Chapter 3

It was April 3rd. The day before my birthday! I was going to turn twelve on April 4th. My mom had promised me we would do something exciting and fun on my birthday after school. I was so excited! I couldn't even sleep. But after a while a drifted into the dream world…

"On the ground!"

I turned to see who it was. A man. The man who shot my dad.

"I SAID ON THE GROUND!" A gunshot could be heard.

"Hide." My dad told me.

I listened. I crawled and hid in the candy section. Behind the candy aisle, all I could see was my dad's feet.

"Give me the money!"

My dad's talking could be heard over the phone.

Suddenly, another gunshot could be heard. My dad's talking stopped. Moments later, my dad was on the ground, bleeding.

I quickly forgot about my hiding spot and ran to my dad, "Daddy! Daddy!"

The man held the gun up to my head.

I started to shake my dad's arm, "Daddy! Answer me!" I started to cry, "Please! Please, answer me…" After a minute of sobbing, I finally accepted he was dead. I looked up at the man, "Bring my daddy back! You did this! Bring him back!"

The man- no, the monster, shook his head and ran out the door.

I continued to sob.

"AAH!" I woke up in my bed covered in sweat. It was only a dream. I thought I had gotten over my dad's death, but I was wrong. I loved him, I miss him, and it was clear that when my dad died, a piece of my heart was ripped out. I started to cry, again. Eventually, I fell back asleep.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my mom's voice, "Happy Birthday, my little clover! Though I guess I can't call you little anymore!"

I opened my eyes and saw my mom in my room holding a red velvet cupcake. My favourite! I smiled.

She handed me the cupcake, "I know it isn't much, but-"

I just hugged her. I know we didn't have much money; in fact, we barely had enough to pay rent for our , I didn't care. I know my mom loved me and she tried her best to make my morning special.

"It's perfect, mom."

She smiled, "Come on. Eat your cupcake and get ready. You have school."

I did as told.

I put my black hair in a pony tail, put on some jeans and a white graphic T that had a picture of a T-Rex trying to do a push up but failing because of his little hands. Underneath the picture, a litte caption said, "T-Rex no like push ups!" I ran out the door with my backpack and I ran into my school bus.

I walked to the back of the bus because it was usually the most empty seat in our school bus. The reason for that being was that they're was a broken window so it was always cold there, but I didn't mind. As I walked by, Nicole, the girl that I spilled paint on her hair in grade 2, tripped me. God I want to kill her. I fell down and scraped my elbows. Nicole and most of the other kids started laughing. I just ignored them, stood up, and walked to my seat.

When we got to school, I got off the bus and started to climb the school steps.

Johnny, the kid who I accidently squished with the swing set, laughed as I walked by, "Watch your step, Malerie!"

I rolled my eyes and continued.

I went to my locker and went to my first class, History. After the bell, my teacher, Miss Sherman, immediately stood up and welcomed the class.

"Good morning, class! Today is a special day! It's Malerie's birthday!" she started to clap but no one clapped with her. I knew my class hated me but not THAT much. No one understands me... After a while, she just stopped. After we took some notes, class ended. Thank god! I hate history.

We ran to go to our other class, Math. I hated that class as well. It was SO boring. Who cares about ratios with random coloured beads? It's not like I'm going to use that when I grow up!

Then we had recess. When I walked outside, I was instantly greeting by Johnny. He's an ass.

He cornered me at a wall and said, "Hey, Malerie. I heard it was your birthday. Well, I have a present for you! It's a knuckle sandwich!"

I rolled my eyes, "Ooh…Clever! Never heard that one before."

He swung at my head, I ducked and walked behind him. His hand punched the wall, he instantly screamed, "Why you -"

I interrupted him, "Gorgeous and sexy girl? Yeah, I know."

He yelled, "That's not what I was going to say!"

I shook my head, "Maybe not, but you sure thought of it!"

He just grunted, "That's it! You're going down!"

I just walked away, "Sure, I am…"

"You're so-"

I interrupted him again, "Funny? I know!"

He was getting really pissed, "THAT'S IT!" he started to sprint. I'm guessing he was going to tackle me. I just moved to the side and he fell on the ground.

"Better watch your step, Johnny."

What the people at my school don't understand is that I always get the last laugh. I've been through a lot. These freaks can't do anything to me.

BWAAH!

Recess has ended. After recess, was lunch.

During lunchtime, I would sit alone on a table. Not only that, whenever every other seat at the cafeteria was taken except for the ones next to me, people wouldn't sit next to me. Instead, they would decide to sit on the ground. I don't mind though. I like the privacy. I don't need them anyways.

The food was nasty as always. I stood up to throw whatever that thing they call food was on my tray away until I noticed that Johnny's nose was bleeding from when he failed to tackle me.

I couldn't resist, "Hey, Johnny! Can I still have that knuckle sandwich?"

He just grumbled.

I laughed and walked away, "Yeah, that's what I thought." Hopefully, for his own good, he's learned his lesson.

After lunch, we had more classes. English and Science. They were boring as well. School ended after Science! Finally, I can go home and have fun with my mom!

I quickly gathered my things and ran for the school bus. I got around home at 4:00pm.

I opened the door, "Mom! I'm home!" No reply, "Mom?" I walked into her bedroom, actually the only bedroom in our apartment. She wasn't there. I walked into the kitchen, "Mom?" Nothing. There was only one place to check. The bathroom. I walked over to it and found the door closed, "Mom? Are you ok?" I opened the door and gasped.

My mom was on the bathroom floor.

Dead.