Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything, except for my OC.
Author's Note: So, maybe the rating should have been changed to M, but there's nothing really too graphic . . . I don't think. Anyways, I hope you liked the first chapter. Also, there will be different Point Of View (POV) changes that come into into play in this chapter and others, so you just have to pay attention to them. Don't forget to leave me a review if you like the story. Thanks!
WARNING: This story is rated T for drug and alcohol use, sexual content, language, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. The following is not for young viewers. You have been warned, so enjoy! ;)
My eyes fluttered open lazily at the brightening light peering into my window. I sat up before I could have the chance to roll over and go back to sleep. The thin layer of frost on the glass gave me a clear sign that it was morning. Hopefully, it was too early for Tom and Amanda to be awake. I listened for a moment, but there was only peaceful silence.
Feeling that it was safe enough to at least breathe, I got up off my mattress and looked into my cracked mirror on the wall. I looked like shit. My long, dark blonde hair was stringy and a tangled mess. The mascara on my eyes had faded all the way down to my chin. I smelled like weed and morning breath. Shit, what was today? Fuck. Thursday. My father didn't have to work today, so staying in this shit pile wasn't an option.
I checked my clock that was on the floor by the mattress, it was just past seven. I hurried myself to my dresser which was still blocking my door. I found the first long-sleeved shirt I saw and grabbed it. I made a quick change and then picked up a pair of ripped up skinny jeans from the floor. I forced a brush through my hair, taming it down to soft waves.
Once my work was done here, I began to move my dresser from in front of the door. I was extra careful not to make anymore noise than was necessary. I opened the door, which wiggled loosely on it's badly damaged hinges. I listened again for any sign of consciousness in the house. It was lifeless. I tiptoed into the bathroom and performed the usual, daily woman's routine. Then, I washed all the faded, creased make up from my face and reapplied some fresh mascara and dark grey eyeshadow.
I looked up at myself in the mirror, finding an ordinary girl staring back at me. Whoever said that dress-up couldn't be fun?
The air had grown colder since the night before, so I decided that it would be wise to wear a jacket. I saw a couple of kids my age heading for school as I walked down the sidewalk of my street. I had gotten my G.E.D. the day after I turned seventeen, so school was no longer a place to get a break from my mom and dad. I didn't mind that though, I never fit in there anyway.
I wondered what could possibly be on today's To Do List, hell there was so many options I hardly couldn't decide: walk, lay in the road, walk, fuck a stranger, walk, slit my wrists in an alley, or walk. Hell, the last two sounded tempting. A smoke would be nice, though I doubt I could find someone to hand one over. My throat was too dry for a cigarette anyway. That convenience store was two . . . ? Three miles, was it? Ah, fuck it. I knew I'd get there eventually, so it really didn't matter.
xXx
Okay, so it was five miles to the damn store. At least it was open. I walked through the door, triggering that annoying bell that dings whenever you come in.
"Good morning." An old man greeted me from behind the cashier counter. I only nodded as I began to go through one of the aisles. I found a magazine and glanced through it, it was the same old, same old. Some famous person was pregnant, two were getting divorced, another had died from overdose. After flipping the pages of a third magazine, the store bell dinged.
My eyes curiously peered over the shelf in front of me to find two people walk in. It was a guy and a lady that was old enough to be his grandmother.
"Ah, Mrs. Mercer! Good morning to you!" The cheery cashier beamed at the woman.
"Hello." The lady smiled back.
"You too, Jack." The old man said to the younger of the two. The guy gave a nod and then followed his grandmother as she walked around. I sort of remembered that kid from school. He use to get into fights all the time.
I decided that it was time to get what I came in for and leave. I headed toward the cooler section of the store when the Mercer kid walked right out in front of me. I was quick enough to stop myself, our arms barely bumped. To me, that was just as bad as the two of us running smack-dab into each other.
"Oh." Jack took a step back, waiting for me to go first. I felt his eyes on me, sending my heart into a fluttering spasm and the tips of my fingers were shaking.
"Sorry. S-Sorry." I stuttered like a damn moron as I hurried past him. God, I hated that. I didn't like seeing people I knew, let alone crossing paths with them. Call me shy, I call it being socially dysfunctional.
I stopped at the soda cooler, taking in a breath and not daring to look to see if Mercer was watching in all of my awkwardness. I took out a Dr. Pepper from the cooler, I think, and rushed to the cashier.
"Would that be all for you, miss?" The cashier asked.
"Yep." I replied quickly, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. Just when I thought I was in the clear, Mrs. Mercer and Jack came up behind me to pay for their stuff. Great.
"That'll be two, miss."
I reached down my shirt and into my bra, pulling out a single dollar bill and tossing it onto the counter.
"Two, miss." I heard the old man say.
"What?" I asked, focusing my attention on what he was saying.
"Two dollars." I could tell that the cashier was a bit irritated. I looked down at the dollar and searched my bra for more money, giving up empty handed. I knew that the damn Mercer kid was watching me, his grandmother too. I just wanted to leave.
"Um. Nevermind." I said as I started to leave.
"Wait, I'll get it." I heard Mrs. Mercer tell the cashier. My frantic eyes darted back to see her going through her purse.
"No, it's fine." I insisted, hoping she'd just leave me alone.
"No, dear. It's perfectly all right." The lady handed the old man a dollar and held out the bottle of soda to me.
This woman really wasn't going to make this easy for me. I wanted to tell the old hag to shove it, but was way too nice. FUCK! Oh well, whatever could get me out of here faster. I stepped in front of her and she handed me the soda, giving me that sweet-old-woman smile.
"Thanks." I whispered to her, showing a hint of a crooked smile. Then, I walked out of the store, happy to leave.
I stopped on the sidewalk in front of the convenience store, allowing myself to breathe. Damn! I had seen Mercer laying out of class to go behind the dumpster to smoke with his friends, on more than one occasion. After that scene, I knew it wasn't right to ask to bum for a smoke. Fuck, I really did want one though. Against my better judgement, I went and stood against the side of the store to wait for the Mercer's to come out.
Mrs. Mercer and Jack came outside just seconds later. I didn't have time to prepare myself.
"Excuse me." I began before I could even think of what to say. Jack and his grandmother turned to me, my stomach already felt tighter.
"Yes?" Mrs. Mercer waited. I fidgeted with one of my shirt sleeves as I licked my lips and frantically searched for words.
"Neither of you would have a spare smoke, would you?" I asked, surprisingly without stammering. The kid looked clueless when his grandmother looked at him, as if she expected him to answer me.
"Well, go on, Jack." Mrs. Mercer urged him. He turned to her, his blue eyes instantly widened. "Oh, go on. It's not some big secret." The woman added as he smirked at him out of the corner of her eye. I guessed from the awkwardness, that Jack hadn't shared his habit with her. I couldn't help smiling.
The Mercer kid reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a Zippo lighter. He handed me the smoke that I gladly accepted and lit up the Zippo. I bent down to light the end of the stick and inhaled. I suddenly felt much better, my fingers weren't shaking so bad now.
"Thanks." I muttered to the boy before giving Mrs. Mercer a polite smile and heading down the street. God, I was glad that was over.
[Jack's POV]
"Now that's a sad sight." Mom whispered, pulling my attention away from the blonde girl walking down the road.
"How so?" I asked her curiously, as if I had no idea what she meant.
"That child spends more time out on the streets than she does at home. I see her walking all the time." Mom began to put the groceries in the car. She was only telling me something I already knew.
"Cool." Was all I said. My mom just gave me one of her famous Evelyn Mercer looks as she closed the trunk.
"You of all people know it's not cool, Jack. God only knows what kind of life she's living." Mom said, walking to the driver's side door. I walked to the other side of the car.
I remembered that girl in school, I knew her pretty well. Marilyn Byers. She'd slept with four of my friends by my Junior year, and hadn't even spoken a single word to me until just now. She was always wearing long-sleeved shirts and sweaters, even in the summer. She got strung out on drugs though, and quit coming to class.
"If you ask me, she needs a friend." I heard Mom say while I was opening my door.
I paused and looked at her, knowing exactly what she was getting at. She smiled at me, and I could only smile back.
"Really?" I laughed.
"Oh, go on. Just be careful and be home or call before dark." Mom insisted, finally getting into the car. I knew I wouldn't be able to argue, then again, I didn't really want to. I shut the passenger door and jogged to catch up with Marilyn before she was out of sight.