Lhyn's POV -
I hear the alarm on my alarm clock beeping softly to wake me up. I turned the volume down to prevent it from waking up father.
I quickly turn it off to be safe.
I slowly sit up and look around my room. I guess expecting it to look like it used to.
But that's just a fantasy. All in my head.
I hurriedly get up and throw some clothes to wear onto my bed. I brush my teeth, brush my hair, and apply a little cat eye to my face. I grab my clothes and through them on before going back into the bathroom.
I always make sure to step in the exact places where I know the boards won't creak. To others it probably looks like I'm playing hopscotch.
I check to see where the bruises and cuts are still visible before applying enough cover up to prevent anyone from noticing them.
I check myself over once more before my game of hopscotch continues as I make my way into the kitchen. I know I don't have time to eat here before he wakes up, so I through a breakfast bowl in the microwave for father once he wakes up.
Once it's done, I set it on the table with a fork before hopping outside. Just as I close the front door behind me, I look up to his window to see his light turn on.
Perfect timing.
I usually leave all of my stuff at school. I don't have any friends, and it's better this way. It gives me time to focus on my school work so I don't have any homework. This enables me to leave my stuff at school so I don't have to worry about forgetting it, or father ruining it.
I run to the end of the street to make sure he doesn't see me before slowing my pace to a walk.
I know what you're thinking.
Your father's abusive.
He's not. Really.
He's just adjusting to life. It's all different now and he doesn't know how to handle everything yet.
That doesn't matter though.
I let my mind wander as I continue on my path to school.
Finally, I see the relatively small building come into view.
My school isn't necessarily small, but it isn't exactly large either. It's more of a medium I guess. It's small enough where everyone knows everyone, but large enough that you probably won't run into everyone on the same day.
It does have two floors, but that is mainly to organize locker locations with 9th-10th grades on the first floor and 11th-12th graders on the second. I'm in 12th, but I am still 17. I am probably the youngest person in my grade.
Besides Olivia of course. She's 15. But don't underestimate her, she is amazingly smart. We are on slightly good terms, but we are not friends.
I don't need any friends. They would just complicate things. Probing in my family life. Asking questions about my dad. Thinking something for what it's not.
Just too many problems could arise. So I keep my distance.
I make my way upstairs to grab my stuff for my first couple of classes before making my way to my first class.
And the day begins.
Finally.
Lunch!
The only part of my day which includes food and no social interactions. I don't totally hate talking to people, but it gives me time to work on upcoming assignments and homework before they are due.
I grab a cookie and a bag of salt and vinegar chips, my favorite, before making my way to my signature spot under the bleachers. The only reason I was able to buy lunch today is because I was able to snag a few dollars out of father's wallet. He probably doesn't even remember it was in there. It's beautiful outside today, so I decide to sit outside.
I set my books down and start to read some chapter of our literature book while munching on my snack. Lunch at my school lasts considerably longer than at other schools since we let our student drivers go out to eat.
We actually earned that right when I was a freshman. Each of our school's sports teams gets a little gift for doing well, after each season, every year. Well in my freshman year, all of the sports team's ganged together and asked for a group reward. The deal was, if they managed to make it so far in the season, each team had different but equally achievable goals, then the whole school would be able to go out to get their lunches for end of that year, and the next.
They managed to pull it off and the students responded pretty good to it. The school actually noticed a boost in moral and work ethic, so it's stayed ever since.
I turn and see the soccer team practicing on one half of the field, and the football team practicing on the other half. I watch as the two teams discreetly shoot glares at one another to avoid being caught by the coach.
It's quite amusing honestly.
Every now and then, someone will get caught and have to run a couple of laps. They just look so childish.
I even caught a few of them sticking their tongues out at one another.
That was a beautiful moment.
The two teams have always had a rivalry, each one claiming to be the superior sport.
They each have valid arguments, but they just can't settle the matter.
I shut my book after finishing a few chapters and check the time on the wall clock that's on the side of the school. I don't actually have a phone, which would make checking the time easier.
Father decided it was a waste to spend money on it, so he sold it. He kept his though.
I guess he knew it is pretty safe around here, and he might need the money, so it's all ok.
I still have half an hour before my next class so I decide to watch the practice. Something interesting is bound to happen.
I take a look at the clock and then it suddenly clicks.
Oh great.
The doors slam open as the "Queens" walk out. If you couldn't tell, they named themselves.
Hannah, Emily, Rose, and Daisy. Rose and Daisy are actually twins, no surprise there, and their parents are florists. I find it adorable who much the lovely couple lover their flowers. I actually buy a bouquet from them every year for my mother to put on her grave stone.
As lovely as their parents are, neither of the twins managed to pick up their parents' traits. In my school, there isn't just one queen bee, there's two.
The twins are always sure to be dating the best guy in school. They have to have who they deem the most attractive friends. And they have the need to make their presence known whenever they walk into a room.
Luckily, my status enables me to fly under their radar. If not, I'm sure I'd be the perfect little puppet to play all of their tricks and games on.
The twins latest subject is Dawson Williams and Tyler Scott. Dawson is the football teams captain and Tyler is his right hand man.
They do everything together. When they say best friends till the end, I know they mean it. I have to give them some respect for staying this true to one another, but that's where the respect ends.
They are douches and really don't care about other's opinions.
Rose has managed to get her claws on Dawson, so naturally Daisy had to follow and went with next best.
The little group make their way over to the edge of the field before stopping. Rose waves at Dawson who waves back and jogs over. Soon their hands are all over each other. I'm not surprised, but it's still disgusting.
I look over to the soccer team to see them fake gagging and some are even laying on the ground to express their point. I let out a little chuckle. The soccer team always manages to make things into a joke and I think that's part of the reason the football team hates them. The football team is insanely serious and all strategy.
I decide to put all my books together so when the bell rings, I'm not scrambling to get to my next class.
I glance over to the coaches to see what they think about all of this and see them missing. Probably went inside to finish paperwork or something.
Finally the bell rings and I grab my stuff to make it to class in time. Also to avoid being spotted by the "Mean Queens".
Back to the grind.
I walk outside and spot a tan Jeep sitting in one of the guest parking spots. Four kids stand outside of it, three guys and a girl, just watching the students roll out of the building.
I guess they are waiting until everyone's gone before going inside. Maybe we are actually getting some new students. That would liven things up around here for sure.
My eyes latch onto one of the guys's eyes. He seems to be looking around and alert, ready to jump or something.
Maybe he's nervous?
Oh, well, not my problem. I turn and walk away from the odd group and on my route home.
As I step inside I stop and listen.
I do this every time to figure out what I'm walking into.
Nothing.
Not a sound.
This is probably a good sign.
I slowly step the rest of the way in before starting to close the door. It suddenly slams behind me so I whip around to see father standing with his hand slammed onto the door, his glare staring down at me.
I look down.
"Hi, father."
"Where were you." His tone is terrifyingly cold and calm.
"At school, as always." I mutter the last part, not meaning for him to hear.
He suddenly flips us around and has his hand pinning my neck to the door. "WATCH your mouth!"
"I'm s-sorry." I can feel his grip tighten its hold.
"You KNOW I look out for you for your own good RIGHT!?"
"I know I kn-"
"It's because I love you, OK?!" I try to nod as I start to get light headed. "Good." He lets go of me and I drop to the floor.
He walks down into the basement where he has a man-cave set up. He usually just stays down there and drinks his heart away.
I slowly get up, taking my time to make sure I don't pass out. I notice he left his wallet upstairs so I grab a few dollars for lunch money and to save up for my mothers bouquet.
I run into the bathroom to estimate how bad the bruise will be tomorrow. I can already see it forming. Nothing cover up can't handle.
I wipe off all of my makeup and brush my teeth. I hop in the shower and turn the heat all the way up. I love the burning temperature. After washing, I sit down in the shower and just think. Showers are actually surprisingly good thinking spots.
I let my mind wander from the four strangers, to the goofy soccer team.
This is the one time a day I get to totally let my thoughts go. Wherever they want to go, they go.
I head back to my room and change into my pjs and throw my clothes into my laundry bin.
We have a washer and dryer, but I'm not allowed to use them. On the weekends, I'll soak them in water and soap before hanging them on a little drying rack in my room.
I pick up my last reminder of my mom and look at it for a while. It's a picture of the two of us taken shortly before her accident. We both have our arms wrapped around one another and you can tell the picture was taken in the middle of us laughing.
Father was the one taking the picture. I will always treasure these memories. This picture is the last thing I have of my mother. Father got rid of everything else. I managed to hide this one photo.
I set it back beside my bed before turning my light out and making sure my alarm was set.
Finally I close my eyes and let my dreams take over.
