Chapter Two

I laid in bed, just thinking of how my life would be like if I never got in the car with Seto on that unfaithful night. I ran my fingers over the wrinkled scars. I even scare myself if I looked in the mirror. That why I had the mirrors removed from my room and bathroom.

My parents were really getting worried about me. I don't go out anymore and was really quiet nowadays. I tell myself, "What's the use of talking when you're going to say the same things over and over to different people."

So many people come up and ask, "What happened to you?"

It's like, everybody at my school avoids me now. Even all the guys who hit on me stay far away. And I'm not even gonna' mention Seto. Yeah, I saw him a couple of times in the hallways, but he would never look in my direction. It's like he's making sure he DOESN'T see me.

I gave a heavy sigh and flopped over onto my stomach. With all my strength, I tried to open my left eye bigger. It wouldn't budge. Its like the left side of my face was totally paralyzed. Even the part of my lip on the left side wouldn't move when I talk. So, I talk out of one side of my mouth, like a redneck (a cowboy).

Except only that it sounds like I'm mumbling.

I ran my finger over the left side of my lip. How am I ever to kiss again? "Oh shut up, Tea," I scolded myself. It's not like any guy wants to kiss you, anyways.

A knock came at my door.

"Come in!" I said and sat up. My father walked in. His hair looked like he had been running his hands through it too much. He came and sat on the edge of my bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fiiiinnne....." I said. I knew something was up... because I never saw my father except for one hour every Sunday at church. "Dad, what's wrong?" I asked.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Hunny..." he paused. I nodded, leaning in closer. "We're bankrupt."

I felt faint. This CANNOT be happening!!

"I'm sorry!" he cried out and hugged me. I remained motionless. I was TOO shocked to mumble anything.

I got out the car and looked at the shabby house in front of me. My parents walked over to me as the taxi pulled off.

"So?" my mother asked. "It may not be huge, but it might be comfortable."

I stared at the ugly house... no, its not a house, more of a shack. With a heavy sigh, I picked up my little suitcase. I had to give everything away except for seven outfits and a pair of shoes. Yeah, I got undergarments.

My father unlocked the door. It swung open, revealing spider webs hanging in the corners of the shack. My mother sighed.

"Welcome home."

I poked the burnt beans. My mother had NO idea how to cook.

"Hunny, eat," my father said. "It's not THAT bad if u scrape the burnt stuff off."

I shook my head and stood up. I was ready to go to sleep. I slipped into the sleeping bag I had for a bed and tried to get some sleep.

I woke up to the drip! drip! of rainwater hitting the tin bucket my parents had put to catch the rain. Lightning flashed across the sky. I squeezed my eyes shut. It helped shut the lightning out but not the booming thunder.

Exhausted, I sat up and walked over to the window. The wind was blowing the tall weed all over the place. Sweeping them back and forth, it was really hypnotizing. I almost fell asleep like that when something standing out in the tall weed caught my eyes. It looked like somebody was standing out there, staring at me.

Chills ran down my spine. I started to panic. Lightning streaked across the sky. I looked at the same place where the "thing" was at. Nothing was there, except for the sweeping weed in the wind.

I left the windowsill and climbed back into my sleeping bag, but I couldn't fall asleep. I was scared that "thing" might attack me if I fell asleep.
"MISS GARDNER!" Mrs. Jackson snapped me out of my daydream. A few people snickered. "Pay attention! I know that there are a LOT of stuff going on in your life, but school's more important."

"Oh shut up bitch. You know nothing," I cursed silently at her. She continued on with her lesson. I drummed my fingers on the desk.

"MISS GARDNER!!"

I sat straight up as the faggot gave me an evil look. Some freakin' teacher she is. I hated sitting where I was sitting. I was sitting on the far right of the room. I bet she made me sit there on purpose so that everyone can see the deformed part of my face. We never got along from the start of the school year... and we never will.

"Class, we will be giving a play for the kindergarten kids. The play will be 'Beauty and the Beast'. Anybody interested?" Mrs. Jackson asked.

"Yeah!" the class screamed together. I rolled my eyes. I didn't care much.

"There'll be auditions for the Beast this afternoon."

"No need!" some white boy shouted. "Already got a beast!" he yelled and pointed to me. Everyone laughed. Mrs. Jackson sneered. I absentmindedly broke my pencil in half. I was too angry to care. I would love to stick this pencil into her eyes. Muahaha.

"Well, Tea? Would you like to be the beast?" she asked. "I mean, we wouldn't have to make a mask for you," Mrs. Jackson stated. Snap! The pencil half broke into another half. The class howled. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I hate her! I hate her! I quickly wiped the tears away.

"Oh, what? Miss Popular crying?" a blonde teased. I would loved to jump at her throat and slit it open, but I did nothing. My parents can't afford a lawyer if I did something terrible to these people that I hate so much.

Everyone use to be scared of me. Maybe it was because my family had the money, but now they treat me as dirt, just because everyone found out that my family went bankrupt.

"Well, are you or are you not going to take the part, BEAST?" Mrs. Jackson said and got all up in my face. I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of the classroom and dashed into the bathroom.

I stared at the horrid face that looked back at me in the mirror. Eyes red, face wet with tears, burnt left side of the face. With an angry cry, I hauled something at the mirror. It shattered into a hundred pieces. I didn't care that I was vandalizing school property. I slowly sank to the ground, shoulders shaking and covered my face with my hands.

Why did you do this to me, God?? Why??

Fresh tears ran down my face. I needed somebody... wanted somebody who I could talk to... somebody who'd understand me.

I dragged my feet across the dirt road to the shack. The horrible school day had finally let me out. I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw a guy sitting on the steps. His hair was all messy, like he just woke up. His pants ended at his ankles, and his shirt looked like something a girl would wear. Plus, his glasses took up like half of his face. Okay, okay, so I think he looks like a nerd.

When he saw me, a smile lit up his face.

"Hi!" he said, walking towards me. I almost took off, running in the opposite direction. But, I stayed still. Why? Because he looked straight into my eyes, like there was nothing wrong with the way I look... unlike some people who avoided eye contact with me (ahem Seto).

"Wh---who are you?" I asked.

"Bakura Ryou," he smiled again. "I know you, but you don't know me."

?????

Creepy.

He smiled at my confusion. "We go to the same school."

"Oh."

"You're Tea Gardner."

I nodded dumbly.

"I have been meaning to talk to you. Just never got the nerves."

I looked at him.

"I mean, before the accident and stuff."

I nodded again. 'What does he want with me?' I thought.

Seeming to have read my mind, he said, "I was wondering if you would like to get something to drink."

My mouth almost fell open. Was he asking me out?

"Umm... sorry. No," I said shaking my head. I DID want to go, but not looking like a monster from a horror movie.

"Don¡¯t worry, if people stare at you, I'll cover you," he smiled. Will you stop smiling?!?!

"What about my---?" I asked.

"Don't worry. I already asked them before you came home."

Wow. How thoughtful.

"So... are you willing to go?" he asked. A small smile crawled over my face. "Great!" he exclaimed and grabbed my hand. Chills ran down my spine. His hands were so soft. He led me to the back of the house where an old beat up car was waiting. I stopped short. I kinda' didn¡¯t want to be seen in a beat up car and a nerd. But who wanna' be seen with me? Apparently him, so I reluctantly followed.

I took a big gulp of cola. I never knew cola tasted so good! Okay, I¡¯m exaggerating, only because I didn't drink soda in a long time. He smiled at me, happy to know that I was happy.

I leaned back. "So, how did you know me?" I asked.

"I see you walking down the halls."

I nodded and took another gulp.

"Tea," he said and leaned forward onto his elbows. I looked at him, face reading 'you got my attention'. "Sorry if I scared you that one day."

"Huh?? What do you mean?"

"You know, that rainy day you spent your first night... in your new house..."

"Uh huh..." I said, still confused.

"I was standing out in the rain when I noticed you were looking at me. I got scared so I ducked."

The straw fell out of my mouth.

"So YOU were that thing I saw standing out in the rain!!" I exclaimed. He nodded and grinned. Then we both started laughing. I never felt THIS happy in the longest time.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. I turned around and followed his gaze. 6:18pm.

"I guess I better get you home," he said. I turned back around and looked at him. He looked straight into my eyes, sending chills (once again) down my spine. It was nice to have somebody finally looking deep into my eyes. We finally broke out of the trance a few seconds later. He grabbed his raggedy jacket and stood up. I followed his lead as he led me through the crowded mall. He grabbed my hand to make sure he didn't lose me in the crowded place. I hope it didn't bother him that he was holding onto my burnt hand.

He pulled up in front of my house. We sat inside, just letting silence flow between us.

Then, I finally broke the silence. "I guess I better go on in."

"Yeah." he turned and looked at me. I felt my face flush. I pushed the door open and got out.

"Umm... Bakura," I turned back.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for the drink," I said then slowly walked up the steps to my shack. I looked back one more time only to find that he had magically disappeared. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was he just a ghost, or somebody I had imagined?