Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
Sleeping beast
LYRIAH
“Look who we have here.” Mia stands in front of my seat, wearing that fake smile she uses to deceive everyone.
She holds her cup up high, and her drink comes sliding down my head and drips on my uniform. I close my eyes, reminding myself why I should be cool, reminding myself we can’t afford to change school, let alone a different country, but I wonder how much of these I can take.
She throws the cup on me, the edges hitting my head. All the girls turn a blind eyes while some laugh. I open my eyes and look up at her, and she slaps me.
“Peasants like you shouldn’t be staring at me,” she points at me.
“Don’t you know it is because of my dad’s contribution? You can afford a little bit of comfort,” she adds.
The teacher comes in, and they all run to their seats. I lock eyes with the teacher, and she looks away, not commenting on what she witnesses. It is never like she ever says anything. I don’t blame her. Mia dad’s connection runs deep. A call from her dad can ruin or make one’s life.
My eyes are on Mia, who is chatting on her phone. I squeeze the pencil, it breaks and cut my hand in the process. I look down at the broken pencil.
This would make a great murder weapon. I would stab her neck, making sure it hit the right vitals and watch her bleed out, or I would stab her eyes, would it give me some satisfactions. I guess I wouldn’t know until I try it out. Come to think of it. All the above listed is an easy way out. I want her to beg for death. I want to hear her high-pitched voice cry out for mercy like the girls and boys from my old school did.
“Lyriah, what do you understand by what I said?” Larry, the English teacher, asks.
“No need to ask her. She is dumb. ” Mia echoes.
“You talked about how research is a vital part of essays mixed with personal experience. Research saves us from lawsuits or slanders or rejection, ” I answer, and Miss Larry nods. Miss Larry turns to the board and continues to teach.
My eyes averts to Mia, whose eyes are already on me. She mutters a cuss word, and I look away, making sure it leaves her questioning her worth. I smile from the corner of my mouth. By the time I look at her, she fumes in anger.
Oh, Mia. The things I want to do to you.
~◇◇~
“You are the only student who washes her clothes every day.” Uncle Mayo stands by the doorframe of the laundry room.
“Either that or we move.” I open the dryer and put my clothes into a basket.
“It has been six months and no call from your school. I am proud of you. ” Uncle Mayo walks to me and kisses my forehead.
“Don’t toot my horns yet. Who knows? I am still thinking of ways to make the call worth it? I would like it to leave a mark. ” I close my eyes and enjoy the feel on his comforting hands on me.
“That better be a joke, and the last time that joke is cracked,” He pulls away and hits my hand.
I smile as I watch my dark skin uncle tiredly leave the laundry room. I hate that he gets overly tired more recently. Everything I do to make things better for him only makes him sleep so much with no strength replenished. It isn’t like we are poor or anything. We are comfortable. We should be categorized as middle class.
I shake the thought off my head and leave the laundry room, making sure to turn off the light.
~◇◇~
“Creepy pauper, I need some snacks from the vending machine,” Mia says it audibly for the entire class to hear.
My entire focus is on the novel I am reading, ‘How to seal my demons so I don’t kill Mia Schmidt’. Okay, no, that is not the title, but it can as well be.
“I am talking to you,” a hand hit my head hard. I don’t need to look to know it is Mia.
“What, Mia?”
“Don’t use that tone on me.” she holds my jaw tight and aggressively shifts.
“Go get something for me.” Mia stands me and pushes me towards the door.
I tumble over the desks and chairs. I take deep breaths, hoping it calms my nerves down or everyone who turns a blind eye will pay.
~◇◇~
“Everyone step out.” The principal orders as she barges into our classroom with three police men and Mia behind them.
“Take nothing of yours. Just stand close to the board, ” she instructs.
Everyone obeys and stands up. I walk to the board far away from Mia and her cohorts. The principal and two policemen search our belongings. My eyes meet Mia, and she takes that as a cue to walk to me. I look away, hoping she is going somewhere, but like always, things don’t go my way.
“A little punishment, next time you wouldn’t ignore me when I talk,” Mia whispers softly in my ears, and I am dumbfounded.
What is she on about?
My eyes are diverted to the principal who is searching my bag. She stands upright and turns to us. The principal is holding a sparking necklace.
I don’t need to explain. They wouldn’t believe me. Not when her revenge is well thought out and why, because I looked away when she spoke gibberish. It is not like I would hear her with how far apart our chairs are.
“Thief,” Mia fakes cries and points at me.
They all turn to me, but my eyes are fixated on the girl who so desperately wants to die by my hand. The brunette spoily brat. The girl who wants me to awaken the beast I am trying to hard to tame. Careful Mia because you can’t imprison what you set free.
“Follow me,” the principal says as she leaves with the police men.
My eyes avert to her neck as I imagine choking her to death. I look at the window, or better still, push her down to her death. I could as well just strangle her with the necklace she has on. Hitting her head on every hard surface in this classroom- this sounds better. It is a lot better than the rest.
I look away and walk out of the classroom.
