This is not a very organized chapter… Busy with school, too lazy… what other reason can I think of? Hmmm…. There are obvious mistakes but just read past them XD…
Chapter 9: The Crooning Clown and Chocolate
"There's no damn business but show business- you have to keep a smile up to keep from throwing up" –Billie Holiday
Sighing, I made sure the buttons on my cardigan were in the appropriate place and to brush my short choppy hair. Anxiety caused my fingers to tremble and my heart to beat faster. I had trouble choosing what I wanted to wear today. From shirts or bottoms, even to my socks, I didn't want to be mistaken as something else again.
My laptop was still on and played a random radio station. Slipping on my Chuck Taylors I plopped down on the swivel chair and read the message. From over the summer I received a total of 178 messages, excluding spam. Most of those messages were from the obvious classmates with links and crude comments. Not one was from the DHS_USER.
'Ding'
DHS_USER: Hello Crona, I do apologize for not writing you the whole break. I hope you enjoyed your summer. How are you today?
Blinking a few times my curiosity about DHS_USER grew. Who is this? Is she/he my tormentor? This is a trick, right? Shaking my head, I was going nowhere if I continued my mental questioning.
The aroma of bacon and pancakes tickled my nose as I descended downstairs with my bag slung over my shoulder. Thin beams of sunlight beamed through the thin slits of the curtains, streaking the linoleum kitchen floor and entwining with a thicker ray of light. Marie stood by the stove, her right face was glowing from the yellow ray of warmth making her glow. Her once flat belly had an obvious mound under her floral blouse.
"Morning sweety!" Marie's voice was cheery but held hints of lethargy. Her sunny eyes had traces of no sleep and the slightest of bags formed. "I'm pooped! Stein is tired as well, so I'll let him pack his breakfast!"
"Thank you Marie." Picking out the crispier pieces of bacon and nibbling at my pancakes drowned in maple syrup the clock signaled my departure. "I'll see you after school"
"Bye honey!" Marie called out once the door closed.
The sun was starting to rise higher and the school became closer. Once I saw school as form of penitentiary for the cruel and innocent but now its became a stage, where I was the clown and everyone would laugh at my acts. The dread from last school year caught up with me. The steps seem higher than I remember, or maybe I grew shorter. Clutching my right arm I went back into old habits.
My Chuck Taylors squeaked a few times as I walked down the freshly waxed floor. The white floor glistened like glitter was poured all over but there was the occasional scuff. Students chat and giggled with their groups of friends, some were walking along the lockers or had nervous looks.
"Good Morning Crona! How are you?" Maka leapt in my narrow path with her hands clasped behind her back. "I hope you had fun!"
"Uh-h… W-well.. I-I…" How am I supposed to answer to her? At one moment she's against me and teases me. Then the next she's nice and acts friendly. She must have some sort of personality disorder. Or maybe she's up to something. "H-hi."
She began to walk next to me talking about her summer, about where she went, who she met, and did. The ends of her lips curled into the familiar warm smile and her green eyes shined with kindness. Quickly she pulled me to the nearest empty stairway and hushed me.
"Crona, I know I've been a shitty friend!" Sadness ruined her angel like features. "But I want to stay friends! Don't be mad, I'm not the one who has to do all those things to you! They make me do it!"
Confused and in disbelief all I could do was lean against the wall. The sadden look was well placed, because it turns out I'm an idiot. "M-Maka?" I put a shaky hand on her shoulder. "I'm not mad, d-don't worry about it."
A smile of relief washed over her face. "Thank you Crona."
After that was said, I started to regret it.
_xXxXxXx_
It was two weeks into school when their comments influenced others. I shared the same math class as Kim. Her teal green eyes stared coldly when she was told to sit next to me, like I were the cause. If she didn't run her mouth in class then she wouldn't have to be sitting here. The crumpled balls of papers cluttered around my seat, little squared notes with heart shaped lips mouthing 'Lesbian Mop' and origami formed to look like a woman's vulva piled on my lap. The majority of my math class was female, and most of those girls were Kim's groupies. They did the dirty work for her, like loudly speaking lies or skipping me when passing out papers.
"Crona why are you cheating! This is a test!", "Maybe she wants an STD test.", "No way, she'll fail that one just like she'll fail this one!", "Maybe a pregnancy test too.", "Her baby will look like a mop too!", "Wait, who's pregnant?"
Its weird how rumors start. It all had to start from a source, or an influence. All I wanted to do was find a church and bang on the door calling 'sanctuary', but I highly doubt religious refuge would vanquish these harsh comments tossed at my face in it's many forms.
_xXxXxXx_
-Flashback-
I was about twelve years old when I first saw the little figure. It was squishy. Or so I remember. The little form was squirming and drooling, I was reluctant to hold it. The little thing was only hours old but was plump and soft, like a grape.
"Here, you can hold him!" The woman was a complete stranger to me. I was looking for the restroom but stumbled into another section of the large hospital. Since there was no school today, Marie took me along to her appointment. It made me happy to be away from the awful middle school and to be away from the seventh grade queens. "There's nothing to be afraid of. He won't bite, he has no teeth."
The woman giggled, she looked very tired and her voice sounded raw. Her dark brown hair laid like a halo around her tired form, but she stared up with the same loving eyes Marie has. Slowly I slipped an arm under the squirming baby's back and slid my elbow to the nap of his neck.
"Yes, like that." She hummed. The woman placed my other hand under and released. "You're a natural! You must have a baby brother or sister, right?" She squealed. Shaking my head I mumbled that I was an only child. "Oh, well one day you'll be a big sister!"
_xXxXxXx_
Their comments and vagina origami didn't stop me from feeling excited. Everyday I would go and meet Marie and ask her questions about the babies. She seemed to be very excited to become a mother. Her happiness made me happy, why have I never noticed?
It's a routine now. Marie and I would talk until Stein comes come and the cooking begins. We'll each think of something to cook and try to make it. Then that would be dinner. I almost forgot about the issues with school. Almost.
_xXxXxXx_
DHS_USER: Hello Crona, how are you?
Daffodil_Lament: Who are you?
DHS_USER: I'm glad you replied.
Daffodil_Lament: Yeah?
DHS_USER: Even if you never replied, I still would've messaged you.
Daffodil_Lament: Can you tell me who you are? Why do you message me? How do you know me?
DHS_USER: We are in the same class.
Daffodil_Lament: Please specify that.
It was a late Thursday evening when I replied to the DHS_USER. Seriously, this person stays late at the school. The person didn't reply.
The month passed by fast. It was finally the beginning of October, the hallways were embellished with orange and black confetti with cut outs of ghosts, ghouls, witches and angry cats. Giant orange signs were crookedly taped to the walls advertising 'Halloween Carnival', 'Halloween Dance', or 'Halloween Bazaar', none were neatly made. I think everyone dresses up every day of this month if wanted to. Or was that for December?
"I think you'll make a good scarecrow" Long sharp nails combed through my short hair, startling me. "Mew! Blair is a kitty!" Her purple locks bounced along with her chest as she sprang up to my face. "Meow!"
"Hmmm? No, I think she'll look better dressed as the blob." Long medium blonde hair was up in a high bun and tough blue eyes glared through fake glasses. A girl popped from behind wearing a giraffe costume head.
"Hmm? But sis, she's too skinny." She twirled and zipped up her yellow and brown costume. "Look Crona, I'm a giraffe! Grrrraaarrr!"
"Well by the looks of her pants." A finger hooked into my pants loops and tugged. "She's growing, see?" I was twirled around like a mannequin. Kim placed a hand on top on my head to stop my twirl. "You're nearly the width as our dear Tsubaki."
"Guys, please don't involve me." Tsubaki rose her hands and shook her head.
"Ooo, you know Crona, the only time your hips grow is if you lose your virginity." A warm voice piped in. "I'm assuming you opened yourself to some poor guy." I turned around to meet green irises.
I could feel my face grow warm, leaving my nose feeling cold. They encircled me, leaving me trapped and embarrassed. My minded morphed them as tall black figures with scowling red mouths and red eyes leaving me as some tiny piece of grass they wanted to burn. Their grinning and glares tore through my stomach, leaving my insides spilling as I collapsed to the floor. Covering my ears I screamed at them to stop it and leave me alone. Looking up through thick stinging tears a blur of more figures gathered. Most likely a crowd.
"Crona is a scarecrow!", "Hey, did you hear, she slept with some old guy last night.", "She's pregnant, look, see, she has a slight belly.", "What a slut!", "God, she's such a crybaby!"
How pathetic I am. Instead of standing up for myself, I cry. They're satisfied that I'm suffering.
"Okay, break it up!" An annoyed voice roared over the crowd. "I said break it up! I'll send you all to detention!" The crowd quickly thinned. Blurry shoulder length red hair and a dark green suit kneeled to eye level. "Hey, don't cry. They're gone, you can go to class."
Rubbing away the tears I saw it was the principal.
"Papa! Why are dress like that!?" I heard Maka shout, "I'm so embarrassed!" She groaned.
Taking another look, Principal Albarn wore a green suit with question marks and an eye mask. A green bowl hat was tucked under his arm with a painted gold cane, it was an obvious character. Principal Albarn is dressed up as a super-villain, The Riddler.
"Awww, my baby doesn't like papa's costume!?" He turned away and cooed to his daughter.
"No! I hate it! Its stupid!" She stomped her foot like a child would when angry. "Go home!"
"Buuuuuuut Makaaaaa!" He dramatically called. "I have to work!"
"I don't care! Just get away from me!"
Slowly getting up, I walked backwards along the wall while to two talked, or Maka yelling and Principal Albarn acting like a child. Once turning the corner I released a held breath. The throbbing still ached, and my legs felt weak, but I'm sure I can make it home before anything else happens.
"Oh, you're home early." Marie chirped as she sat on the couch holding a box of chocolates and curled up in a blanket. "Come, have a seat!"
Removing my shoes I took the other half of the blanket and curled up next to her. She patted my head as I snuggled my nose to her sleeve inhaling her honey and chocolate scent. Once my heart slowed to a heavy beat I started to feel, safe. I couldn't tell her the day's events, I don't want to ruin her blanket haven.
"I wasn't feeling well." Marie sighed. "Oh, the symptoms are much unexpected." Wrapping her arms around my tiny shoulders she squeeze the breath out. "Mmm, you're like a plushie! I could hug you all day."
"Do you feel better?" I asked relaxing in her hug.
"Mhhmmm. You know, I've been feeling strange too, well my abdomen actually." She hummed. "I hope there's nothing wrong, I scheduled an appointment for tomorrow."
Marie and I sat watching movies. She question why I wasn't in school, instead she popped open various types of foods and grew dramatic over the movies. The tissue box ran empty when she watched The Piano, she yelled at the screen when watching Stuart Little, and cheered when watching Pinocchio. The door opened revealing a lazy Stein and his dark brown suit case.
"What are you two ladies doing?" He asked curiously. Marie put down a bowl of popcorn, which she had to herself, and clasped her hands together.
"We're bonding!"
"Oh, well bonding is over. Crona." Stein held up a large white envelope with the Death City's Skull emblem. "You have mail."
Uncrossing my legs I took the large envelope and stared at it curiously. The envelope was somewhat heavy and it was square. I couldn't figure out what it was but from who, I smiled. Eruka sent me something! "Thank you Stein!" I happily chirped and ran to the kitchen.
"Careful when using the knife!" He called.
Marie stood behind me sipping on tea. "What is it?" She asked popping a piece of chocolate in her mouth.
"I don't know, yet." Mumbling I slide the contents out. Two records and a short letter fell to my hands.
Crona,
You have a horrible taste in music. Better straighten up.
-R
A dark woman was on the cover, her eyebrows loosely knit together as her piercing dark eyes with a troubled daring gaze looked away. She was beautiful. The second record was the image of a young skinny woman. She had a large men's button up shirt untucked and bed hair, the attitude read 'what?' but her posture was memorizing. Her posture was unlike the music covers today where women would be sexual or innocent, she stood with her blazer over one shoulder and fingers fluttering over suspenders. In my hands I held the rousing epic of Billie Holiday and Patti Smith and I wasn't aware of that.
The diamond needle skittered between the inky black lines as is found it's groove. The fading in of violins and piano harmonized for a couple seconds then a humming voice crooned through the speakers sending shivers from my neck through my elbows and down my spine. I could feel the music tingling my fingers and toes. Fluttering of the good kind tickled my guts as I parted my lips to release a slight giggle. Her voice sunk into the cracks of the cement walls in the cold basement and the stairs creaked along with the tune. Lost within the vibrating vocals of Billie Holiday, the record ended with a slight 'tch'. Opening my eyes, I stared down at the inky black record.
It felt like all my problems faded away.
Well, it took me long enough to finish this! This one is obviously scattered. And confusing. Anywayssss… What did you think? Any thoughts?
With school and laziness, I will update once a week or every other week...
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater
