Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans

My Life

Chapter Four: Payback's A Bitch

I woke up to the alarm blaring in my head. Forgot to lower the volume again, I thought groggily. I had gotten less than three hours of sleep last night, and that plus the huge amount of drama and surprises that filled my day yesterday equals a very tired and very cranky me. I slid out of bed like a snake, and after a quick pit-stop in the bathroom next door, I took a look in my mirror.

I wasn't shocked to see that black eyes and oozing bruises hadn't appeared mysteriously during the night. So yesterday did happen ... I really healed myself, didn't I?

Well, aren't I special? I thought sarcastically, brushing my hair and getting ready for the day. I came out into the kitchen wearing a fresh dark blue tee and another pair of ripped jeans (like I said before, they're my style). Mom was waiting for me as usual, preparing a bowl of cereal. "You might want a jacket today," she said, smiling, "It's going to get a little chilly." I nodded; there was something ... peculiar about my mom this morning, but I couldn't tell what it was. I ate quickly, making sure to drain the milk from the bowl when I was finished. I looked around, confused that my messenger bag wasn't where I left it, until Mom said, "I thought maybe I should drive you to school today, Remi."

"Why?"

"Can't a mother offer a ride out of devotion?" she replied, then added, "And your stuff is already in the car."

"That solves the case of the missing bag, then," I mumbled, very curious as to why my mother was acting so ... different. Hopefully it has something to do with what I learned about her last night, I thought, grabbing a black jacket off the rack on the wall and making my way out the door, Otherwise, I'd be even more confused. I stopped when I saw the bus stop across the street. Those same two boys were there, and apparently I caught their eye because they turned to stare at me. One of them made a face. Yeah, real mature, I sneered inwardly as I slid the jacket over my arms and zipped it halfway. I entered my mother's blue Sedan, my face emotionless once more, and soon after Mom joined me, we hit the road.

"So," I started, "why do you really want to take me to school?" She glanced at me, an innocent look on her face. I cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, if you must know," she replied, eyes back on the road, "I wanted to ask if you could meet a friend of mine after school today, back at the house."

"And that needed an occasion because ...?"

"Because you came home at midnight last night, remember?"

"But -"

"Yes, I know it was because of the accident. I completely understand that. I just wanted to warn you to be more cautious today, avoid those same girls and anyone else who might cause trouble."

So, basically the whole school? I thought, and I assured her that I would do my best to be invisible. "But who am I meeting?" I asked, being the nosy little girl I can be. Mom slowed at a stop sign and watched intently as the crossing guard helped a group of younger kids to the other side of the street. Something passed through her eyes, a feeling I couldn't distinguish.

"I remember when you were that small," she whispered, so softly I barely caught it. "Like it was yesterday, I remember it. But ..." she trailed off as the guard signaled her to go, which she did. Shaking her head, she looked at me briefly. "He's just a friend I've known since ... well, since I was about your age, actually. Maybe a little younger, though."

"Oh God, is he my dad?" I asked incredulously.

"What?! No, no!" Mom's violet eyes widened at the statement, and I grinned. "I was telling the truth when I said I didn't know who your father was! No, he's just ... well ... you'll know when you see him. No more questions. Just come after school so he and I can talk to you about something, okay?"

I nodded, amused by my mother's reaction. The rest of the ride went on in silence, so I got lost in my world of thoughts once more. I never really wondered who my father was; it was always me and Mom to the end, no one else. I did go through a short period of nagging about him when I was about nine years old, always questioning what he looked like and where he was. The answer was always the same: "I don't know." Eventually, I gave up and soon forgot all about my father. Well, never completely forgotten, of course, but I moved on with the matter and never really brought it up again. If my dad wants to know me, he can come and find me, I told myself as we turned a corner, Sun Valley coming into view. I'm not going out of my way any longer.

The car pulled to a stop in front of the school, and I gracefully slid out, shutting the door behind me. My mother cast me a quick smile before driving off, leaving me in my worst nightmare. I turned and faced the building, my eyes blank and my expression ... well, expressionless. Here we go again, I thought, and I gracefully slid through the doors and inside.

"Outta my way, loser," a random eleventh-grader snarled, pushing me aside as I made my way down to lunch. I ignored him and walked faster, anxious of my surroundings. I had avoided contact and sight from Lexis and any other of the girls who jumped me yesterday afternoon, just like Mom told me to. What a good daughter I am. I think I deserve a cookie ... or two ... or twenty; either way.

I walked into the cafeteria and headed straight for the same table I sit at every day ... alone, of course. Except this time, I had a bit of an interruption on the journey there.

"Yo, Roth!" I heard the idiot behind me call, but I ignored him. Loner survival 101: curl in a ball and they'll grow bored with you ... I hope. Suddenly, I felt a chilling, sort of squishy sensation on the bottom of my neck, slowly making its way down my back; it felt like warm ice was placed down my shirt, which isn't as pleasant as you may think. I stopped and wiped my hand over it with a blank look, expecting spaghetti or something. But my eyes widened in horror when I saw my hand covered in glistening blood ... my glistening blood! What the hell did that bastard do to me?! I screamed in my head as my body started to shake in panic and fear, as well as anger. I swear, if he tries to kill me too, I'll ... wait a minute...

I spun around and caught sight of a really tall guy (I think his name is Chase, but who cares?) laughing his head off. A red bottle lay in his grasp, and a liquid of similar color dripped from the end. It wasn't blood on my neck, but –

Ketchup? I thought, all my fear replaced with incredible ferocity. I felt my cheeks burn in rage and humility as Chase and half the cafeteria laughed in my face. Out of all the things to do to me, this dumbass shoots me with a condiment? I would've thought more on the matter, but apparently I don't have the power to become invisible. Fresh shock overcame me as the hysterical maniac lifted the bottle again and SQUIRT! Right on my shirt ... right in my face.

That's it, I'm done, I thought as I felt my feet start to fly. Out the cafeteria, down the hall, through a door, and into a bathroom stall ... that's where they took me. UGH! I screamed with frustration inside my own head, which can't be healthy. Why can't I just have one stupid good day?! Why does everyone have to spit in my face one way or another? I just want to be left ALONE! I summoned all my strength and kicked the tiled wall of the bathroom, hoping it would help. It didn't, so I kicked it again ... and again ... and again...

Yes. I have problems.

I forced one last thrust before falling to my knees, and that's when the world started to catch up to me. This morning, yesterday seemed like one big blur, but now its reception was crystal clear. The chase ... the beating ... the fear ... the hate ... the blood, pain, and misery ... I couldn't stop any of it! All I wanted was to be left alone, to go home in peace! Why is that such a difficult thing to receive? It should be easy! Life should be easy! Why does it have to be so complicated? Why does everyone have to make it so frickin' horrible to the point where I wish I died yesterday?! Why, dammit, WHY!?

Salty tears dripped into the corners of my mouth, tempting me to lick them away. I was holding myself so hard, so tight that you'd think I was cold, but nothing in me was frozen except my heart. And I know that sounds cheesy, but it's absolutely true. I didn't realize my nails digging themselves into my arms until they broke the skin, and real blood that once coursed through my veins started to leak onto my lap, staining my jeans black. My sobs of anguish were silent, but the shuddering of my body was getting out of control.

The sound of the door outside creaking open made my heart stop, and I froze in position with my ears alert and my eyes wary of my surroundings. Footsteps echoed around the room, more than one person, this I could tell. I heard murmurs, but I was so clogged up I couldn't make out the words. Then ...

"I can't do this anymore, Lexis!" a voice practically shouted. I gulped dryly and slowly stood up within the stall, cut off and hidden from the group. Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw with even more dismay five girls – Lexis and all the others that jumped me.

"Keep your voice down!" hushed the blond, her eyes wide but her voice stern. She'd make a good class president if she wasn't psycho. Lexis visibly took a deep breath before continuing. "I thought we went over this already. We aren't going to mention what happened yesterday to anybody ... not a word, get it, Mika?" The first girl, a brunette with obvious sense, quieted and lowered her head in defeat. But the others wouldn't succumb that easily.

"Look," started the tall one, and I realized this was the girl who had held my hands back. Fury blazed within me for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with more misery. "I don't want to live my life in a lie, either, but we saw what you did, Lexis, and –"

"What I did?" Lexis whispered incredulously, "This isn't all my fault, okay? We're all responsible, and we're all witnesses! But that's the thing; don't you see? We're the only ones who know what happened. No one will ever know it was us, so there's nothing to worry about ... nothing!"

Oh, I wouldn't say that, I thought mischievously, and it was like all the ideas in the world suddenly came to me. I had a plan, and sure it was risky, but it's a little something I call payback. My depressed demeanor vanished in an instant as I silently stood and went over to the mirror above the sink in my individual booth. I kept my ears attentive of the assemblage as I took in my appearance.

"I can't keep this up," a new voice mumbled, so quietly I barely heard her.

The whites of my blue-violet eyes were red and bloodshot, contrasting greatly with the dark circles beneath them. My pale cheeks were still smothered in ketchup, so I quietly took a piece of toilet paper and smeared it away, leaving the skin spotless. But it wouldn't stay that way for long.

"Stop, Jen, you need to get your head straight," Lexis whispered harshly, just as I took the ketchup on the back of my neck and rubbed it on my teeth, allowing some to dribble over my chin.

"No, don't you see?" Jen said, her voice quivering. "I saw her ... today."

I froze, startled and confused. I had been so careful ... how could one of them see me?

"Are you joking with us, girl?" a fifth voice replied, obviously more shocked than me.

"I w-wish ..." she sounded on the verge of tears, and her voice started to stutter and stall. "B-but it's true. Sh-she was walking down the h-hallway and ... how is it possible?"

"It isn't possible," Lexis cried, then, lowering her voice she added, "You couldn't have seen her, Jen, but you probably just thought you saw her. You probably ..." her sentence trailed, and there was an awkward silence. I sighed inwardly and went back to work, wiping the "blood" off my shirt and massaging it onto my hands. I grouped the rest of the ketchup into one particular spot on my stomach area before looking in the mirror once again. Something's missing, I thought, then it came to me. I bent down and shook my violet hair violently before flipping my head up, so it was one big mess. I examined my reflection.

I looked like death. My pale skin that was even paler from crying added the most incredible touch, and my eyes were bulging to the point where even I thought they would pop out and explode. The ketchup in my mouth slid into the crevices between my teeth, creating the image of me getting punched in the face. Déjà vu, much? I double-checked the girls were still out there. They were huddling and whispering to each other, and I had to strain my ears to catch even the faintest wisps of the conversation.

"... we agree that yesterday never happened?" Lexis asked, her face hard as stone. The tall girl and the other one nodded, but Mika, who was holding a silently sobbing Jen, straightened bravely. Excitement and anticipation swelled in my stomach.

"We can't just ignore this!" she protested, "Jen actually seeing her proves that this will never leave our minds ... ever! Remi is haunting us, Lexis! And it's only going to get worse."

"Don't be so ridiculous! There are no such things as ghosts!"

And that's my cue. With all my might, I swung the door to the bathroom stall open, hearing it slam against the wall and feeling its ominous vibration flow through me. The girls leapt five feet in surprise, and an ear-splitting scream erupted from all of them when they saw my face, when they realized who I was.

There I stood, bloody and deathlike, standing straight and yet crooked, brave and yet timid. I sent a purely evil stare at each of them in turn, one bleeding hand clutching my abdomen while the other formed a fist of vengeance. This is what they saw ... but what I saw was fear, panic, disbelief, and absolute sheer terror across all their faces. And knowing it was me who had caused this onto them in particular ... well, that just sent chills of satisfaction down my spine. And without any regret, let me tell you.

"You ..." I breathed, my voice rough not only by act, but because it was still a bit dry from my sob fest earlier. I raised my "bloody" hand and pointed straight at Lexis; I could tell from where I was that she was about to vomit. I took a limping step forward, leaning on one side as if the hole in my stomach was still there. Everyone scurried away from me, shaking so much it was hilarious.

But I held my laughter as I suddenly shouted with all the darkness I could muster in my voice, "YOU! ALL OF YOU! YOU KILLED ME, I'LL KILL YOU!"

The next few incredible seconds were a blur. I lunged at them, my teeth blaring like I was going to bite them, my fists waving as if I was going to smash their brains in. So yeah, they screamed! Lexis fell over her own feet and scrambled out the door, followed by the other four who looked as pale as ghosts. Oh, if irony could kill, I'd be dead already. As soon as they left, any sane person can guess what happened: I burst out laughing! I couldn't breath I was cracking up so hard, and eventually I found myself down on my knees, my hands clutching my stomach in actual pain. Oh man, it was awesome, it was priceless!

If only you were there to see it.

A/N - I am sooooooooooo sorry times a trillion for the delay, but I have a life away from the computer that I have to tend to. It's like a garden, and I can't let the plants die or ... well, they'll die! Anyway, REVIEW! I love reviews, peeps, so keep 'em coming! I only got five so far, but the more I get, the meatier the chapters will be! You know what I'm talking about.

- random -