First you dream, and then you die.
The worst smell in the world is achieved by spraying cheap perfume on clothes that reek of cigarette smoke.
The second worse smell is when you get so drunk you pass out and piss yourself.
I pinch my nose shut as I step over the body of a random man in our bathroom. I reach for my toothbrush and shove it in my book bag deciding to brush my teeth at school, my newest morning routine.
I nudge the man's shoulder with the tip of my boot out of morbid curiosity and receive a loud, disgruntled snore in return.
Pity, a dead body in the bathroom is a much better story than a passed out drunk in a puddle of urine.
I glance in the mirror, the flickering florescent bulb above me doing my appearance no favors. My pale skin looks green and eerie and my normally golden orbs appear a dull lifeless brown. I comb my fingers through my hair and shake out the knots giving me that 'I just had rough sex' look that most girls purposely go for these days. As for me, I just can't find a comb.
I look like shit.
But it's okay,
Because everyone looks like shit in this house.
Grabbing my faux leather moto jacket I slip it on over my shoulders. It's the kind of jacket that's just so in style this season and suddenly every girls wearing one because we're all just posers and pathetically broke teenagers who can't afford the real thing.
And none of us own a motorcycle.
I look around the living room at the debris and sleeping bodies littering the small room. My mom must be in her bedroom asleep, half naked next to some random guy who probably has some form of a sexually transmitted disease.
I carefully step over the broken bottles on the floor and pocket the half smoked bag of weed still sitting on our coffee table.
Finders keepers, I need lunch money.
I leave the house and as if on cue Steph pulls up in a brand new convertible.
Spoiled bitch gets a new car for her 17th birthday. What did I get? A stale piece of pizza and a bottle of antidepressants.
"Nice car." I comment, hopping in the front seat and setting down my book bag. I pull out the bag of weed as we drive off and Steph side glances it with interest.
"Shit, I don't have any money today, I'll make Bradley buy it." She states, slipping on her fake Dior sunglasses as I turn up the radio to drown out the impending conversation.
I only ride with these girls because the walk to school is too far and they are my most loyal customers, without them I wouldn't have money for lunch each week. I'm their supplier of alcohol, drugs, and prescription medication and although they've never asked how I manage to get my shit I'm pretty sure they know my back story. The whole town knows.
We pull up at the bus stop outside the old Seafairer Motel. The rest of Stephanie's friends jump in the back and I turn to face Bradley who's sitting on the lap of some boy I've never met. She's flirting like a slut while typing her phone number into his phone.
As if dating the most popular guy in school isn't enough for her ego.
"Hey, your boyfriends having that party this weekend right?" I interrupt, as both Bradley and the new guy look up at me. I glance over at him and our eyes lock for a brief moment as he offers me a shy smile.
"Yes! Did you get us anything for the party?" She asks excitedly, craning her neck over the seat to try to get a glimpse of what's in my lap. I hold up the bag and she grabs it quickly, opening it up and smelling it for quality. "What do you think Norman, is it good or what?" Bradley flirts, holding open the bag for him to sniff. He looks at it like a lost puppy completely clueless. He looks over at me for help as to what he should do and I can't stop myself from speaking up this time.
"She wants you to smell it, she thinks she's being cute." I reply and shy boy takes a whiff and wrinkles his nose. He forces a smile as he looks back up at the hot girl on his lap.
"Smells great." He lies and Bradley looks pleased with her new pet.
"Brad I need you to buy it this week, my moms being a bitch." Steph calls out from the front seat, looking back in the rearview mirror. Bradley pulls out her purse and pays me enough money to last me a week of food. I pocket the cash and turn my attention on the lonely road ahead of us. The gaze on the back of my neck through the entire ride to school does not go unnoticed.
It's Friday night and I'm dreading the familiar scene I'm about to face as I unlock my front door. The smoke is so thick I have to cover my nose with my sleeve as I push past the crowd in the living room and escape to the solitude of my bedroom. I ignore the cat calls and advances from men twice my age.
I open my door to find some random couple fucking on my bed and I feel the rage rising from within my chest.
Just lovely. fucking lovely.
"Get out!" I demand, grabbing the butcher knife I keep hidden in the top drawer of my dresser and pointing it at the couple.
Very Michael Myers, Halloween.
"Chill out, you can use this room when we're finished. Wait your turn." The man grumbles.
"This is my fucking room, GET OUT!" I growl in disgust, lunging closer and thrusting the knife down inches away from their heads and into my mattress where it sticks.
This seems to gain their attention as he quickly gets up and buckles his jeans and they scatter like rats back into the party.
I slam my bedroom door shut and lock it behind them, getting out a duffle bag as I begin packing up as much stuff as possible.
I'm done.
I can't take this bull shit anymore.
I throw the bag out my window and follow carefully behind it, scaling down the two-story apartment with practiced ease.
I pull out my phone and call the closest thing to a friend I have.
"Hey did you change your mind about going to Richards?" Stephanie's annoying voice sounds through the speaker.
"Kind of, are you at the motel yet? I need a ride now." I ask as I pick up my pace and cross the street.
"On my way, I can pick you up first, see you soon." Stephanie offers. "Thanks, I owe you a case of beer." I reply, letting out a sigh of relief as I sit down on a bench.
I've been waiting for 15 minutes when my ride pulls up. I avoid small talk as much as possible and hop out as soon as we pull up to the Seafairer. I pass the boy we gave a ride to earlier this week as I make my way up the steps and towards the house perched high on the hill overlooking the old motel.
"Where are you going?" He stops to ask, clutching a calculus textbook to his chest and appearing out of breath.
"I need a room." I reply brushing past him.
"The motel isn't open yet." He calls after me but I ignore him.
I am suddenly stopped by a hand gripping my wrist, preventing me from going any further. I turn to face a pair of stormy blue eyes glistening under the glow of a nearby street lamp. He looks panicked and I raise a brow at him in confusion.
"You can't go up there, not until I get back or she'll know I snuck out." He explains and I look between him and the house, realization finally hitting me.
"You live up there?" I ask in surprise and the boy quickly nods, tugging on my arm.
"Come with us, we're going to the library to study. I'll talk to my mom about getting you a room when we get back." He promises.
I follow him back to the car setting down my duffle bag outside one of the motel doors.
"They aren't going to the library…" I frown as he looks back at me, confusion written on his face. Bradley interrupts him before he can speak.
"Aww you actually thought we were going to go study, how cute." She coos, stepping closer and pulling Norman into the backseat with her. I slip in next to him and our shoulders and legs touch in the over crowded vehicle. I attempt to move over when I notice Normans gaze on our touching thighs but its no use, we both are forced to give up any hope of personal space.
I just want to get this night over with.
I mentally sigh, leaning my head back against the seat and closing my eyes.
I get the feeling I'm being watched and I open my eyes slightly.
"Do you ever stop staring at people?" I ask, my voice soft.
Norman smiles awkwardly in return.
"Sorry, I just like to watch people." He mumbles.
I allow myself to smile for the first time all day.
"You're a creep." I lightly tease.
He reaches over Bradley's lap to offer me his hand and I take it, noticing how big and warm his hand is in comparison to my smaller, cooler one.
Fire and ice.
"My name is Norman Bates." He says and I find myself getting lost in his gaze, there's something so intense about his eyes, they just seem to draw you in like two black holes.
A mystery of the universe.
Norman Bates is a universal mystery.
"Jen Jacobs." I introduce myself finally letting go of his hand.