I shivered as my cold skin tingled. I groaned as bright light tried to becken me awake and birds sang around me. I opened my eyes to see the road in front of me, ‘What the..?’ I sat up to see me wearing the same clothes as yesterday covered in dirt and something reddish-brown. I looked over at the woods to my left. I was sitting on a patch of grass between the woods and the road. My hand shot to my neck then I looked down at my arm. Both had unbroken skin covered in dried blood and dirt. ‘I know last night happened. Right? It did… happen..?’ I shook my head, staring at the blood on my arm. I licked it, ‘It’s blood. It happened.’ I shivered, gabbing my jacket. It felt stiff as I slipped it on and stood up. My legs went numb and I crashed back to the wet grass. The blood rushed to my head and hissed. I waited a minute and stood up slowly. 

I checked from anyone outside who would question why I had blood on my neck and hands. I slipped on my hood as my eyes stung from the light. A low fog lingered as I walked through the streets. I whined as I realized my bag of chips wasn’t with me when I woke up. ‘Gosh dang it.’ My eyes watered as I yawned loudly. I crossed the street onto Maydale Street, staring at the bright blue house on the corner. A thick ball formed in my chest as I stared in jealousy. ‘It’s so pretty and put together. We used to be like that; the prettiest house in the neighborhood.’

I looked up at the white two story at the end of the block. I could almost see it; blue trim, bright flowers, gnome and fairy statues in the yard, a little pond in the corner by the door and the garage. I blinked and it was gone. The statues had lost their color, the pond murky and dirty. I hung my head as my eyes watered. ‘I’m sorry, mommy.’ Her proud garden was shameful. I dug in my pocket and sighed in relief when my finger touched the cool metal of my keys. My eyes stilled on the blue and yellow sign on the door. The ‘Come and Have A Laugh’ sign mom hung up when she heard the neighbor’s call us anti-social. 

I quickly unlocked the door and slammed it closed, running upstairs. I stripped as I walked into the bathroom, turning on the water I stood under the stream. I closed my eyes as my nose burned and twitched. Swallowing hard, I hugged myself, falling to my knees. ‘What am I going to do?’ I cried, my tears mixing with the water. I screamed silently before it turned into a sob. 

When I stopped crying and just sat staring at the drain, I stood up and started to actually shower. After my body was washed and my soul down the drain, I got out and got dressed. My foot thud against a small box in the closet and my heart stopped. I picked up the box and set it on the bed softly. My fingers delicately pushed through the box of pictures. My eyes watered at the smiles on our faces, when dad could stand to be near me- or even look at me.

 Mom’s goofy faces while baking cupcakes, dressed as Jane from Tarzan for Halloween, with me as a baby bundled in her arms. ‘She was so beautiful, and sweet, and caring. She didn’t deserve to die.’ I curled up next to the pictures and cried again. ‘If mom was here, last night wouldn’t have happened.’ I cried until my nose was sore and my head hurt. I focused on my breathing- in, out- until my senses drifted away and my body sank into the bed.

⏩

A frantic beeping assaulted my pulsing head and my hand shot out to smack the alarm. I groaned opening my eyes and stretching. I got up and put all the pictures back into the box and put it away. I put on my shoes and brushed my hair and teeth. I grabbed my school stuff and my phone. I tried to turn it on as I rushed down the stairs into the kitchen. I sighed as I realized it had died last night. ‘Frick.’ I munched on some toast while staring at the grey stone backsplash. I glanced at the time. “Shit!” How long was I zoning for? 9:17 AM.

I ran outside, locking the door and jumping into the truck. I drove to school and ran inside to the office window. A girl with dark hair and a nose ring looked up at me in surprise. “Hello, Cat. Coming in a little late, don’t you think?” I rubbed my head as I signed a late form. ‘Reason? Oh, you know, I got attacked by a vampire last night. No biggie.’ I wrote down that my alarm didn’t go off and rushed off to class. “No, running!” Jennifer yelled. I opened the door to my math class and waved nervously. 

“Oh, welcome. Have a seat for the last ten minutes, not much you can do in that time.” The teacher muttered before continuing his lecture. I tossed the slip on his desk and sat down, zoning out. I closed my burning eyes and pressed my warm forehead to the cool desk. The bell rang, causing me to wince. ‘Since when was that so loud?’ I walked to my next classes sluggishly. My headache grew into a migraine, my legs left restless, and the fluorescent lights were too bright. ‘The day needs to be over.’ Bodies pushed passed me as we all headed to the cafeteria. I shuffled through the lunch line in a daze and sat at a table with my friends. I groaned as they looked at me. 

“The fuck happen to you?” I glared at Marcus as he tore open a bag of chips. Penny's blonde head perked up from her phone. She raised an eyebrow as her blue eyes searched me. ‘She’d have a field day if she found out about last night.’

“Penny, do you have any meds? My head’s killing me.” I begged, sniffling. She nodded, standing up and leaving. Marcus put a chip in his mouth and chewed loudly. “You’re rude.” 

“How so?” He said with a mouthful. 

“I just told you I have a headache and you are eating one of the loudest foods you can eat!”He shrugged, tilting the bag to offer me some. I shook my head and took a bite of my cheeseburger.

Penny sent held out her hand, holding three little red pills. “Here ya go. You should be fine in an hour.” I groaned. “What? I’m not paying four extra dollars for them to work faster. That’s a rip-off.” I rolled my eyes and took another bite. A plastic box slammed on the table, I winced as the long haired Goddess sat down with a glare. 

“Who peed in your cheerios, sis?” Margo glared, snapping open her lunch box. 
“Penny,” Penny eyed her suspiciously, “ I want you to kill Drake Callen. If he’s not dead by Friday, I’m doing it myself.” Her serious voice was low and without emotion. I cleared my throat before asking what he did. “What did he do? You mean other than being a complete imbecile? He is my partner for our science project, you know the one that’s worth a 5th of our grade! You know what he asked me yesterday?” I looked at the other but she didn’t stop. “He asked if a vagina was like a basketball hoop! What kind of stupid is he?” She continued ranting until I coughed hoarsely. “Are you sick?” Her dark eyes focused on me. I shook my head fast. “THen why do you have pain pills on your tray?” 

“It’s just a headache, I’m fine. I’m going there after lunch. I just wanted to eat first.” I confessed. ‘It’s like I got caught sneaking in after curfew.’

 She hummed, muttering “You better.” 

“Uh, so what’s for lunch today, chef?” Penny asked cautiously. Margo smiled brightly, straightening her back to sit taller. 

“We have grilled chicken to go on my salad, a fruit salad, and yogurt.” She bragged about her healthy meal. “Homemade, healthy, and delicious!”

“And the bitch won’t let me have any.” Marcus grumbled, stabbing his carrots that he probably wasn’t gonna eat. I chuckled at his little pout.

“That’s because you eat three servings by yourself; I am not making that much food at one time. And you can cook it yourself.” He tisked.

“What happened to that cooking phase?” I choked as a felt a cough coming. 

“I’m just tired after practice and I don’t feel like standing in the kitchen forever.” His head tilted to look behind me. “Dat ass though.” I glanced over to see a girl wearing dark blue leggings standing at the next table. I shook my head as a long cough took over. I watched as Penny’s lips moved and she handed me a water bottle. After my fit, I chugged half of the water. 

“You should just go home and sleep.” Everyone nodded to Penny’s statement. 

“I’m fine, really. Just a little longer. Hey, can I borrow someone’s charger? My phone died last night.” I shoved a french fry in my mouth and as soon as it touched my tongue, I gagged and spit it out. I took a drink of water. 

“What the actually fuck?” Marcus said. “Did you just spit out an american delicacy? The pride of our nation? You have sinned against the Gods of food and ye shall reap thy consequences ye foul creature!” I stared at Marcus in dumb confustion. ‘The frick did he just say?’

“French Fried were actually created in Belgium in the late 1600s.” Margo commented, taking a bite of her chicken salad. I could smell the spices and knew with every bite that she was putting fire in her mouth. “You can borrow mine for next period.” I nodded in thanks.

“Really?” Penny said, leaving forward. Her plate was nearly finished. I grabbed a handful of the fries and dropped them on her plate, she smiled as Marcus complained. 

“Why does she get some? I un-curse you, now can I have some fries?” I chuckled as he begged, his hands clasped together. I pushed the tray to him.

“Babygirl, you look like the holy undead. I’m just worried, I know you’re pale but you look paler than usual and you have really big bags under your eyes. Are you sleep right? Are you getting enough to eat? Is your dad sending you enough money for food and bills?” 

“Ma, I’m fine. Everything is fine.” ‘She’d kill me if she knew I had gas station snacks for dinner.’ 

Margo looked me up and down. A heavy thump echoed in my ears. ‘Please don’t see any blood. I’m pretty sure I got it all. I did…. I hope.’ “Fine, but you’re going home if this gets worse. I will drag you there myself.” I saluted her and swallowed the headache pills, finishing off the water. 

“Thirsty much, Cat?” I threw my empty bottle at hm and it thumped off his nose. “Ouch, vile woman.” 

“Dumb jock.” I teased,  stealing back the bottle.

“Fight me, Hobbit.” Marcus challenged, taking a big bite of his pizza.