♔Lindsey's P.O.V♔

I watched Zac turn away from me, like he did the last time on the roof. But this time, everything was different. He didn't turn away because he wanted to, he turned away because I forced him to. I was to blame for him when he wanted to fight for what we had.

The screeching sound of tyres on a rough surface is heard as he drives off to the unknown. Now I feel scared. I don't know why, but I don't think it was a great idea for him to drive off in this state. I just hope that he is safe and sound.

I felt lightheaded as I entered the house. All I wanted to do was place my head against a lush pillow and escape to a land of dreams; completely forgetting that any of this ever happened.

I spot uncle sitted on the couch, arms bent forward and finger interlocked. He looks on the ground, as if he were impatiently waiting for someone. Having felt my presence, he looks up and pats the space beside him, indicating that I should take a seat.

"Uncle, if you're here to ask questions, just know that I don't want to talk about it." I crossed my arms across my chest. It's not because I was being rude. Honestly, I was mentally tired of all this. I just wanted to escape all these problems that are being shot at me.

"I'm not going to force you into saying anything you don't want to. I just wanted to say that I could have handled him by myself. There was no need for you to intervene. Clearly, that boy had done enough damage to you. Why did you have to stop me?"

I was not sorry when I rolled my eyes at my uncle. "I had to intervene uncle. For goodness sake, you could have killed him if I hadn't arrived in time."

"I was handling him quite well, Lindsey."

"By punching him? Thinking that using violence would solve the problem?" I looked at my uncle, who didn't sound like the practical person I knew at the moment.

"Lindsey, you're not getting my point--"

"No, you listen, uncle. You're clearly not getting my point." I took in a deep breath and continued, "There was no need to hit him like that. I know that he was in the wrong, but you reciprocating in anger was also wrong."

"I was just trying to help," uncle's voice began to rise as well.

"Help," I snorted in laughter, "You weren't helping uncle. Rather, thanks for making the situation ten times worse for me. Just leave me and my problems alone. I don't need you fighting all my battles."

By the time I had finished, my eyebrows arched in surprise after having heard what I just said to uncle.

"Uncle, I didn't mean---" he stopped me before I could continue.

"Clearly, I'm of no importance to you now. Well, I'm glad you made that clear." With those last words, uncle stood from his place and walked out through the front door, leaving me alone with many unspoken words lingering in the air.

"I'm sorry, uncle. I just... I just have no idea what came over me," I murmured to myself, as the tears poured out of my eyes. This time around, I let them. I couldn't bare the pain anymore. First losing Zac and now my own uncle. What is happening? What have I done wrong?

I ran up the stairs and found my room. Getting in, I slammed the door hard and collapsed to the floor, bringing my knees to my chest. I wrapped my arms around them and bent my head, as my trousers wettened from the tears that couldn't seem to finish.

I just wanted my life back to normal. Where Zac was never there. And where uncle and I lived as a happy family under one roof.

I wonder what changed. Am I perhaps the one who has changed all this time? Am I the cause of all this constant unhappiness in my life?

My questions lingered in the air; unanswered. I found myself giving in to darkness to quickly as sleep consumed me. Watching me fall deep into the unknown.

♔

It's another day as time seemed to go by much slower than it usually does. Mr Woods had called me up and told me to head to return to work or the school would make sure that I lost my job. I just told him that I would be there, although deep down I dreaded ever returning to that hell hole.

I sighed defeated as I hauled myself out of bed. Now I had to meet the one person I didn't want to. To add on to my problems, facing the judgment and wrath of many students at Hartford High.

My morning was as sour as sour grapes. After my argument with uncle, we hadn't spoken since then. I had gone to sleep to early and I felt that we were both avoiding each other, hoping that this would solve our problem. But this only brought more strain and damage to our relationship.

Plus, deep down I knew I had to apologise for everything I did last night. It was not my intention to say all those hurtful words to uncle. My anger just spiralled out of control. More like I was angry at myself and I just wanted to vent my anger out at anyone and blame my problems on other people. I'm a horrible person.

I quickly showered and I was out in about twently minutes. With a towel wrapped around me, I headed to my closet, trying to find an outfit that I could wear to school. After much searching, I settled on black jeans with a plain white t-shirt and really worn out tekkies I always wore. Not like anyone would pay attention to my outfit. I was only a regular janitor in their eyes

I grabbed a pair of denim black jeans and put it on with a white plain shirt. I threw on my black flat shoes and grabbed my bag to head to school.

I grab my backpack and headed downstairs. I walked into the kitchen, hoping to find uncle so that I could talk to him and clear things up. But as I'm met with an empty kitchen and no sign of uncle. The sighed, he sadness creeping in and letting me know that somehow uncle had not forgiven me.

Suddenly I was not in the mood to eat anything, so I headed to the leaving room. Upon my arrival, a big piece of cake awaits my presence on the table. Right next to it was a note. I reached over for the paper and carefully opened it to read what was written on it.

Kid, your ol' man is bad at this so I'll just get straight to the point. I'm sorry for arguing with you last night. You were right. It was not my place to hit him like that. I apologise that I made you angry in any way. Forgive your ol' man. I had to clear the air here, ' cause a father can't stay angry at their child for too long.

-Your Uncle.

I wiped away my tears that managed to escape my eyes. I've become an emotional wreck lately. I took a bite of the cake and left it there as I rushed out, hoping to find uncle bent over his cars.

And he is. Uncle is busy with his cars that he doesn't notice me when I run over to engulf me in a bear hug.

"Woah, looks like someone woke up on the right side of the bed." He embraced me back, making sure that his oily hands did not ruin my clothes.

"Uncle, I saw your note," I pulled away, showing him the folded paper in my hand. He looked at the paper in my hands and a soft smile lit his face.

"Lindsey, I'm really sorry for---" I stop him from talking any further.

"Uncle, I should be the one apologising, not you. It was my fault that we argued in the first place. I was so angry that I put the blame on you. I'm sorry for what I did and said. It was wrong of me to think that I would be able to fight back if it weren't for you. I would ask for your forgiveness, but I don't deserve it." I looked away, unable to meet his eyes after the horrible things I said to him.

"Oh, don't sweat it, Lindsey," he gave me a side hug, again making sure that his oily hands didn't mess my clothes, "You deserve all my forgiveness. You're like a daughter to me, Lindsey. I cannot stay angry at my child for too long. That is not the nature of a parent."

I embraced my uncke again, the bliss blossoming in me. All this while, I thought that I didn't have any parents. But uncle proved me wrong. He stood uo for me and would fight anyone for me. He took me in when no one wanted me. He took care of me and always made sure that I was happy no matter what.

He was surely my dad.

♔

After sorting out everything with uncle, I felt at peace. Like a burden had been lifted off of my shoulders. The taxi came to a halt, and I paid the driver before stepping out of the vehicle. But all my happiness blew into the wind after I remembered where I was.

The students were unwelcoming from the time I set foot into the school from the gate. Some made it clear when they called me names---which I ignored. And some sent glares of distaste towards me, which I also ignored.

I was not here to please anyone after all. And I had gotten used to it. I used all this hate and chanelled it as my fuel for success. So there more hate there was, the merrier it was for me.

From the way everyone stared at me, I don't think they expected me to show my face after what went down at the party. Surely, the expected me to cry and suffer, Like they've always had from the beginning. But after all that pain I've went through and letting myself cry all this time, I realised something.

I've been doing it wrong all this time. I've shown my weakness to them and made them see me cry, just so they could feed on my defeat and make themselves feel better. But I was done with all the crying. I was done with making myself weak and a target in front of all these people. Now I walked with my head high. I am no longer a weakling. I will show them that their hate never had and never will affect me in any way. Period.

Heading over to the janitors closet, I changed into my uniform and grabbed the mop and the bucket. My day always started off with mopping the hallway, so I made my way out of the closet and to the place I was meant to be.

All eyes were on me as I walked with all the carefree in the world. I was never an attention seeker, so all this attention was making me feel uncomfortable.

To make my morning worse, I spot Monica and Vicki from a mile away, chatting with each other like they've been friends for a very long time.

To make matters worse, they turn their heads in my direction. The shock on their faces clearly tells me that they didn't expect me to be back so soon. But they cover it up pretty well and instead send death glares my way.

It would be best that I ignored them. They are not my business now. Instead, I grasped my mop in deeped it into the water before walking over to start mopping.

Did I mention that I was also a bit of a klutz? I don't look where I'm heading that I bump into a brick wall. Was it a brick wall or was it something else?

Looking up, I notice that the person is dressed in the same blue janitor uniform as me. Perhaps, he is a new janitor that the school hired after I hadn't appeared on Monday. Thank goodness I came today. Who know what would've happened if I didn't appear. I would've gotten fired and the man might also have taken my place.

I decided to mop on the other side when I take a peak at his work; just for curiosity. I notice that he has been mopping the same spot for over twenty minutes---judging from how wet the spot looked.

"Hey, excuse me," I tapped the man on his shoulder. He doesn't even acknowledge me or looks in my direction. How rude. Only then I realized that he had headphones on.

"Hey. You do know that headphones are not allowed on the job, right?" I asked him after pulling off his headphones. Still no response as he continued to mop the same spot, now making it look like a mini tsunami struck it.

I get mad when someone doesn't mop the right way.

"Excuse me. Will you at least look at me?" People had begun to gather around us. So instead of talking, I grabbed his arm and spun him around so that he could face me.

I look at the man's face and my mop drops the ground, eyes open in shock and mouth mouth ajar when I see who it is.

♔___♔___♔

Heeyyyya! Once again, thanks for reading and making my day. Don't forget to vote by pressing on the little 🌟 on the bottom left corner if you liked it.

Bye, and love you all to bits❤❤❤

P.S. Only the epilogue remains.