Annie woke to the sound of shattering glass. It was a familiar chime that resonated through the halls of a little, broken, squat house and rattled the cup on Annie's nightstand. Annie stared into utter darkness, the smell of ash and alcohol greeted her through the heavy, dusty air that dried Annie's skin and forced a cough through her trachea.
Same shit. Every morning.
Annie reached for the alarm clock seconds before it screamed at her, gently switching the annoying contraption off.
Alarm clock is off.
Here comes the fridge door.
A loud tremble fluttered through the walls of Annie's bedroom as the fridge door slammed shut.
Annie forced her heavy legs over the side of the old mattress, her warm feet hitting the cold carpet, sending a sharp chill up Annie's spine. Annie ran her fingers through her hair, staring at her plain grey shorts and oversized t-shirt, multiple loose threads making their way out of the seam and down her leg.
Annie sighed, savoring one last moment of safety before shuffling to her door and venturing into the musky hallway.
Now there's the coffee machine.
Seconds later the sound of boiling water and a certain distinct sizzle sounded from the pot in the kitchen.
He'll burn his tongue.
"FUCK!" A loud, dark voice ricocheted through the walls, a few moans and groans of pain walked around in the next room.
Annie turned right a yard from the kitchen into the bathroom, mildew had started growing up the walls yet again.
Disgusting. I swear I just cleaned this place.
Annie tried to wipe the grime off the mirror, as she did every morning, to still no avail. Maybe one day she'd finally catch a glimpse of her real self through the dirt and nicotine stains. She plucked the band off her wrist and promptly brushed the majority of her short blonde hair back into another plain bun, and as usual the few strands nearest to her face that refused to lay back on her head fell to frame her face.
Annie gave herself a judgemental sideways glance and brushed her teeth before returning to her bedroom. She opened a measly looking closet to a multitude of black tee shirts, tank tops and long sleeved sweaters covered in ash.
The cabinet on the left side will slam.
Sure enough, the slam of the cabinet sounded.
Annie slipped quickly out of her clothes, avoiding the standing mirror on the other side of the room. She was tired, and she didn't need to look again at her frailness. She pulled her grey skinny jeans and white hoodie over her body quickly, topping off her loser attire with old, nameless black, high-ankle shoes covered in duck tape. Annie stared at yet another hole peering out of the decaying fabric.
Great another hole.
Annie opened her hollow dresser drawer and reached for the duck tape she'd stashed there, rolling yet another makeshift patch over the bridge of her foot, Just as she'd finished the tape hit the end of it's roll. Annie stared at the skinless cardboard circle.
And now I'm out of tape. Great, what am I going to do now?
Annie tossed the trash back in the dresser, closing her drawer in dismay, snatching her backpack off the floor and peering inside. She was running out of paper in a single notebook and two lonely pencils rolled around at the pit of the bag.
It's going to have to do for now.
She rummaged through her messy bed sheets and found the old CD player hidden under her pillow, quickly stuffing it and it's earbuds into her bag. Annie approached the door, staring, preparing herself for the morning ritual. She shot the clock a glance, it's digital numbers shifting from '6:49' to '6:50'.
The kitchen chair will be dragged across the linoleum.
A cringe worthy screech echoed through the old floor of the shed Annie called home, and the girl opened to bedroom door, counted to five in her head and turned left into the kitchen.
Annie's father was curled over the kitchen counter, a hand around a vodka filled glass, the other toyed with a Marlboro that filled the living space with a thin layer of smoke, the oak table top bore a grey scar where the cigarette's ashes fell. Annie refused to give him a second glance, she strolled into the kitchen quietly, grabbing her thermos out of the sink, reaching for the coffee pot.
"You outta fix that piece of shit Annie. Cooks the coffee too hot, burned my damn tongue again." The bass of the man's voice thundered around the two.
Annie silently filled her thermos, paying the drunken man no attention. She screwed the lid and turned to the rotting breakfast bar, snatching one of the two packs of cigarettes that sat on the counter and the black lighter which was set neatly next to the green one.
Slams his hand on the counter, right next to his glass.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going with those girl?" the man slammed is hand on the counter causing the crucifix necklace her bore to bounce around his chest and rattling the alcoholic soup sitting next to it, but Annie no longer jumped. Instead she kept her face expertly still and opened the drawer next to the dishwasher while her father was still affixed on her hands around the cigarettes. A small bundle of cash sat neatly in the otherwise empty space. It was inevitable that the man had taken what he needed to sustain his alcoholic ritual already, and rent was due today. Annie counted the rent money.
Maybe I could snatch something extra, get a new notebook or some pencils.
After the bills had been payed Annie counted an extra fifteen dollars and an odd amount of change, just enough for two packs of cigarettes and maybe a notebook, depending on whether or not they were still on sale.
And now the yelling.
"GOD DAMMIT ANNIE LOOK AT ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!" The man howled, anger striking his facial features fiercely, "DON'T ME WALKING OUT HERE WITH MY SMOKES YOU LITTLE BITCH."
Annie slipped all of the cash out of the drawer and into her back pocket.
Annie opened the pantry, which of course, was empty. She shifted back to the counter, picking up the second package of cigarettes and the green lighter, she walked past the man, setting them on the table in front of him before continuing towards the front door.
"Annie, you get back here right now! Listen to your father you fucking cunt!"
Annie sighed, packing the cigarettes in her palm, throwing the plastic wrap in the garbage before setting the tobacco between her lips. She looked back at her father, sweat and alcohol covering the man's shirt, a stench so rancid and consistent that Annie no longer smelled it.
She turned her back to him, and as expected the empty glass cup zoomed just past her head, shattering on the wall by the door, the drywall's paint stained and molded from the never ending cycle. Annie walked towards the door, her father screaming and yelling in the distance. The girl opened the door and shut it delicately behind her.
Just another day.
Annie breathed deeply through her nose, the smell of grass a calm encouragement, the silence of early morning welcoming her.
Only not really.
Annie stared at the path leading to the river, her usual summertime route, and instead turned the opposite direction towards Rose street, towards Maria Senior High School, stopping by the mailbox to snag an unopened envelope which she tore and stuffed the rent money into, careful to leave herself the small amount of cash she could spare. She closed the lid and glanced up at the open window, her father glaring at her in an odd sort of disappointment from the curtains.
She glared back, blank and emotionless, turning her back to him and instead observing the open field around her, the dirt road stiff and frosted from a cold night.
Annie lit the cigarette and burned her tongue on her coffee.
Like father like daughter.
Annie shook her head at that thought, plugging her headphones into her Walkman, listening to some random MCR album on repeat. She walked through the fog and hanging Texas humidity silently, staring at the ground, a small nicotine bliss calming her nerves as she smoked.
Just one more year, and then, maybe I can ditch this town.
Annie looked up at the sky, it's murk and depression smiling back at her.
I can go somewhere better, and maybe just be...
Annie titled her head, turning the bend towards Maria High, stepping on the sidewalk, venturing back into a measly town and away from her father's farm.
... ordinary.
She'd always imagine the sweet day that she held the diploma in her hand, and more importantly liberation from the sick and twisted hunting grounds she called home. Annie would claw her way out of this small conservative town, and live somewhere she'd never seen before. Places where the sky was challenged by the skyscrapers and no one asked questions, because no one cared. She could be swept along with the herd, unnoticed and unnerved.
Annie passed faces she didn't bother to glance at, stopping at the corner and looking up at Maria High from across the street. The school itself was large and square, covered in fresh white stucco, a large and saintly looking cross adorning large wooden doors. It was considered a Christian school, but in a town with under 5,000 people no one bothered with uniforms of any sort, even the teachers wore casual clothing and still used names such as 'Missus' and 'Mister'.
A large man in a suit stopped beside Annie, she glanced at the golden watch on his wrist and dropped her head, dragging her cigarette nonchalantly, wearing it to the filter before tossing the bud on the ground and smashing it with her duck taped shoes.
"You know Ms Leonhart, smoking on school grounds is punishable by a three day suspension." Principal Erwin's voice boomed next to her.
Annie stared at the bud.
"Technically sir, I'm not on school grounds." Annie hadn't heard her own voice in so long, it felt strange on her lips.
Erwin stayed for a moment, sighing in defeat.
"It seems you aren't." The man shuffled across the street, and Annie waited until his figure disappeared into the horde of students on the other side of the street.
Annie stole one last blank stare at the sky before stepping onto the street halfheartedly, she had been to concerned with her thoughts to noticed the blue pickup barrelling down the street. The vehicle slammed on it's brakes, searing the older asphalt, the smell of worn brakes burned Annie's throat. She glanced over at the driver and was met by the glance of one of her classmates.
Reiner Braun, just another good christian football player, large and intimidating. His brows furrowed with anger and the truck swerved to pull up in front of Annie, Reiner was hanging out of the window. His golden hair looked dull due to the morning's drear and cloud. Annie peeked past him, catching his companion's eye.
Bertolt Hoover and Reiner Braun were connected at the hip. Both football players. Reiner was a bit fiercer, Bertolt on the other hand had always seemed like a friendly giant. Since grade school Annie could catch Bertolt staring from across the room, an obvious, pointless crush. While Annie couldn't reciprocate the attraction she could feel sympathy towards the blue eyed boy.
"Hey Annie, you should really take out those headphones every once in a while, I just about ran you over." Reiner shot Annie an oddly mixed glance of friendliness and sternness.
Annie shot the duo one last glance, careful to avoid their eyes.
It must be nice. To be so close. Know each other's minds like your own. Share every secret.
But Annie could never bring herself to that level of understanding with another soul, at least not in this town.
Annie let her head fall again, twisting the volume knob on her headset all the way up, her eardrums rattling, before walking around the front of Reiner's truck, into the crowd to be swept through the halls.