"I wish you'd die Selese!"

Cory's words stuck to me like glue on paper. I thought about them on repeat as I tried to calm my nerves. It had already been more than an hour, and I was far out of sight from their reach, but still it stung me to my core.

A little too close to home.

The water was cool against my feet, a little tingly. Murky greenish brown in color, but filled with living creatures. I watched as a red and white fish far too big for this pond swam around in circles. Every few seconds, flicking its tail to speed up a little, but otherwise moving along at a snails pace. It seems so content, but I guess it's the only life that fish has seen. It doesn't know there are lakes nearby nor a big ocean. I don't know which it'd survive in, but either would have been better than here. Who thought to put a pond in the middle of an animal shelter anyways?

Why I am here again. Mother will be upset if I'm not on time for dinner. It's just a little longer before the cut fully heals though.

Nala, the large Doberman Husky mix who owns this spot, has almost finished licking at my fingers to near pre-blood covered neatness. While Puffs, her overly sleepy Pomeranian boyfriend, has been on my lap so long I'm starting to get a little numb. Admittedly not that long, my blood circulation is poor, but enough to warn me too much time has passed. I look around at the outdoor metal fence style cages surrounding us. There are some new dogs and a couple that are too untrusting to come out and enjoy this minor piece of freedom. I would enjoy cuddling up to them too. Though even if they were out, I don't think Nala would let them near us. She can be territorial with her favorite human.

She's kind of my favorite too.

I pull my hand away from Nala, but not before sneaking in a quick head pat. Then I lift Puffs off of me and onto the ground beside us, further from the water. He whines in discontentment, but doesn't try to get back on. I pull my feet out of the water as well, shaking them before slipping my shoes on. My socks stay in my backpack in the little sandwich bag I keep for them. I can't get my socks too dirty, they're the only ones I'll get for the rest of the year, so I try to keep care of them.

From what I can feel from the spot on my forehead where Cory threw the textbook, it indeed seems to have fully healed. The gash is gone and I don't feel any temporary scarring. There's still some dried blood on my cheek. I rub it off the best I can. A tinge of fear shoots through my chest.

I really honestly wish mom would stop sleeping with Cory's dad. Cory hates it, and I'm getting tired of being called whore's daughter all the time. At least with ice queen they didn't throw heavy hardcovers. Or say those kinds of things.

But she doesn't care and if I complain she'll just get more angry with me. All she cares about is money. At least father also cares about sports, sort of. A small chuckle releases from my lips. Nala looks at me with those big brown eyes. Whining just as Puffs had been. I stand up and wipe my eyes, but not before a couple of tears soil my shirt. I look toward the ground beside us, and place my hand on her head. Scratching her ear and rubbing her cheek.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm fine girl." She rubs her nose against my other hand. I move it toward her other cheek and go full on pet mode. Puffs growls in slight jealousy. I lift my shoe up a little for him to play with.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow. Love you pups."

I stop the petting, foot playing, and turn towards the gate to the street. They follow me. I pause for a moment and turn back at them. I bring my hand up, exposing the full palm like a stop sign.

"What are you two doing? You know to stay back. Don't suddenly follow me like that!" I hope I'm not giving mixed messages, as admittedly I'm smiling. I spin around and open the gate, quickly shutting it because they're still following me. Nala is even growling a little bit. I guess I'll have to retrain them. Is someone else coming here, but maybe bothering them? I'll have to bring some extra treats so they feel better.

We're having steak tonight, they'll like that.

Oh no! I'm late!