The bell rang and swiftly, without another word I packed my books up into my bag.
"Tch, look at the way the slut dresses. That shirt is like, five sizes to big!"
I sighed. That was Karin. The red head was one of many who loved to make my life hell. At least she didn't physically touch me.
"She probably just does it to make herself look thinner. The whore." One of Karin's followers laughed.
I have a name and its Zena… I sighed to myself. I doubted they even knew what my real name was. I pushed my chest length hair over my shoulder and moved to get out of the school. I needed to get to the daycare. I didn't have time to deal with the school bullies.
I remember when I first came here a little under a year ago. I was a junior and came in during the second term. I had friends. I had a lot actually. I was decently popular…
But that was before I became a "target". Konoha high was a twisted place. It had a twisted system that the principle Tsunade, and all the teachers ignored. Even the police. It was wrong. Especially when you were a target. I had only been here a month when they had me marked.
I shoved my way past the girls and out the door. Past Karin, a girl who was my friend when I first came here. Everyone had turned on me. Even Hinata and Sakura wouldn't talk to me out of fear for their own safety. I couldn't blame them. It was nice that they never participated in the bullying. It still hurt though. It was a lonely existence. Well, I wasn't completely alone. I had someone waiting for me at the daycare right now.
"Hey bitch." I stopped. Apparently I wasn't getting out that easily. Everyone in the hallway picked up their pace, wanting to get out of there.
I froze and stared down. I was wearing the same white shirt and baggy jeans I had worn the day before. My jacket was ripped on the seam, but did its best to ward of the December weather. I sighed and turned around.
Three men stood before me. Three of the group that called themselves the Shukaku. Their leader was Gaara and right hand man was Sasuke. Hidan, Sasori, Konan, Pein, Itachi, Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Shino, Deidara, Zabuza, Kisame, and Kiba were also part of it. Right now I was faced with Gaara, Deidara, and Sasori.
And I was the target of these men.
It was sick, but they would pick a person. They would isolate them, and they would break them. Sometimes it took a week before they killed themselves, sometimes it took a month and they ended up killing them by 'accident'. Sometimes the person would just break down into an empty shell. It had never lasted more than three months, or so I heard. Well... until me. It had started a month after I transferred here. It had gotten bad. I had scars from it, physically and mentally. I knew I would have broken down long ago... but I had someone that was keeping me going. A bond that these men could never break.
"Hey! You should answer when someone talks to you un!" The one named Deidara spoke again.
"Yes?" I asked. I knew what they wanted. It was what they always wanted. To try and destroy me.
Deidara walked to my left and Sasori to my right. Gaara remained grinning. A grin that was insane. A grin full of lust. Bloodlust. I looked down. I didn't understand. Surely the teacher saw this… why did they do nothing?
"I think we should teach you some manners. Don't you Deidara?" Sasori smirked.
My heartbeat picked up. I knew that this was coming. I was used to it by now. So why did I get still so nervous and afraid?
"Yeah, I do un." He grabbed my bare arm and squeezed hard. I had a bruise there already, so I flinched. He only smirked and squeezed harder.
"You think that's painful?" Gaara glared. He walked over and shoved me against the lockers, banging my head on them. I looked into his aqua eyes that seemed to see everything. I looked away.
"You know, I think I've become addicted to your blood Zena. I think I want to see more of it."
I closed my eyes. He brought his mouth down to my neck, and when he did next surprised me. He bit me! My eyes shot over and I whimpered slightly. He bit into the skin and then came up a second later. I could feel the blood dripping down my collar. My hands would have flown to my neck, If Sasori and Deidara weren't each holding one.
"Y-you just… bit me?" I was shocked. Seriously?
A drop of my blood resided on Gaara's lips. His tongue darted out and licked it up. He licked my neck once more and then backed away. "Deidara, Sasori, come. We need to meet the gang at the lot."
The other two let go of me, laughing at my wound. I was let off easily this time. They threw a few more insults at me before departing. I felt a few tears prick my eyes once they were out of site. I refused to break down though.
I leaned against the wall for another second. Everyone had deserted the school while the three did their job. I needed to get going too. I had responsibilities I couldn't ignore.
I winced as I moved my shoulder. That bite mark hurt more than one would think.
It was four when I got out the door. School had ended at 3:47. It was early December so it was already getting dark. I picked up my pace and made my way to Konoha day care center. It was only a few blocks away thank god. I was able to hide my injury, and pulling my jacket up a little, the bite wound was barely visible. I plastered a smile on my face.
"Shizune?" I called to the head of the day care. A kind looking woman with a pig at her feet walked up. She smiled softly.
"You're here! Took you long enough." She teased.
"Sorry, I got held up a little. I haven't been this late in a while…" I apologized.
"No problem. You're only five minutes late. Zakari?" She hollered behind her.
A boy with white hair and blue eyes popped up behind her. He looked strikingly like me, but he had blue eyes like my father did. I grinned. "Zakari! How was day care?"
"Fun!" The toddler grinned. He was three years old and in my opinion had movie star looks. He was my life and I loved him like a son… He was what kept me going when it was too much to continue on. I was thankful that god had given me someone like him.
"Thank you for understanding Shizune! I promise I won't be late again!" I bowed again. She waved it off and disappeared back in. I looked at the little boy. He was bundled up in a large blue coat. It was little worn and I felt bad that I hadn't gotten him a better one yet. His jeans were still in good condition, but his left sneaker had a hole in it. They were the only pair he had. I would have to buy him more. He was growing so fast…
"Come on, let's go home Zakari." I smiled kindly.
"Ok!"
"So, what's the weather like today?" I asked. I liked to try and ask him as many questions as possible to stimulate his mind.
"It's coldy!" He chirped.
I laughed. "Coldy isn't a word Zakari. It's cold."
"Cold!" He repeated.
"Yep." We weaved through the crowd.
"Mommy, can you carry me?" He asked.
I sighed. Yes, he was my little brother, but I was his legal guardian ever since I escaped my abusive parents with him, got emancipation and filed for custody of him. It took a lot of proving myself and taking classes and earning money. Eventually the lawyer I hired had won the case. It had cost me three grand, almost all my savings. But no amount of money could be too much when it came to Zakari. He had grown up calling me his mom. I didn't mind really. I loved him like a son anyways.
"Sure honey." I grinned. I wined a little as I lifted him onto my shoulder and walked the rest of the way home. I worked on Sunday from 9 to 8, Monday from 5 to 8, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4 to 10, and Wednesday from 3 to 11. I had Fridays and Saturdays off. It brought in all the money needed for food and clothes for the two of us. The state and church provided free daycare for him when I was at school and working. I was considering dropping out of school, as I was 16 and was capable. I just couldn't bring myself to doing it. I needed to go to college and get a degree to earn a steady living for the both of us. I didn't want to end up working at the maid café for the rest of my life.
I walked up to a rundown apartment. It was a lot like a slum house. But it was clean. I also got to stay there for free because of a certain… agreement the landlord and I had. It was a good deal. It gave me more money to spend on Zakari
I opened the wooden door. There were three rooms. A kitchen which you entered when you opened the door, a bedroom to the left, and a bathroom. It was a tidy little place. The carpet was light blue and the walls white. The tile was also a blue. The kitchen was small with white counters and a white fridge. I was the dishwasher.
The bedroom had a twin bed in one corner with a fluffy blue blanket and brown sheets. A single brown pillow that was flat and uncomfortable. The closet had four items hanging up. A heavy coat of mine, a dress I had inherited from my mother, a tux that I had Zakari use when we went to church, and lastly a snow suit for Zakari that the church had given us as well.
Three toys littered the bedroom floor. It was all that Zakari had. I felt bad once more about not being able to do more for him. He was happy though. I was so grateful that he was not a selfish boy. He seemed to understand our situation.
"And doooown we go! Like an airplane!" I hollered, grabbing him and putting him on the ground "I'm going to go make dinner ok? How about you go play?"
He nodded his head. "Will you play with me after we eat?"
I smiled. "Of course. Now dinner will take me just a minute!"
I first changed into a pair of holey grey sweats and a blue t-shirt that I had gotten out of a free box at Church. I pulled my messy armpit length white hair up into a messy ponytail with a ribbon. I then hung up my "school clothes" and walked into the kitchen.
I pulled out some frozen chicken nuggets and popped nine of them in the microwave. I got out two plates. One was plastic Aladdin one. I put some canned spinach and a cup of apple juice on the plate. Once the nuggets were done I placed five of them on the plate and four on mine. I put the leftover spinach in the fridge. I would save it for him. I took it over and placed it on the makeshift table. Another donation from the church. We would be dead if it wasn't for them.
"Zakari! Dinner is ready!" I hollered. He came running and climbed into his booster seat. The table was a plane square wooden one.
"Yay!" He cheered. I knew he liked Chicken nuggets the most.
I smiled and began eating my nuggets as well. Myself, I ate two and then sat back, watching as he finished all of his. He was a growing boy that was for sure. He was also a good boy. He didn't even complain about the spinach but ate it all and then drank his juice. He looked at my two nuggets sheepishly.
I smiled softly. "Here Zakari." I offered them up. He grabbed them without hesitation. Tomorrow was Saturday and I needed to buy some more food.
"Hey Mom," He asked, once he was done with his food. "Can you tell me a story before bed?
"After your bath." I promised and got up to put the dishes in the sink. I ran the bathwater and then finished the dishes while it was loading. Zakari ran over and picked up one of his three toys. A blue duck. He brought it to the bathtub with me following him.
We bathed. I had some time to inspect my wounds. There was blood around the bite wound, and my arms had handprints that were forming into marks. That was just what I had received that time. There were bruises fresh and fading all over my body. From my feet to my neck. My back was barely distinguishable and my arms looked like I cut.
Zakari didn't ask any questions, he had learned not to. I washed his hair with the dollar tree suave shampoo I got, and washed mine with the same. We dried off and I put my clothes back on and dressed him in a pair of cute green Donald Duck footie pajamas. They were my favorite pair.
We snuggled into our bed.
"You promised to tell me a story." Zakari reminded me. I nodded my head. We both knew we didn't have any books, but I had plenty of stories in y mind.
"Which one do you want?"
"Tell me the story of Gaara and Zena! I love that one because it has your name in it!" He gushed. He snuggled against my side and put his head on the pillow with me.
"Ok… once upon a time there was a girl named Zena and a red headed boy named Gaara. Zena and Gaara were six years old. The boy and the girl were best friends and each other's world. They were like SpongeBob and Patrick. Like Cinderella and her prince.
"Treated badly by everyone else in the village, Gaara was very sad all the time. Gaara was picked on by the kids his age and had an evil father. But Zena felt his pain and was able to make him happy again. Sadly, she also had an evil father."
"I hate the father he ca-"
"Shh! Let me continue Zakari!" I teased.
"Sowy." He giggled.
"Ok. So time went by and they were the only thing each other had. But then when they were nine, Zena's father told her that she couldn't have friends. He told her to tell Gaara that she hated him. She refused and he put a curse on her. He made it so that she could never get married because no man would want her. Afterwards the evil father told her that if she didn't tell Gaara that she hated him, then he would cast an evil spell on her mother. Zena had no choice. She broke Gaara's heart and cast him into a complete darkness. Soon after her family moved. She was forced to leave Gaara behind."
I felt a small tear fall down my face. Zakari was breathing steadily besides me, asleep. "But then they met up again years later and he defeated her evil father and forgave the curse he put on her… they got married and lived happily ever after…" I whispered before a humorous laugh escaped me.
"No... There is no such thing as happily ever after." I glanced at the bedside. A single picture of a blonde haired girl, a brown haired boy, a red headed boy with dark rims and a white haired girl all stood smiling with a sandy background. A boy that at school, there was someone who shared the name. They looked so alike but this man was crueler and had a kanji tattoo on his forehead. My Gaara never had that. I wiped away the tear. "No such thing as a happy ending..."
Not wanting to dwell on the past, I stood up carefully without disturbing Zakari and walked over to my desk. There was an old laptop I had won in a contest. It was a cheap one but I had cherished it. The apartments came with free internet too.
I signed into MSN Messenger and smiled.
Winterfrost has signed in.
Sandcoffin is online.
Winterfrost: Hey
Sandcoffin: Ey. What's up?
Winterfrost: Nothing really
Winterfrost: lol
Sandcoffin: You say lol when you are upset. What is it? Those guys at school bothering you again.
Winterfrost: You know I don't like to complain to you…
Sandcoffin: I like it when you do. It makes me feel glad you confide in me.
Winterfrost: It was no worse than usual. I got off easy if anything.
Sandcoffin: What was the damage?
Winterfrost: A small wound and some bruising.
Sandcoffin: …
Winterfrost: It really wasn't that bad! Lol.
Shukakku: Not that bad? If I was there I'd kill them.
Winterfrost: I'm sure you would. Lol. I wouldn't mind actually.
Sandcoffin: It just makes me angry to think about it.
Winterfrost: Don't worry. I'm sure that soon enough it will stop…
Sandcoffin: You've been going through this since I first met talked to u. 6 months. It isn't gonna stop soon.
Winterfrost: Well, there isn't much I can do. I have to take care of my little brother.
Sandcoffin: …
Winterfrost: Let's change the subject! How are you?
Sandcoffin: Pissed.
Winterfrost: Y?
Sandcoffin: A lot of reasons.
Winterfrost: Babe, when are you NOT upset?
Sandcoffin: … hn
Winterfrost: seeeeee! Hopeless! haha
Sandcoffin: shutup
Winterfrost: Make me
Sandcoffin: Are you challenging me?
Winterfrost: Of course not!
Sandcoffin: I think you are.
Winterfrost: So? Whatcha gonna do about it? 8P
Sandcoffin: I could think of several uses for that mouth of yours ;}
Winterfrost: …
…
…
PERVERT!
Sandcoffin: Only telling the truth.
Winterfrost: you are too much of a tease.
Sandcoffin: I don't think so.
Winterfrost: I do. You're a playboy. lol
Sandcoffin: Perhaps.
Winterfrost: -_- You aren't supposed to admit it…
Sandcoffin: I dislike lying.
Winterfrost: -_-; anywaaaays…
Sandcoffin: Ah shit, I need to go. My friends just came over.
Winterfrost: This late at night?
Sandcoffin: Yeah. We have plans. We have been trying to find someone's house. We think we finally got the neighborhood and ]building. Were planning to locate the exact apartment tomorrow.
Winterfrost: Creepy
Sandcoffin: What?
Winterfrost: Why are u stalking someone?
Sandcoffin: Long story.
Winterfrost:I want to hear it.
Sandcoffin: Can't. Like I said, I have to go. Later.
Winterfrost: Fine… Byebye stalking Pervert!
Sandcoffin has signed out.
Winterfrost has signed out.
I put the computer away and crawled back into bed. I was tired now, enough to fall into a deep slumber. Sand was the only person who ever listened to me. I didn't know what he looked like or even his name, only that he was around my age and…
I think I liked him a little more than I should…