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↽AMELIA⇀

CHAOS.

A word known for the terror it causes; the fear it strikes within people. It was a word given to me by my fellow students at Houston Community College. A nickname of sorts, and one that I loathed.

It was my fault, of course. It wasn't every day someone randomly set a car on fire in front of their entire student body. Personally, I blamed Amber Stanton. She thought dumping orange juice in my platinum-blonde hair would be absolutely hilarious. I found it infuriating.

So, as I walked out to my car to grab my gym bag, with the full intent of using the locker room showers to wash the juice out, Amber followed right behind me making snide remarks that, of course, pushed all the right buttons to push me over the edge.

"It was just a joke, Amelia, relax!" Amber laughed at my back like I was taking this all too seriously. "It's not like it'll stain!"

"Go away," I mumbled, more to myself than her. Fist clenched at my sides, something began to unfurl somewhere deep within me.

"Amelia," she whined. "C'mon! I'm sure your mom could–" She stopped short. "Oops, sorry, I mean..." Amber snorts, giggling to herself.

My jaw clenches as I open my car door, and snatch my black gym bag out of the passenger seat. Whipping around, I sling the bag over my shoulder and meet Amber's green eyes. "Are you done?" I asked, cocking my head to the side. I stare at her with a blank expression, acting as unbothered as I could. But everyone knew not having a mother in my life ate at me, hard. Deep within my core, a deep and heavy feeling rooted itself there, digging its claws into my chest. It burned, fueling my brewing anger.

When Amber doesn't say anything, I take a step forward and continue. "Ya know, Amber, somewhere out there, there's a tree working very hard to produce oxygen so that you can breathe. I think you should go and apologize to it."

A crowd of students had gathered on the front steps, listening to the bitch fest. To say Amber and I were the hot topic of the student body every week would be a major understatement.

Amber rolls her eyes, mocking my stance with her arms crossed over her chest. "Sweetie you're the human version of period cramps, nobody likes you."

I snort. "Oh Amber, I feel bad for you," I clicked my tongue. "Nobody likes you either. Honestly? The people who tolerate you on a daily basis are the real heroes."

Amber drops her arms. "Stupidity isn't a crime, hun," she points behind her toward the double doors. "You're free to go."

I throw my head back and laugh. "I don't have the time or the crayons to explain this to you, but let me put it this way: I. Don't. Give. A fuck." With a shrug of my shoulders and a smirk on my lips, I push past Amber and make my way back to the front entrance. A sigh of relief released the claws from my chest, making it easier to breathe once more.

"It must be hard, not having a mom," Amber blurts. I stupidly stop in my tracks and wait for what she has to say next. "It must be even harder having a mom that didn't want you."

My jaw clenches, fists balling at my sides at her snide remarks. This isn't the first time I've been made fun of for being adopted. But hearing it from the red-headed bitch that's been riding my ass since the first day I got here, threw me over the edge. The heavy darkness reared its head, sinking deep in my chest and burning with rage.

Amber's laughter pierced my ears, burning a hole into my brain. Her words, on top of the orange juice still soaking my hair, ignited that inferno within me.

Whipping around, I unclenched my fist and opened my mouth with the intent of firing back at her. But what happened instead didn't ignite laughter within the students observing; it ignited screams of terror and chaos.

My car burst into flames, only three feet from where Amber stood. Yelping, Amber scurried from the vehicle until she was a safe distance away. The other students ran back inside screaming, while she stopped and stared right at me. My eyes were locked on the flames dancing all over my vehicle, stunned and speechless.

Amber stormed up to me, fists clenched and eyes wild. "You're a fucking freak, Amelia Denvers. I hope you rot in Hell." She stormed off into the school building, while sirens sounded off in the distance. I stood still, knowing my adoptive father and I were about to travel across the country. Again.

Maybe I was a freak after all.

↽✷⇀

Enjoy the first chapter? 

Much Love, Em
xoxo