I'm still debating about continuing, but who knows. I think you guys like it, so I guess I work on it some more. :) Thanks for all of the WONDERFUL reviews. you guys rock!!
"Miss. Carlin, you're late." Mr. Conuok singsonged from the whiteboard.
"S-sorry, I fell…" I heard a bunch of snickers as I walked quickly to an open spot. I took my seat at the back of the class and searched for my notebook.
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"Allllright! Any questions." I looked at my paper, ( p q )( p p . I still couldn't get it right. I decided to suck it up and timidly raised my hand. "Spencer?"
"C-could you run through it again…?" I asked quietly.
"Sure-"
"Uhg, Mr. Conuok, everyone else gets this. Why do we have to sit here just because Spencer is slow?"
"I'm not slow." I tried to say, but the laughing was too loud.
"Kelsey! That's enough. Now as I was saying you just-"
"I get it." He turned around and looked at me sadly.
"Are you sure, I don't mind going through it." I caught the glares and evil grins of the other students.
"No, that's all right. I-I just skipped a step." I said while hanging my head over my unfinished problem.
"Well ok…" He turned towards the board again and began to write a new problem.
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When I pushed the door open, white paint brushed of onto my shoulder and my feet make the floor creek. Maybe if I had new shoes it would stop the sound…
"Spencer?" My mom's voice sounded a little rough and I quickly walked into the small, dim kitchen. Taking a seat in a rickety wood chair I waited for her to talk. "I'm so sorry Spencer, but I-I lost my job." She choked out.
"What?" She took my hand.
"I really wanted to get you something special to eat. I thought it'd be a nice surprise and, and I took one of the pies…"
"Mom?" I cried a little. "How are we going to be able to afford anything?"
"Well, I still have my job at K-mart, but that won't pay the bills… I'm sorry Spencer, I know I promised that this wouldn't happen. That you would get to be the kid, but I need you to get a job. I need the money for the bills…" She pulled out a white advertisement. A phone number and address were circled in blue ink. "You know with my bad back I can't do much, but I got this number for you. House cleaning… I thought that maybe it would pay enough and we could get buy until I find a new job." I took the sheet and looked up at my mom. "I already talked to the lady that owns the house."
"When do I start?" I sighed.
"After school tomorrow."
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The house was about five blocks from the school in a nice neighborhood. I didn't have a car, so right when school got out I began to walk, holding the paper with the address in my sweaty hand. My mind wandered as I trudged up a hill… I was thinking of Ashley Davies again… I wish she would notice me- that I did exist… but she never would. I thought about how beautiful she looked in ripped jeans and a band tee, how she always got people to laugh… How I wish she would care about me…
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The house was huge- a mansion. I stood dumbstruck in front of the expensive oak door. My weight shifted from foot to foot as I waited nervously for someone to open the door.
"Hello?" A glassy voice asked impatiently. "Do you need something?" I looked up at the older women through my bangs.
"My mom called about a job."
"Oh, right. You're the new help."
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I had to start by cleaning the bathrooms and then the kitchen and so on. I was bringing some towels I just cleaned to the bathroom when I tripped on my jeans again. The clean towels went all over the upstairs hallway and once again, I landed on my face. I heard a deep chuckle and tried to get back on my feet.
"You ok." My heart stopped beating and launched to my tummy, my throat swelled and my palms clamed up. From my position on the floor I got to scan the whole, magnificent form of the Ashley Davies.
"Uhm, yeah?" She laughed again and it was probably a good thing I wasn't standing. She began picking up towels as I laid on the floor watching her… drooling too I have to admit. She gave me a funny look. "Uhm, aren't you going to stand up?" My eyes widened a little in embarrassment and I quickly got to my feet. She handed me the towels smiling a little. "Here ya go… now why am I giving you my towels?"
"I-I work f-for you."
"Oh…" She said quietly. I began to walk, but tripped a little on my jeans. Her arms reached out and steadied me. I felt a little electric charge run through my whole body. Looking down at my long, oversized jeans she laughed a little. "Maybe you should buy some new jeans." I adverted my eyes and said quietly feeling so ashamed, "I can't afford any."
"SPENCERRRR!!" My head shot up.
"I should go see what she wants." Looking down I grabbed a towel that I had managed to drop in the surprise. "I'm sorry for bothering you… Ms. Davies." I began to walk towards the stairs when I heard, "It's Ashley."
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"What took you so long?"
"I, I fell and the towels-" I stood shaking in front of Mrs. Davies as she stood with one hand on her hip in a very white living room.
"I don't care! Now get your lazy ass in here. I spilled my wine. After that you can put the towels away and then clean the bathroom."
"She brushed past me and I heard her infuriated whisper. "Fucking idiot." I brushed the tears from my eyes and went to look from something to clean up her mess with.
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"SPENNCCERRR!" I wiped the sweaty hair from my face and tightened my ponytail. I ran down the stairs from the third bathroom I had to clean.
"Yes, Mrs. Davies?" I panted.
"You forgot to clean the living room."
"I-I did." Her eyes flashed angrily at me.
"No, you didn't. I found lint on the couch."
"Well, may-maybe it was on you." I whimpered as the hand connected with my cheek.
"Did you just argue with me? Do that again and you'll be very sorry." She growled. "Now go clean it again!" I caressed my stinging cheek as she left. I let the tears fall freely as Ashley stood there, staring at her mother's retreating form then at me. I looked down at my crappy Nikes and ask, "Do you know where the vacuum is?"
"Yeah…"
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I have been working at the Davies' for a few weeks. It's awful, but the money is pretty good, plus it's been helping Mom out. I even got those new shoes! But after that first day Ashley wouldn't even acknowledge me. Sometimes I can feel her eyes on me though and when I turn around, I catch them flicker away. I wish I knew what she was thinking…
I sat at my usual table trying to finish my math homework. Whoever though that shapes, letters, and number should be combined needs to be shot. Finally, I gave up and decided to get a book from my locker. I had to jiggle the lock a bit before it opened. I cocked my head to the side and picked up the purple tissue heart then noticed the forty dollars. A note was paper clipped to it.
Thought you might need a newly mended bag… and heart.
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I ran into the mansion out of breath. I lost my English book and spent ten minutes at school trying to find it.
"Wow, slow down!" Ashley joked as I plowed into her arms. Her arms held mine by the elbows and my body was pressed against hers.
"Uhm, I'm, uh sorry…" A soft hand brushed the bangs from my face.
"You have really beautiful eyes." She whispered and then the warmth was gone as Ashley continued to walk off.
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My stomach growled as I scrubbed the counters of the kitchen clean. I tried to keep my eyes from wandering over to the pantry. I haven't eaten lunch for the past month and my stomach was killing me. It growled again in protest. I tried to shake the feeling away and began to scrub harder, but once again, my eyes wandered the kitchen. They landed on the breadbox. There was a half eaten loaf wrapped up next to it. I rubbed my tummy and looked around. I mean, it was just a little bread and my stomach hurt so badly.
I felt guilty as I quickly chewed the bread, but it felt so good to have something in my stomach.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" I froze. I could feel my body start to shake.
"I-I" A hand dug into my shoulder and spun me around. My eyes locked with her cold, dilated, brown ones. I could smell the alcohol. "I didn't- Unnnh!" I could feel the sharp diamonds scrape across my skin, but she didn't stop with one hit. I tried to put my hands up, but she just hit me harder.
"YOU THIEF! YOU DAMN THIEF! WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU STOLEN, UH?" I retreated as far as I could into counter, but she continued to hit me.
"MOM! What are you doing?" I heard Ashley scream from the second doorway across the room. She finally stopped and turned towards her daughter. I cried as the salty tears raced through the cut skin. Seeing my opening, I ran towards where Ashley had entered. I heard them yelling back and forth, but I kept running. There was nowhere to go though. I was too scared to think of actually getting out, so I ran into the nearest closet. I buried my head in my hands and cried.
"Why did you have to leave me Daddy?" I didn't hear the door open or close, but I did feel warm hands cover my knees.
"Spencer?" My tears came faster as Ashley pulled me into a hug. "Shhh…"
"I'm sorry!" I wailed.
"Sshh, you didn't do anything wrong." The older girl rubbed my back soothingly. "What happened?"
"I-I was just hungry. I'm sorry! Please, don't fire me, please! I need this job."
"It's ok. Shhh, shh, you're not gonna be fired." I began to calm down at her words and warm arms around me. "I'm sooo sorry, Spencer."
"What?"
"I don't like seeing you being treated like that." She whispered into my hair.
"She was drunk and- and I did steal-"
"It doesn't excuse her! You can have all the damn bread you want… and I'm not just talking about her."
"How would you have noticed?" I asked quietly.
"I do notice… you…" See pulled away and stared into my eyes. Her hand caressed my cheek. "And I don't like how they treat you."
"Then why didn't you stop?"
"Huh?"
"You walked right past me." I said, the hurt evident in my voice.
"What, no, I- when?"
"The day before I came here. I was on the ground and- and you just walked by me."
"I'm sorry…"
"Yeah…" We were quiet for a while. Ashley was still holding me in her closet.
"I heard about what Jack and Madison did though. They can be suck jackasses. I hope that you got a new bag."
"Yeah, I did. I like it a lot."
"I'm glad. Hope that was enough." She slipped out.
"What?"
"I, uhm… surprise?"
"You didn't have to." I felt her arms pull me closer.
"I don't like how they treat you." She repeated into my hair.
"Me either." I gave in and laid my head against her shoulder. "Thanks, Ashley, but I should get back to work."
"What?!" I jumped a little at her exclamation. "Sorry, but what?! You're not going back, Spencer. I- I saw her hit you the first day… I felt so guilty. I just couldn't believe that she hit you. I hate when people take advantage of you… I do notice Spencer. I notice you more than you think and I don't even know you…"
"You don't want to."
"I do… and you're not working today. C'mon, you've got a little blood on your face." She stood up and took my hand.
"What if she's still out there?" Ashley snorted.
"No, she's probably cheating on my father (who is probably cheating on her). She won't be back for a few days."
"So what are we going to do?" She turned towards me and grinned.
"Have fun."