Right now, the only words that describe me are "depressed" and "confused." Never in my wildest dreams did I think my life would turn into this mess. I've always been the good kid-never wronged anyone, never slipped up, never did the unthinkable in a relationship, and always stayed loyal to my friends. Unlike some people. What my parents did, what Deanesh did, what Anthony did-it all took a toll on me. My life was smooth sailing until drama decided to crash in like an uninvited storm. And now, I'm stuck in the middle of this chaos, feeling ashamed and betrayed. Honestly, I can't wait to leave for college and get out of this town. I've had enough of this circus.

But my biggest worry right now is my little brother, Amari. God, he gets on my nerves sometimes, but I love that kid more than anything. I just hope he never has to deal with the kind of crap I've been through. I hope Mom and Dad keep their drama far away from him because it would seriously mess him up. Probably even worse than how they've messed me up.

Now, I'm crashing at our grandparents' place. Of course, they had to call up my parents to figure out what the hell happened after seeing me storm in, fuming. I didn't spill much, but deep down, they already knew the deal. They called my parents, and after hearing their childish excuses, they hung up on them. The constant arguing around me and my brother is beyond exhausting. No peace, no quiet, just drama. So, our grandparents-my mom's parents-didn't press me for more details.

All day, I was drowning in emotions. Sure, I could've hit up my girls, but this time, I needed to face my demons alone. Sometimes, you have to handle your mess solo, no matter how many lifelines you have. Night finally rolled around, and I couldn't stop replaying everything in my head. Thankfully, Grandma was taking care of Amari, so he was in safe hands while I was stuck in my pit of misery. I cried myself to sleep, and the next morning, I had zero appetite. They practically had to force-feed me, which, I guess, was for the best.

I spent the whole day in my room after forcing down some food, staring blankly at the walls. At one point, I glanced in the mirror and saw a sad, broken girl looking back at me. I screamed, had a complete breakdown, and cried until there were no more tears. But then something snapped. I decided enough was enough. I wasn't going to let this defeat me. I looked in the mirror again, but this time, I was ready for a change. I grabbed some scissors and chopped my hair off, bleached it, dyed it black and blue, and embraced a whole new look. Welcome to my punk rock era-my new beginning. Everything needed a change, and after all the crap I've been through, why not start with me?

The day flew by, and soon it was Monday morning-another lame school day. I woke up, did my makeup, tried on some new clothes, and was ready to rock and roll. When I finally left my room, my grandparents were speechless. They tried to talk me out of it, but I wasn't having any of it. This was my new identity, and I wasn't about to change it for anyone.

I headed to school, and as soon as I stepped out of my car, all eyes were on me like I was some sort of ghost. But I didn't care. I walked straight into school without saying a word to anyone. I shoved my stuff in my locker and headed to class, even though it hadn't started yet. When Karissa saw me, her jaw dropped. She was surprised, to say the least, seeing me transformed into a Goth.

Karissa's eyes widened as she took in my new appearance. "Woah, Dena, what happened? Why are you dressed like that?"

I smirked, preparing myself for the questions that were bound to follow. "Well, long story short, my mom and dad both cheated on each other. I lost it, moved out with my brother, and decided to go for a new look. Do you like it?"

Karissa nodded slowly, a mix of surprise and admiration in her expression. "That's a lot to take in, but yeah, you look good. I just didn't expect someone like you to go full Goth."

"Expect the unexpected," I replied with a grin. "So, where are the girls? Why aren't they here?"

Karissa's expression turned somber. "They both got the flu."

I raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Girl, you're lying."

She shook her head. "I wish I was. But let's not dwell on that. Tell me everything that happened."

With a chuckle, I obliged, recounting the tumultuous events with my parents. Karissa listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions or words of support. It felt good to get it all off my chest, even if I had to do it alone.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of our conversation, we headed to our classes. Thankfully, we had the same schedule today. We breezed through the first and second periods, acing them effortlessly. Now, it was lunchtime, and I was starving.

I strode into the bustling school cafeteria alongside Karissa, the clatter of trays and chatter filling the air. Amidst the noise, Deanesh's taunting voice pierced through.

"Look at what the cat dragged in," she sneered, her gaze fixated on me.

I bristled, my patience wearing thin. "If you've got something to say, Dae, say it to my face."

Deanesh, never one to back down, retorted, "Or else what?"

A smirk played on my lips as I retorted, "Let's see. You'd be a pathetic coward."

Deanesh's facade faltered. "What did you say?"

My tone dripped with disdain. "Oh, please. I'm tired of your worn-out insults. Don't you have anything original to say? But then again, intelligence isn't exactly your forte."

Without hesitation, I grabbed a nearby bottle of water and poured it over Deanesh, who stood dumbfounded amidst the laughter of our peers. I brushed past her, refusing to let her ruin my day yet again, and took a seat with Karissa, enjoying my lunch in peace.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, I braced myself for more classes. Despite the frustration, I was determined to excel in every one of them.

The school day dragged on, each class passing in a blur of lectures and note-taking. Finally, the bell chimed, signaling the end of the day. But as I made my way outside, my heart sank at the sight of my car-vandalized, paint smeared in red, and eggs smashed against it.

Deanesh emerged from the shadows, a smug grin on her face. "Have fun cleaning that car," she taunted.

Fury coursed through me, but beneath it, a simmering determination took hold. Revenge would be sweet.