too goth she throws them away. Fuck you Marylin. I quickly switch to my daytime makeup (white foundation with a touch of blue-black eyeliner and black mascara and red lipstick), which contrasts nicely with the night-black fusion shirt——the one with chevron patterning——and topped with black shimmery cravat arranged in a rose pattern; I throw on extra-long nails (black with crosshatched blue filigree), a black leather bracelet studded with copper and steel studs, a light leather-plated jacket cut extra short, (it’s unzipped of course) printed with a collage of album covers (from good music not the shit normal girls listen too) on the back and across the left shoulder (over the heart ‘cause I love that shit) over dark jeans that were a lot like me: Artistically torn up. Block Dok Martins (black with blue and purple pollock-patterning adn the usual extra-long laces tied up in crossbone knots) and skull-and-rose knee socks undearneath; I did my hair low so the bangs hung over my eyes like ink-soaked stalactites made of hair. “CHYLCE! Where are you you, you little bitch!” I cringed and rolled my eyes, irritably. Yeah, that’s my name by the way. It’s like the only good thing my goo-for-nothing shithole a-hole dumbass parents gave me. Seriously, F those two stupid useless dumasses. No decent pair of parents should abandon their daughter, ever. If I had a kid I didn’t want I would just blackmail someone else into taking care of it. That way I could be like the cool aunt who can buy presents and shit but I wouldn’t have to do anything if I didn’t want to.
I tried to slip past Merle but she caught me by the arm. “Chlyce,” She said, sweetly, continuing: “Did you put ex-lax in Charlisle’s coffee?” Charlisle was my stepmother’s most recent gold mine, and she was draining his pockets faster than American execs tap an oil field. I looked her in the little puffy eye and glared as hard as I could. “Yeah, I did. Fat asshole.” Marle nodded, looking like Madanno’s overweight sister only even more lame obviously. Then she smacked me in the face. “YOU LITTLE GOTH BITCH!” She smacked me again, then again, knocking my head against the wall, then shoved my away, spitting furiously. “FIX MY TOILET AND THEN CLEAN THE HOUSE AS WELL YOU LITTLE SHIT. OR ELSE!” sHE sstomered off agrinly, huffing and puffing like a fat buffalo in a pink sweater, but not before smacking me one last time. “Shit.” I said, rubbing my face.
*
Drearwood High was as dull as ever. Gray, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, grey, gry, grey, rgy, grye, grey, grey, gre, geyr, grey, gery, grey, grey, gray, gray, grey, GREY. FUCKING GRAY. And listen, I like gray. Next to black it’s easily the best color (Actually maybe just top three, like: Black, Gray, white, blood-red/soul-blue…). That’s why it stings me though. These normie nerd-asskisser boomers stealing my shit and turning it into garbage.
I practically skipped to class, Martins clacking on the floor. I made sure to accidentally stomp Jenni Lispickt’s toes as I passed her click of fake freinds. She practically screeched, failing around more dramatically than a desperate thespian trying to land a role before they’re evicted from their too-expensive apartment in Manhattan. To my utter disbelief, Chad Eric-Hower caught her accomodatingly. “OW!” Jenni moaned, holding her foot delicately. She smiled sweetely at Chad, who smirked through glasses thicker than Merleen, before glaring swords at me. “Bitch!” Jenni whispered covertly. “Enjoy life while you can,” she added quietly but sharply. I flipped her off and stomped into match class. “What’s going on here, hm?” Great, Miss Prizzle. “Nothing, Miss Prizzle,” I replied, smiling in a polite way, because I really didn’t want to deal with the old crone, but not too polite, because I’m no bitch. “Miss Prizzle? Prizzle has retired, Miss Essastella. I will be replacing her.” Surprised, I looked up in shock, and, sure enough, the woman standing at the head of the classrrooom couldn’t have been furtherer from the diminutive teacher who should’ve been there in her place instead. “What?” I asked to no one in particular. Miss Prizzle wouldn’t have retired if she had any choice not to. She practically lived for work, which was pathetic since her job was so lame, but whatever. The new teacher practically leered at me, eyebrows rising. She was short, hunched, with a face that seemed strangely lopsided, and deep-set eyes that glittered evilly. She wore a black dress, blocky black heels that looked more like clogs, black gloves, and a gray suit jacket that had an oversized bright pink-and-tie-dye fake plastic flower pinned to the lapel (ugh) and her hair was pulled back into a bun tighter than an elastic band being pulled by two roid-raged horses magnetically opposed to each other. “I said, Miss Prizzle is retired, and I am replacing her. I am Mrs. Ghab, and I will not be tolerating bullying.” I started to protest, but she cut me off sharply. “But I wasn’t b—” “Yes you were, you wicked girl. You just attacked poor Miss Lispickt in the hallway.” Mrs. Ghab said sharply, spitting with each word. I saw Jenni pretend-limping to her desk, fake smile sweeter than concentrated cotton candy plastered all over her ugly face. I swallowed my tongue. I had to play this cool. “OK, OK, I get it. It was just an accident, but whatever.” Ghab raised her eyebrow further, grinning from ear to ear, like literally. I was shocked her mouth could stretch so far (by the way, her teeth were all yellow and crooked and stuff).
“An ‘accident”? Oh, I don’t think so. You stepped on poor Miss Lispickt’s foot, almost breaking it by the looks of it. That behavior will just not do.” Ghab’s voice deepened suddenly, and her grin grew even wider. Eww, I though, silently. It was really freaky. “Here is what’s going to happen. You will apologize to Miss Lsipickt, right now. You will spend the rest of the day cleaning the bathrooms with the tools I provide to you. You will receive an official written warning, to be delivered to your guardian immediately. You will apologize to me for being so rude immediately. And most of all, you will return to school tomorrow wearing acceptable clothing in Wallvale colors. Are we clear?” I sat there, stunned, shocked, and surprised, standing silently for a moment, trying to accept what I just heard, reeling. “Good. Start immediately. And Chylce?” Ghab glared venomous fangs at me (but not literally, just figuratively, but seriously it was pretty close). “If I hear so much as one word out of that line, I’ll make you wish scrubbing bathrooms was the only thing you had to worry about..” I could sense Jenni giggling with her stupid freinds, and Chad-Eric Hower was looking way too satisfied. I couldn’t believe this. Slowly I turned towards Jenni and her groupies, walking step by stupid step towards humiliation. “Do you have something to tell me, Clhyce?” Jenni asked smugly, fake nasty smile still superglued to her fake nasty face. I paused, preparing, breathing deep breaths and doing all that BS that my ex-therapists told me to do, before. “Yeah, I do.” I forced the words from my mouth, packing as much venom and hatred as I could in each syllable: “I am so sorry your foot almost broke. I feel very dissapointed in myself because I almost broke your foot. Next time I promise I won’t stomp on your foot if if you’re being pathetic and lame.” Meanwhile Chad Eric-Hower giggled like a little bitch——that was because he was way too dumb too catch my clever barb. Jenni was just barely smart enough to though, so she glared at me, still misling. But I was literally telling the truth; next time I wouldn’t crush her foot; I’d aim for her head. “Next time I’ll make sure and break your ugly troll bones,” I thought, silently, but trying to project that though to Jenni. Maybe that worked because Jenni’s eyes widened in fear (that’s right bitch), but then Mrs. Ghab was clutching my shoulder and it literally herts so bad I think my shoulder bone will break. “Hmm… It’s a start. Let’s see if you can do alittle better tomorrow, shalln’t we?” “What?” I protested, desperately trying to avoid looking at the girls poorly-suppressed giggles, struggling against Ghab’s iron grip. The old bitch was strong. “Yes, Miss Essastella. You will apologize to Miss Jenni every day, until—” I broke in, interrupting. “Until when?” I interjected quickly. Ghab glared at me forewarningly: “Silence, child. You will apologize to Miss Jenni every day, until- her foot feels better. Doesn’t that seem fare?” It didn’t, but I nod anyway, totally in agony. In a physical sense as well as an emotional way, by the way, because Ghab at that moment tightened her grip even further, driving her long nails into my shoulder. Not my jacket, you old evil geezer,I thought silently, but trying my best to prodict that thought towards Ghab. Her dark eyes widened for a moment, so maybe that worked, but then she released me and I fell. 192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT50Pwc26o
Suddenly, out of nowhere, strong arms caught me. I looked up, ready to recognize Joshery, but to my surprise it was a totally diffferent guy. Evne though I was initially shockedd, wow his slim face was so dreamy (not just because I was almost passed out). “You OK?” The dark eyed guy asked, captivating eyes boring into mine like drills tipped with glittery black diamond. Still silent, I slightly nodded inconclusively, mostly stunned. “I guess so. Uh, thanks,” I said, tryng my best not to sound too out-of-breathe. “You!” Ghab hissed, and I literally swear she spat on my jackey in her fury. The guy stared at ehr rabid woman calmly, pulling me to my feet with ease. Even though Ghab sounded and looked hideously angry, for some reason, her eyes almost looked…happy? Somehow, I knew she was happy. Meanwhile, the guy grabbed me and pulled me out into the hall. I followed, happy to get away from the stupid old witch. “I’ll uh…start cleaning I guess,” I murmured as I left, hoping it will be enough to get me some breathing room. We step out into the hallway, door closing with a heavy click.
Now that we were out in the hall, I take the chance to get a better look at him. He was tall but not too tall, lean and totally shredded (but not like too shredded where it’s weird), with a thin sort of face (great cheekbones, great chin, dark eyebrows,) topped with dark messy hair; he was wearing black jeans sort of like mine but a bit looser and a little longer so they bunched up a bit at the bottoms——I saw two silver belt chains dangling from the left——with a black tight teeshirt under a dark leather jacket thaat had a blood-drop etching on the back and he had like light tactical boots that were clearly custom made. Most of all though I was stunned by his black eyes like a young and inexperienced deer trying to cross is stunned by jeep headlights on the highway just before it gets run over by that jeep. Also he overall looked like Brad Pitt’s younger, hotter brother, only with dark hair and stuff like I said. “Who are you?” I finally asked, still staring. He glowered like a hot coal does. Hotly. “That doesn’t matter right now. Just remember you need to stay away from strange people. Don’t talk to anyone else if you can help it. And most of all stay away from them.” He jabbed a finger at Miss Ghab’s classroom before pointing down the hall…to the principle’s office. “You meN, THE PRINCIPLE? (he nodded then, so it was the principle) ”Them”? Them? Who’s them, and why? What the hell is going on?” He winced, then shoko his heda, putting a finger on my lip to silence me. “Just stay out of trouble and keep your nose down. Trust me, it’s better that way.” He stood for a plit second, then strode quickly down the hall, turning a corner before I could react. “Wow,” I said. “What a wierd day.” But to be honesst? I have to admit. I like wierd.
*
The rest few dys were like half-and-half. The first half was pure misery, donated by Mrs. Ghab and the new principle, who it turned out looked practically identicle to Mrs. Ghab, only taller. Every day Jenni and her freinds made faces at me and humilated me every chance they get, which is every homeroom since I STILL have to apologize for doing literally nothing wrong. Principle Ghaak (yeah that’s literally her name, isn’t that so embarrising?) is the worst though. She’ss started to crack down on basically anything remotely fun, amusing, engaging, or entertaining. Swearing, breaks, lunch, stomping people’s feet, talking in the halls, talking outside the halls, stealing library books, drawing, drawing on the walls, using PHONES. She literally makes us dump everything that isn’t a textbook or pencil and paper or erasure into a bin. Every day I get slammed with a dozen stupid chores either because of that silli prank with Jenny or because of something new they’ve decided to critisize. They grade super harshly, tighten the due deadlines, assign extra work, and do just about anything anoyying or controlling you can imagine. It’s so bd that tha students have started calling her Miss Tyranny, or Mrs. T for short. (allright allright, tbh that nickname was actually my idea, but its gotten really popoular, especially for the students that aren’t with Jenni’s fako click). $Every Day is so similar Isometimes have to pinch myself to make sure m life hasn’t turned into a living nightmare made out of pure pain. But the other half? He’s literally so hot.
But, I do have to admit something. Today I realize that all of this started the exact day dark-eyed hottie arrived. Literally. As hot as he is (which is very); I’m also wondering where Joshery went, cause he disappeared right when dark eyes shows up. It makes me wonder…could he have something to do with all of this? He sure seems to kn0w a lot about it, to a really sus degree. And the fact that he seems to be avoiding me doesn’t make me any less suspicious. In fact, it makes me more suspicious. It might be time for a little investigation…
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