Skyscraper
Part 2
Chapter 6
…..
Adam looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. One more surgery to go. He smiled as touched his chest. Flat. He was seeing himself more and more. And it was relieving. Now he had to work on his six pack. Releasing a sigh, one question was in his mind. Would he tell his group? Would he make them uncomfortable? Not too many people can handle a revelation such as this. The only one who he thought could probably handle it was Katie. Katie the beautiful soccer player whose blue eyes told him it was ok to feel pain. That he wasn't the only one. Yet others….were like his father. The many lunch tables he sat by himself. No one wanted to be associated with him. Just school in general was hell.
Walking to his locker, he held his tears as he saw the big red letters. "Trans Kid." Turning around he saw the hallway full of teens laughing. Whispering. Proving that he would forever be out of place. Pointing at him. But he would not cry. He would hold his tears. He would prove to them that he was no "lesbian"….he was truly a man. And they were the ignorant ones.
Looking at all of them, he gave a look of seriousness. He would not break. Nor falter. Their looks of disgust, fear, belittlement. He turned back towards his combination, opening his locker as he grabbed his books. Placing them in his bag.
"Thanks for the decoration who ever did this. But next time use blue. It matches the color of my eyes. "he closed his locker as he took a picture on his phone. Sending it to his mother. A big smile on his face as he walked through the crowd. Bumping into a couple of people. He wasn't a badass. He was just a survivor. He had no other choice.
And they did not get a rise out of him.
And soon, his mother would be here. This was a win win situation after all.
Putting on his clothes, he wished he could trust people enough. Men enough to shower with him. He knew about the safety precautions with his body, but he felt as if he was unofficially quarantined. Shaking his head, he was grateful he had survived two more days of obstacle courses. His body was sore, but at least he would gain a little more muscle.
Walking out he saw the three gorgeous girls head toward their bathroom. This camp was very organized. The way each group was put on timeframe. Sitting on the outside picnic table, he didn't feel like going back into his room. Not that they were on shaky ground, but sometimes a person wanted to be by themselves. This was what he was used to. They would do it anyway when they found out.
…
Marisol locked the bathroom as they walked inside. As usual, Adam was sitting outside enjoying nature. But she had sensed he was still trying to distance himself from everyone again. Where was this sixth sense when she was modeling? Smelling her body wash, she smiled. No she hardly got any sleep last night, but she found herself wanting to be alive. And though she was still washing dishes, she was grateful Ellie let her go to grocery store with her team. She needed to get out these woods for a while.
"What's that?" Bianca looked at the bottle.
"Dove….want some?" The two girls noticed Katie was still a little resistant towards them. More like Bianca. The usual. For some reason the girls were super sensitive towards each other. It was almost as if they…..
"No thanks.. I don't want anything that will attract Luke even more to me." The two girls laughed as Katie slowly took her clothes off.
"Your personality can repel anyone so don't worry." The red head walked into the shower.
"Someone's cranky….." Bianca grew tired of the girl's wariness towards her. Nothing new, but it still didn't mean the rebel didn't want to be around her.
"Could you two please not ruin this day, we actually did well to get a privilege."
"O….a small fridge in our room. The possibilities are endless." Bianca bit as Mare hit her.
"it's better than drinking hot Capri Suns. At least we can have some foods like yogurt and…." Mare stated with happiness.
"Guess this means we have to celebrate then…." The hardened girl stated.
"What?"
"You actually wanting to eat." The two girls bonded as they stepped into their individual showers.
….
Mike noticed the quiet boy sit on the picnic table. What was the boy still hiding? But he couldn't point the finger at anyone hiding something. Everyone was entitled to a secret. Shaking his head as Luke put his money in his wallet.
"Hey don't worry." Luke assured the boy. "I have enough money for all three of us if need be."
Mike couldn't blame his parents for not sending him anything. Choices had consequences. And he made some fucked up ones. Adam and Luke were lucky to have parents that pulled strings for them. Well Adam's were. Luke just took advantage, but then again it wasn't as if he didn't have a reason to. One thing he was grateful for was that his parents never hit him.
Seeing the girls walk out their bathroom, they sat with Adam. And somehow, Marisol shined more than all of them. Washing dishes with her…..he found her to be different than she appeared. She was prissy, but not airheaded….
"O Marisol could you please sit by me on the bus today?" Luke teased as the other hit him…leaving their cabin to join the others waiting.
"What? I see what you see. Mare is super hot." The unbearable boy saw what his words did to his roommate. "Sorry….she's not on my radar." He assured. He actually respected Mike and Adam.
"She's not on mine either." Mike stated. "She's making me reevaluate this whole thing. And I don't know whether to hate her or thank her." The two put the conversation on hold as they made it to the group.
The model grinned softly as she moved over for him to sit down. The two tried hard not to steal glances.
All six of them waited for Ellie to join them. Her notebook in her hand and a paper bag in her other. Staring at them, the kids didn't know what she had in stored for them. Smiling sneakily, they waited for her to talk. Looking in the bag, she gave them each a metal wristband. Their eyes showed confusion as they adjusted them to their wrists.
"What is this?" Luke asked as he saw a red light on band.
"A tracking device…..just in case one of you may try to sneak off." She informed as the sarcastic boy huffed.
"Cool…it's like we are a part of the CIA or something." Adam said goofily as the others let out a sigh.
"You can put it on…but there is a code to take it off….just in case…but I know you guys would never try to run away from here." Ellie giggled as the teens folded their arms.
"And can't forgive to give you your seat partner." The woman laughed at their lack of eagerness. They honestly couldn't have thought this didn't have limitations.
"I didn't know we were in pre-school…" Bianca and Luke stood united.
"Well you are…..and here are your assignments." She ignored their resistance as she opened the bag….pulling out names at random…"Luke and Mare….Bianca and Katie….and Adam and Mike…let's go."
Ellie sat at the back of bus hearing the teens chatter. It was odd for her. She was on the other side of her pain. She was now coping but she realized that even through their pain, these kids were still kids. They needed love as much as they needed interaction. And going back to the city was what they needed to boost their spirits.
Bianca couldn't believe she had the unfortunate luck of seating by Katie. The girl who was just as "bipolar" as she was. One moment, she was extremely happy and then the next….it was as if the ground was taken from under her. As the sun peered through the window of the bus, she kept her eyes at the woods that passed. Placing her hand on the seat, she blushed feeling Katie's underneath hers.
"Sorry." Bianca said without looking at her. Finding herself wanting to feel more of her hand. And the tomboy wanted to feel the girl's hand on hers again. But she would never admit it aloud.
"Why do you do that Bianca?" the red head broke her silence.
"do what?" Bianca asked. "You are the one who wants everyone to get along but when it comes to me….you stay stomping on me….I'm not as strong as I appear. With everything that has happened to me, I am forced to be tough…..its not a choice. Just admit it. I am nothing more than a prostitute in your eyes."
"No….no,…..I promise its not Bianca…you just…you do your best to make me feel uncomfortable….and I back away because I don't know how to react to you…I don't…I just….I just shut people out…..I don't mean to do it….I just…."
"I get it Matlin." The badass looked at the girl. "but why do you have to analyze everything that a person does? Especially me…."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do. Its like there is something about me that you are trying to find out. I intrigue you….and I wonder why….are you a wannabe bad girl or something…."
"No…..no….Bianca you are so…..frustrating…..I don't know what I want."
"everyone knows what they want." Bianca simply said as the red head blushed again.
Mike couldn't help but ignore Adam's chatter about Power Rangers when he noticed Marisol's head on Luke's shoulder. Whatever.
"You would be the red ranger definitely." Adam stated. "Mare of course….pink…..Katie is blue…..Bianca is yellow without a doubt…..Luke is the black one….and me….I'm the extra one…." He laughed.
"Adam…I have never met anyone like you…..I don't know if its good or bad."
"Me either…." The two laughed.
Luke couldn't push the girl off of him as she slept. And honestly, she looked like she hadn't rested. Her prissy ways reminded him of his sister. And his missed his twin dearly…..
Luke tried to walk away from the drunken man as he quickly turned him around. He was done arguing with the stern man. Seeing their expressions matching. They were truly father and son. Their eyes squinted in anger. Heavy breathing as their fists formed. And then out of nowhere…..
"Stop!" The strawberry blonde ran in between them. Her love for them both made them drop their defenses. "Please just stop fighting." The girl placed her hands on both their chests. Trying to distance them.
"Becky this has nothing to do with you." Mr. Baker looked her in the eyes.
"Yes it does. I know Luke does bad things…and I know you are still miss mom….but…."
"Becky….stay out of this…." Luke gently pushed her out their way.
"No….I can't….We need someone to help us….this family is falling apart….you've turned into a kleptomaniac basically, and dad you are an alcoholic….I want to help…I do…..but….I just stop taking it out on each other…" she pleaded as the two shook their heads.
"whatever." Luke walked to the room as his twin followed….as they locked his door.
"You have to stay on dad's blindside….lashing out….only leads to more beatings….and I oddly think that that is what you want." The girl found the first aid kit under his bed.
"maybe it is….maybe I want him to hurt me so bad that I die…" He whispered.
"That is the most selfish thing you have ever said…..and you have said a lot of selfish things…." She hit his shoulder. "Ever think about how I feel about you leaving me…"
"I'm just talking….I will protect you always…."
"But Luke it's not your job to do that…."
"I know you think about it…."
"What?"
"You wonder if Dad will start beating on you too….and the answer is no. I won't let him." The boy held her hand.
"I love you Luke…but I just feel as if this is a lose lose situation." She squeezed his hand.
Marisol's eyes widened at the sight of the Wal-Mart. Feeling the bus stop, she ran down the aisle…at least attempted to. Feeling someone take hold of her wrist, she looked at the culprit.
"Hold it Speedy Gonzalez." Mike stopped her as she sat back down. Everyone giggled at her.
"Remember, I am tracking you guys…..you have 2 hours. When you are done, come outside and wait for us. Don't make me regret this. And bring your receipts back. Don't want you guys to get anything you shouldn't….condoms, razors, makeup…..etcetera…..clothes and food and toiletries are only allowed…. " The teens nodded as they entered the Walmart.
Mare was fighting the urge to run to the cosmetics department and grabb some nail polish. She needed a manicure dearly. Looking at her hands, she was grateful she wasn't shaking as much. She didn't know where to go first. She had been away from this place for so long. And she noticed once again the five teens were staring at her like she was losing her mind.
"Come on…."Bianca grabbed her hand as she got a basket. "Can't have you run away….or test the make-up." She saw Katie looking at the two. Was she jealous?
"I saw that?" Mare noticed how the curly haired girl rushed them away from the rest of the group.
"Saw what?"
"How you are running away Katie….." Mare snickered as they looked at the fruit.
"I thought I was doing you a favor by keeping you away from Mike." Bianca smirked as she watched the black girl's expression change as the model grabbed the bananas…. noticing the boy near them.
All the words. They didn't make sense to him….everything was scrambled. And right now he was getting so frustrated his head started to hurt. He was so stupid. And everyone knew it. Which was why he was stuck doing what he was doing. Placing his hand over his head, he heard her soft voice.
"What's wrong?" Mare walked to him as she saw him shake his head.
"Nothing…." He grabbed the loaf of bread.
"I didn't know you liked sour dough." She made the observation as she noticed his blush.
"O I grabbed the wrong one….I want white bread." He hoped his next choice was the right one.
"O here you go." The model grabbed the bread beside it. "I do that all the time." She placed it in his basket.
"Don't you want to go back to Bianca." He noticed her embarrassment. "I mean…not saying that I want you to leave but I didn't want you to abandon the girl." He said.
"She's fine….she has a lot on her mind." She stated.
"Don't we all." He agreed.
Katie grabbed the Oreos as she tried to ignore the fact that Bianca excluded her. Why did she care anyways? She should be looking down on her. Girls like her and girls like the fighter never belonged in the same room, but Bianca was different. And the fact that felt her cheeks reddened made her sigh harder.
"So when are you and Bianca going to hook-up?" Adam's question took her off guard as she dropped the cookies on the floor.
"Sorry." He put the chips and dip in the basket as he grabbed the cookies. She didn't know where the question came from. And she kept lying to herself. Bianca was just some tragic girl. They were all tragic. And they were all using each other to make it through this nightmare.
"What makes you ask that question?" Katie thought of many times she wanted to run her fingers in the girl's curls. Or sleep with her to have a peaceful night like she did before.
"Just….when we are together….she always notices…never mind." Adam saw the rebel walk passed their aisle. Not acknowledging their presence. "It's like she….."
"Adam….drop it." They headed to the hygiene area. She never thought she would be so glad shopping for herself. Being independent once again. Looking at the millions of tampons. She noticed Adam was definitely out of place.
"Sorry…." She chose her brand as Adam shook his head.
"no…I have cousins." He blew it off.
He wondered what she would do if he told her he had experience with this. If he told her he knew how to use one. And he could tell her the best one out of each. Shaking his head, he watched the girl grab soap, body wash, and…..
Then she stopped. And her eyes were on the real prize. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The gorgeous razors in the sealed package. Biting her lip, she reached out for it….longingly. How she missed it. How she wanted to feed her temptation…
"Let's leave….now…." Adam took control of the situation as he forced her off the aisle.
She wasn't going to buy it. She couldn't anyway. She just wanted to hold it. It gave her comfort.
Damn.
"Adam….I don't need you to protect me. I wasn't going to….."
"That's not the point…" He saw a woman look at the two. Who was she?
"I wasn't going to give in….I promise." She bit her lip as her mind traveled back to feeling the blade in her skin. "I was just…" Her voice stopped in mid sentence as she turned around to see a woman head towards them. No…no…no…..
Why did she have to run into her mother's coworker? Putting on her smile, Adam stayed in the background as the woman hugged her.
"Katie is that you?" The girl felt obligated to hug her back. "You look so good." The woman said genuinely.
"Thanks…..Nicole." She let out a breath. "Umm….this is Adam….he goes to my camp." She tried to not be embarrassed for herself. Everyone at her mother's job knew about how the star lawyer's star athlete daughter went crazy.
"Hello Adam….your mom was telling me how she is so proud of you and misses you." The woman tried to console the girl as the girl smiled. If that was true, why didn't she write the letter and not Winnie.
"I miss her too." The red head tried to keep her together. But she didn't lie. You could miss something you never had.
"And I bet you can't wait for her wedding in a couple of months." The woman noticed the girl's shocked expression. She didn't know. And she put her foot in her mouth. Damn.
"I'm sorry. I thought you knew…."'
"O I did…I did…I just didn't realize that it was this close away." She bit her lip at the oxymoron.
"Well I got to finish shopping. Hang in there." She hugged the girl as she walked off.
Feeling Adam's hand on her shoulder, the girl paused. How could she dump something on her like that and walk off so easily.
"Katie…I'm sure your mom was waiting to tell you at Parent Day….that's not something you can just say to someone in a letter." Seeing the girl's panic.
"Yeah….maybe you are right." She swallowed the lump in her throat as she held back tears. Once again, her mother didn't care enough about her.
…
"I use to love these things." Mare grabbed the gummy lifesavers from wall. "Me and dad would put them on our fingers and eat them off." She laughed as the boy nodded.
"Be careful Mare….. the more you get…the more trash we have to empty out as well." Mike teased as he grabbed some Riesens.
"You are so old….do you know that? Who eats those….."
"My grandfather did…" The boy defended as he knew he proved her point. "he was actually the only guy who was really listening to me. He was neutral as he could give the best advice."
"Like you." Mare smiled as Luke joined them adding protein shakes to the basket.
"I don't know all about that." Mike tried not to look at her beauty as Luke snickered evilly. "I can give the best advice but I can't take my own…what does that make me."
"A hypocrite." Luke added his personality. "…every one is…no big deal." He saw Bianca look in the clothes section.
"O yeah…thanks for today by the way. I really needed the sleep." The teen nodded his head as he noticed Dallas try not to be affected.
"It reminded me of something my twin does…and I would hate myself if she endured the life you, Bianca or Katie went through…I know I act an ass towards you guys but I protect her with everything I am. My dad won't get to her if my life depended on it." The boy and girl noticed his passion.
Finally he was revealing himself.
"its so crazy. You have a reason to defy your dad…but I didn't have any reason to disobey mine. They loved me…taught me…and I just." She took a deep breath…"I just need to forgive myself…."
Walking on her tiptoes….without her shoes, Marisol was grateful everyone was sleep. Turning on the light in her room, she began to undress. Still oblivious to the fact that her mother was standing in the corner.
"I thought you said you were at a study session." Paula stepped towards the girl whose mouth could not close.
"Mom….I…." Mare began knowing she was in for her mother's words.
"Don't mom me…I told you that you had to keep your grades up. This isn't you Marisol…" The beautiful woman began. "sneaking out….wearing short dresses…do you want this so much that you lose your self-respect."
"I haven't done…" Mare stopped the lie in its tracks as her mother showed her condoms.
"I found these under your mattress." The woman threw them at her as the girl picked them up. "Do you know how your father reacted?"
"Mom…."
"Shut up….because me and your father are sacrificing so much for you….do you know your father cried…for the first time since our marriage…..to know that you are laying with different men…..and don't you dare lie….we read your twitter, and Facebook.
"Mom…..at least I…"
"Mare there are things condoms can't protect you from. How could you be so stupid? So ungrateful….unappreciative….and then you are getting smaller and smaller….this isn't meant for you and you are done with modeling.
"No I am not. You can not make me…." Mare stood her ground.
"What did you say…" The woman approached her as the girl felt the hair on her neck stand up. But it didn't matter because she would not change her mind.
"I said….I am not…." The girl began.
"Let me tell you something. When you live under this roof, you will do as are told to do. You have never back talked to me and you will not begin. I don't even know you anymore Mare…..and what I say goes….modeling is over." The woman shut the door in the girl's face.
Rubbing her cheek, she got in bed. No way in hell. This was her life. And she would run it.
…..
Katie was more than happy when she got back to the camp. Everyone was happy but her. Riding the bus, she felt the rebel's eyes on her…but as always she ignored her. She didn't want to make this worse for her. And she didn't want her mouth to get her in trouble. All she wanted to do was drown herself in her pillows and bed sheets.
Bianca saw Katie lay on her bed. Tears down her face. Adam wouldn't tell her what was wrong as they got off the bus. Today was supposed to be a good day. And whatever it was, she had to do her best to fix it. Biting her lip, she sat on the athlete's bed. Hearing her soft cries as the rebel playing in her red tresses.
"Tell me….." The badass demanded.
"It's stupid….." the tomboy tried to brush it off.
"if it is….then why are you crying….." the two girls looked in each other's eyes as Katie refused to talk. Why was this girl so persistent with her? Why didn't she want her to stop?
"How about this…if I give you a present…will you tell me?" Katie shrugged at the girl's proclamation.
"Bianca Flaming Hot Cheetos won't make this go away…."
"It's something better." She pulled out the fuchsia scarf. "It made me think of you today." She blushed as Katie noticed.
"thank you." She sat up as the girl placed it around her neck loosely. "after my pimp was killed…..I made the mistake of stealing from this simple boutique. And my P.O. made me work there…it was actually one of the best things I could have ever done." The two laughed.
"I couldn't imagine you enjoying pink…or anything girly." The red head blushed as she looked at the cute scarf. "That's what I like about this place….we find out we have more things in common than we think. Her mind became saddened again.
"My mom is getting married and she didn't even think to call…or send an invitation…"
"Ouch." Bianca said softly as she saw the girl rest her head on her shoulder. And she liked the closeness of her now.
"Our mothers should definitely write a book about how to screw up their daughter's life." She looked at the rebel's beauty.
"That's one thing about parents. They never see how they fuck us up. They believe what they want to believe and see what they want to see. To this day I know my mom knows what that man did to me…." She said as Katie held her hand.
"But you are fighting Bianca…you are learning how to love yourself….it's beautiful…you're beautiful." Katie felt the girl squeeze her hand back.
No one ever said she was beautiful before.
Katie gripped the girl's hand tighter. Never before had she needed more comfort than at this moment. She was grateful Bianca could give it to her.