What's Not to Love?
Ch. 1
I sigh as I pull open the locker room door, using up most of my strength. At least it's eighth period. "Awww it's little Toni!" A familiar nasal voice says. "Not today Chelsea." I say through ground teeth. "Aww what's wrong? Still can't get someone to ask you to the dance?" "At least the reason I'm not going is because I'm dating some grown man who's in love with someone else!" I snarl. "PAUL IS IN LOVE WITH ME ! HE BETTER BE!" "Aww did you give that one way ticket away chel?" I ask tauntingly before walking away.
I dump my stuff on the bench and start to get changed. "Toni!" My best friend Erica calls. "Yes?" I ask, worn out before gym class even starts. "You okay?" The question is sincere and I turn around to face her. She's 5"8 and has long dangerously curly hair, that signature Quileute russet skin, and a gleam in her eye if a person who really cares. "Yeah I'm fine, as fine as I can be." "Toni is that one new?" She points to my arm that's marked with bruises and scars. I pull down the sleeve quickly and shake my head. "Toni Joy, if you don't do something about that drunk, lazy son of a bitch-" "Eric, there's nothing I can do!" I interrupt her. "Yes you can! If you don't move in with me I will kidnap you. You know my parents won't mind!" "But Uriah!" I protest. "Bring my little boy with him!" She exclaims. I smile, we act like we're uriah's parents to make up for the lack of them in his life. "I wish I could Erica but he would just kill me and you know it." She looks as if someone slapped her in the face. "Not if can help it" she mutters. I shake my head, "Good luck."
I walk out of the locker room, thinking about my father. Our mother died when she had Uriah and my father went insane. He started doing everything in the book. Drinking, Drugs, and he abuses us. I try to take it all so my little two year old brother, Uriah, doesn't catch any of it. The whistle blows and I jog to get in line.
The weight room lines up in front of us, the last few of 'THE quileute boys' and and La Push high-school's finest tramps. Including Chelsea. She thinks just because she's dating one of them, she's apart of them and there she is now, annoying the shit out of the ones left: Seth, Collin, Brady, Samuel, Hunter, Ontario, Christian, Easton, and Andrew. I look at Brady, thinking sympathy filled thoughts. The, he looks up at me, and the world around me slows and quiets. My breathing gets shallow and I feel this undeniable pull towards him. His eyes are as big as saucers and in them I see a chance for a better life, raw love, undying commitment, and adoration. And it scares the crap out of me. Because once upon a time, that's what I saw in my fathers eyes.
After Gym
I speed walk towards the locker room, trying to get away from his constant gaze and fighting the urge to go towards him. "TONI!" Erica yells. I stop and turn around slowly. I see her with Brady and gulp. "Wh-at?" My voice cracks. He smiles with some sort of false familiarity and I frown. "Come here!" "I can't, I gotta meet up with Uriah!" I yell. Brady's face darkens, and a laugh bubbles up inside of me. I turn and go into the locker room. I pick up my stuff and leave, not bothering to change. I walk outside and get into my old beat up jeep. I drive over to the daycare and elementary school and park. I pull out my book, To Kill A Mocking Bird. I divulge myself in reading and curl up in my chair. As much as one can in a car seat.
The school bell rings and I mark my page, and get out of my car. A shiver goes up my spine and I get the feeling I'm being watched. I look around the parking lot, full of parents in cars and see nothing out of the ordinary. I try to shake it off and walk briskly towards the building. I pull open the door and head towards the daycare. I go in uriah's room and smile. He immediately sees me and gets up and ambles towards me. "TJ!" He yells. "Hey uri!" I squeal. I pick him up and spin him around. I smile at my little brother, the only reason I'm still alive. Seriously. He's the little spot of joy in my life, and little he is.
"Miss Mia? I'm gonna go ahead and take him home." "Ok sweetie, watch out for him." Did I mention almost the whole world (La Push) knows about our situation? I grab Uriah's coat of the hook and put it on his little shoulders as he twirls my hair. "Let's go uri." I whisper, picking him. I strap him in and then begin the short car ride home. Way to short. Fear bubbles up inside of me as the house comes into view.