Chapter 1: Edward
I awoke to the blaring buzz of my alarm clock. Even opening my eyes to the dim shine of the sun set my head pounding. As usual I drank too much last night, and once again I made a mental note not to drink on school nights. I reached over with my eyes closed and groped for the wonderful snooze button, but only succeeded in knocking the whole thing off the little table. I swore and rolled off the bed. I found the cord and yanked it from the wall.
I was still dressed from last night so I stripped off my clothes and climbed back in bed. School wasn't the most appealing idea anyways. I fell back asleep almost instantly. What I forgot was it was my dad's day off; he stormed into the room yelling.
"What do you think you're doing?! You'll be late for school! Get your lazy ass out of bed!" He yanked the covers off my face and, mercifully, stopped his yelling. He took one look at my face and he turned beet red.
"Drinking again? What is wrong with you? Now you are definitely going to school. It's your own fault you have a hang-over." He bellowed in my face. I sat up slowly rubbing my eyes, groaning at the movement. I clutched my head between my hands and groaned again.
"Dad, please stop yelling." I pleaded, but it only set him off again.
"Why? You're the one who got drunk last night!" He screamed, but he was calming down. His face regained its normal color. "Get yourself out of this bed and to school."
He crossed the small room and slammed the door behind him. I cringed at the noise and glanced at where my alarm clock should have been. I could only vaguely remember it falling off the table. I decided my dad wasn't going to let me stay home so I heaved myself out of bed and staggered around the room grabbing clothes. I more or less fell into the bathroom and grabbed onto the counter to steady myself. I nearly scalded myself in the hot shower but I remembered reading it helped hangovers.
I brushed my teeth but didn't bother with my hair; I almost tumbled down the stairs but managed to catch myself. Once I got into my car I leaned my head back for a second, it felt like someone hit me repeatedly with a sledge hammer. The ignition caught with a low purr and for that I was grateful, I drove slower than I should have and stopped on the way to get a coffee. I should've gone straight to school, I was already running late. Somehow I didn't really care; usually I cared about school a lot more than anything. I arrived somewhere in the middle of first period so I decided to wait in my car until the bell rang.
As I sat there I thought about last night and this morning. I didn't go to a party I knew that much, I don't usually get sloshed at parties; most kids don't even invite me when they have parties. Sometimes when I was in a bad mood that didn't stop me, I went anyways, snagged some beer or vodka and left. Last night I went to the store and bought some wine coolers, not really planning to get all out drunk. But one led to another and before I knew it I had downed quite a few.
Mostly I avoided looking at myself this morning, but I now yanked the rear-view mirror down to see my face. As I suspected my eyes were bloodshot to the point where they were almost all red, I had deep purple circles under my eyes and my hair looked like I didn't even wash it. I tried smoothing the dark locks but they sprang back up as soon as my fingers left them. Sighing, I gave up and sat back heavily. I thought back to when my father slammed into my room and winced, things were never going to change between us. I never really dared to hope that anything would change. He absolutely loathes me. Whenever he looks at me it is only with dislike and anger. I'm sure my face only shows disgust when I look at him. Unless, like this morning, I looked half dead.
When he looks at me that way it's like he thinks it's my fault I were born. In fact it was his fault I was born. I shook my head slowly, trying to dislodge the thoughts my mind had turned to. If couldn't change it, why dwell on it? I had a sudden burst of hatred towards my father. How could he be unfaithful to someone so forgiving? Someone he didn't deserve? My step mother wasn't fond of me either; I couldn't really blame her for it. It would definitely be embarrassing to have to raise a child who isn't yours. That's me. Illegitimate.
I would be with my real mother, except she was only nineteen when I was conceived and born. I guess she wasn't strong enough to have a baby and her body refused. Before she died she made sure the doctors had me named Edward. She must have known she wouldn't make it. She died and the doctors barely saved me. They would have done better not to have bothered with me. So now my father has a burden not to mention an embarrassment, and my step mother is raising me, or rather trying.
The bell rang signaling the end of first period, so I dragged myself out of my car and headed for the school. I signed in and received my detention with good grace. I gathered my books from my locker and headed to English. I sat in my usual seat in the back. The day passed with its usual monotony, and by the time I arrived in the cafeteria my head was pounding again and the bright lights were not helping.
The cafeteria was already noisy by the time I got there so I decided to go to my next period class and beg to sit there. Normally I would've left school since I already had a detention for skipping but I had a test in trigonometry. Edward Mazek never misses a test. It may sound funny from the drunk but I don't miss tests and I rarely miss homework assignments. I left the noisy hall and headed for the second floor classroom. Mr. Burkes was the trig teacher for both honors and non-honors.
I made it to the classroom without incident, and found the room empty except for Mr. Burkes himself. He seemed to be engrossed in his grade book; it looked like he was scanning his student lists. I knocked on the door with my free hand; my books were tucked under the other. Mr. Burkes looked up from his book and waved me forward. I moved into the room slowly.
"Do you mind if I just sit in here? I have a migraine and the cafeteria wouldn't help me out." I said approaching his desk. He smiled slyly and shook his head.
"No, you mean you have a hang-over. But yes, I suppose you can sit here. Besides I've been meaning to talk to you, Mr. Mazek." He said smiling. Mr. Burkes was a shorter man, and a bit stocky. His muddy brown eyes always reminded me off frog's eyes. He wore thin wire glasses in front of those unblinking eyes most of the time.
I figured he wanted to lecture me about drinking, or skipping school or something stupid so I grabbed a chair and heaved a sigh as I sat down in front of his desk. He caught the expression on my face and laughed.
"Oh, it's not that bad! I was a teenager once too. But I've actually been meaning to ask you a favor." He said still smiling faintly. I looked at him cautiously for a minute before replying.
"A favor? What kind of favor?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. Not really what I had expected. I really figured he was going to lecture me, but it seemed he really meant it. He took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt, a nervous gesture.
"Now, I know you like to keep to yourself but I'd really like you to consider what I'm asking. In my second period class I have another junior who is struggling with the material. Now I was wondering if you would maybe tutor her. You are my best student, no matter how popular a gossip topic you are." He looked startled, as if amazed such a thing came from his mouth. "I meant you're my best student. I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring that up."
He was right though, I was a very popular gossip topic. I could almost always be found in front of the liquor store with a bottle of something rather strong in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. Most days my dad comes and drags me home. I rubbed my head and considered what he was asking. He wanted me, a bad-ass, perfect student, to tutor another person.
"Don't worry about it. But why?" I asked. I strongly believed that whoever needed help could do just fine if they stood on their own two feet if they really wanted to. Mr. Burkes put his glasses back on and looked down at his grade book again.
"You are my best student. You pass every single test, and I bet you don't really pay attention in class, when you are in, that is. And I'm also willing to bet you don't really study much either. That's why. Anyways, this girl is in real trouble and her parents would be crushed if she didn't pass because of math." He seemed to be clutching at straws. He must've thought that since I was in a pissy mood I would need extra persuading. I sighed; I owed this man for even passing me.
"Who is it?" I asked. He seemed to sense a victory, he smiled.
"Her name is Abigail Watson. She is in my second period class so I don't know if you know her. Probably not, she isn't in any honors classes and you are." He closed his mouth and gauged my response. I leaned forward a little and unfolded my arms. I gave a little shrug and sighed.
"I don't have anything else to do. Actually, I nearly forgot. I have a detention, I was late this morning." I smiled a little and rubbed my eyes. Mr. Burkes laughed at that and sat back in his own chair.
"I'll take care of the detention for you. And I'll catch Abby in the hall and get her info for you. You really don't have to spend too much time with her, just and hour or two after school." He reached out and closed the grade book.
Later in the hallway before eighth period, Mr. Burkes caught up to me and handed me a slip of paper. He told me to call the number after school if I couldn't make it today. I wondered, looking down at the scrap of paper, what I got myself into.
That's Chapter one. It's kind of a Twilight theme only without vampires and any real action. It's mostly just a romance but I'm trying this out here. Let me know what you think please if I get at least one good review I'll put in the next chapter. (I have it written )