I don't think I have always been like this. Peter says he remembers that things used to be better. I think it used to be, but that was so long ago now it could have been a dream.
My whole body is cold, the feeling of dread sinks lower into my stomach and my heart beats in my ears. My bedroom door is thrown open and I clutch my pillow to my chest, eyes burning with tears. She walks in, her hair looking as though she had been electrocuted, her breath and body smelt of liquor and old cigarettes.
`Adaline?' I ask cautiously, `I don't know where Sarah is if that's who you are looking for?'
I did know where her real daughter Sarah was but there was no way I was telling her whilst she was like this.
She continues to stare at me, not showing if she had heard or understood anything that I had just said.
`Ada?' I try again, `can I take you to your room? Please.'
I see the hatred spark in her eyes as I plead with her and I stiffen.
`How dare you talk to me that way, you ungrateful, selfish child! Do you not know the things I do for you? How can you be so disrespectful?' She yells at me as I cower behind my pillow, sinking as far as I can back into the bed.
She strides over to me and grabs both my wrists in her hand, the smell of intoxication radiating off her.
A sharp stinging pain shoots up both my arms as her fingernails dig deeper and I feel the warmth of blood running down my hand and dripping from my fingers. I can hear Adaline screaming about inconsideration and waste of time mixed with the increasing sound of sirens. She swings her free hand at me and my head goes foggy and my bedroom starts to spin. The last thing I hear is terrified screaming before the world turns black.
I wake, sweating and gasping for air. I have had that same fucking dream for almost three years now, ever since it happened, the reason I left one hell hole to live in a slightly lesser hell hole. I bring my forearm to cover my eyes as the sun shines through the broken window and groan. I guess I am not getting any peace now. Kicking back the covers in a huff they fall off the mattress onto the floor and I do not care enough to put them back on.
`Someone woke up in a mood,' A voice came from the corner of the room.
`Oh fuck off Jeremy you ass hole.' I say as I roll onto the floor and sit up, stretching.
Jeremy flipped me off as I walked past him, down the hallway and I rolled my eyes, too tired to retaliate. I splash ice-cold water onto my face gasping and rubbing my barely open eyes I notice how terrible I look. Pulling my hair into a messy bun I do my best to hide the fact I haven't been able to wash it in over a week, I make my way into the so-called kitchen I share with the others and groan at the empty cupboard. Guess I will be going hungry again today, not that I notice it anymore.
`Whatever' I grumble under my breath, then louder `I am leaving, can one of you idiots, please at least sweep the fucking floors today, they're disgusting.'
`Shut Up Lore, I am sleeping!' I hear Hunter groan from our shared room.
`Yeah yeah I got you covered chickie,' Millie laughed as she walked up behind me and gave me a quick hug.
`Thanks, Mil. Can you also please give Jeremy a kick up the ass for me when he is up,' I smile.
Millie smirks and I slide on my shoes and head out our makeshift towel door.
Making my way down the overgrown path to Midtown High, my stupid high school, I turn back and look at the abandoned, crumbling building that I live in with Millie, Hunter and Jeremy. After moving there almost three years ago now, it became the only place I ever wanted to call home. It was safe, to me. I laugh lightly and keep on my way, not wanting to have to walk into class late.
Taking a deep breath my feet begin to move on their own and I find myself at the front door of my first class, biology. As the bell rings, I quickly move inside and take my seat in the back. The strong scent of day-old formaldehyde hits me and my nose crinkles, but at least that means I missed some gross dissection yesterday. I smile as I see Peter walk through the door with his best friend Ned and wave them over.
`Hey little bro,' I smirk, knowing he hates that.
`I am literally 2 minutes younger than you.' Peter rolls his eyes but a small smile plays on his face.
`You missed the lamb dissection yesterday Alora, Sir is going to murder you,' Ned laughs.
`Okay one, thank god cause I did not want to do that,' I stick my tongue out at them, `and two, I really don't care, I do not plan on being here the rest of the week anyway.
Ned just shrugs and takes a seat and Pater slides into the empty chair beside me.
`You should come over this weekend for dinner or something with me and Aunt May. She is missing you. We both are.'
I open my mouth to come up with an excuse as to why I can't when he continues.
`I know you probably have plans with Adaline and Sarah but we would both really love to see you. Just think about it.'
I never told Peter or May about Adaline, or about me leaving and Ada and Sarah never said anything either so I kept it that way. I don't want to make May feel any worse about not being able to look after both Peter and myself. Plus, I am doing perfectly okay where I am now.
I made it through almost the whole day, eventless when the damn lockdown alarm sounded and I groaned. Another damn drill. I crawled lazily under the desk I shared with Ned and smirked at him. He laughed silently and rolled his eyes at me.
`Petey chose the wrong time to go to the bathroom ey,' Ned whispers.
I look over where he sat when he was made to move last week when he and Ned wouldn't shut up about the damn star wars lego and notice his absence.
I get out from under the desk and walk casually up to my physics teacher for which she scolds me.
`Ms, I just need to go unlock the door for Peter, he will be back soon.'
`Alora Parker, get the hell back under your desk, your brother will have found another classroom to go to but this is not a freaking drill,' she whispers worriedly, peeking out of the frosted classroom window.
My head pounded and my heart stopped. I had to make sure that Peter made it into another classroom.
