Chapter Two: Accidents Happen.
On Monday morning I got up at 5:30 for school, and threw on a pair of ripped jeans and a t-shirt from our last vacation to New York. I also grabbed a black hoodie with our mascot, a hornet, on it. Not even touching my hair, I ran upstairs from the basement, which doubled as my room, to the kitchen. Before I ever did anything to make myself decent, I needed that wonderful thing called coffee.
When I reached the top of the steps I discovered my father leaning against the island reading the paper and drinking from a cup that said Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity, which a student gave him for Christmas one year. He was one of the most loved teachers at our school. I walked by him to the cupboard that held all the coffee mugs. "Good morning honey, I didn't hear you walk in." my dad said taking another sip of his coffee.
I gave a small wave over my shoulder and reached for a mug in the far back. It was one of those picture mugs that you put pictures of your friends or stuff in, well as you can guess…mine is newsies. It is a picture of every newsie in the movie (with the exception of Spot Conlon, of course).
I picked up the coffee pot and filled it up about three-fourths of the way. "Here," my dad said holding out my blueberry coffee cream, not even looking up from his paper.
"Thanks," I mumbled. I poured it in and quickly took a sip. Instantly, I felt better. My dad threw the paper down on the table and scooted back out of his chair.
"Hey Ams' do you think Rachel could give you a lift home after school? I have a late meeting tonight." he said as he took the last sip and washed out his mug.
"She has taken me home almost every day this year, so yeah." I said, with a little sarcasm hinted in it. My dad rolled his eyes and buttoned the top button of his shirt and tightened his tie.
He looked down at his watch, "Dang, is that really the time?" he ran over and grabbed his briefcase and his jacket before he ran over to me and kissed the top of my head. "I love you Amy." he yelled as he ran out the door.
I chuckled quietly as I took another sip. My father had never been on time to anything in his entire life. My mom always said that he would have been late for my birth if she hadn't personally gone to get him while she was in labor.
I finished of my coffee and ran into the basement and shut the door. When the door was shut, my room was sound proof. I went over to my IPod, which were connected to my speakers, and turned on my other love, My Chemical Romance. The song Teenagers blared through my room as I ran into the bathroom to straighten my hair, wash my face and put on some mascara and eyeliner as it changed to Famous Last Words. Just as I pulled my hair into a messy bun it changed once more to Ghost of You.
I had always had a small obsession with this song, not entirely sure why. Maybe it was because I wondered what the meaning was behind it. I knew that it was about loss of someone but I always felt it was much deeper than that. It was bothering me so much one night; I had to look it up. The results said the same thing, loss and/or losing your own life. After that, I just kinda excepted that as the answer but every time it played, the thought came back.
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home, Never coming home
As I began to brush my teeth, I looked out from my bathroom to see my alarm clock. 6:30. "Shit!" I ran out of my bathroom with my toothbrush hanging from a corner of my mouth. In frenzy I ran around my room grabbing a pair of socks with bananas on them and my favorite pair of Chucks that my mom had specially made for me my freshman year of high school. They were aqua blue with purple polka dots on them.
Quickly, I threw my toothbrush into the sink and spit. Then I grabbed my backpack, my iPod and ran out the door at lightning speed. Rachel was sitting patiently in my driveway, reading a book. I ran to the door and threw myself in the car. "Morning." she said, taking a bite out of a chocolate TimBit from Tim Hortens. "Want one?" she asked, putting down her book and starting the car.
I reached over her and grabbed the box and popped one into my mouth. "You know, I just brushed my teeth," I said as she pulled out of the driveway. "But I simply can't resist these little guys." she let out a small laugh and rolled her eyes as we made our way to school.
Lunch. It's everybody's favorite period of the day. It's a time to hang with friends, eat the bad food they give us, smoke, play video games, finish homework, or make a name for yourself. In high school it's a make it or break it place. For me, this was my breaking period.
I held my brown lunch bag tightly in my hand and made my way to mine and Rachel's table in the far left corner. On the way to my table, we pass a wide variety of social groups. However, the one I always dread is the jocks and the cheerleaders.
They are the ones who make you. They decide your fate, which really stinks if you made a small mistake, like me.
After a long walk I finally make it to my table to see Rachel already sitting down with a large pile of mush sitting in front of her, "What in the lords good name is that?" I asked as I sat across from her.
She poked at it with her fork, "I think chicken, broccoli, and…" she lifted it up with her fork and then took a smell whiff at it. Quickly, she pulled back with disgust and held her nose, "And I think mayonnaise!" We both went green as she picked it up and threw it into the trash can as I began to pull out my extra salami sandwich. She sat down as I slid it over into her seating area.
"I don't even understand why you buy your lunch if all you're ever going to do is throw it away," I grabbed the other sandwich out of the bag and took a large bite.
She grabbed the other on and took a bite as well "It's because my mom works in the food distributing business that provides our schools lunches and always asks for feedback, even though every time she asks I say the same thing," she swallowed with a large gulp, "it sucks!" We both can't help but giggle slightly.
I pulled out my chips when something landed on our table with a loud thud. Rachel jumped at the noise, "What was that?" I leaned over and grabbed a carton of milk. I held it up in front of her, and I noticed a note.
Hey Slipper, got milk?
My entire face went completely hot with a deep pink blush. As it did, the jocks began cracking up. I looked over and Hayley gave a small little wave with an evil smirk. I crumpled up the paper in rage and Rachel snatched it away. "Amy, just ignore them, they aren't even worth it," she said tossing it behind her. I shook my head and I bit my lip.
"I'm not hungry anymore," I mumbled as I slid my lunch over to her. She looked at me sympathetically. I couldn't stay in the cafeteria anymore. What I needed was to see my dad. I stood up and threw my bag over my shoulder.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm gonna go to the science lab," I said, brushing my bangs out of my face. She got up and grabbed her bag, but I shook my head. "No, I kinda wanna go alone."
She nodded, "Okay, I'll go sit by the swim team. We have a meet on Saturday and I wanted to talk to Michael about it anyway." I gave her a soft smile and she returned it. The swim team was like the only other people either one of hung out with. It was mainly because Rachel was a starter and absolutely awesome. Then we went our separate ways. I kept my head low as I passed the popular kids, but I didn't turn invisible.
"Hey Slipper, how's it going?" one of the football players asked.
"Might not want to talk to her while she is walking, Jonas, she might slip!" one of the baseball players yelled. I kept walking while they laughed at me behind my back. But before I left the cafeteria, I heard something I would never expect.
"Guys, it's been two years since she did that, why don't you just leave her alone?" A male voice spoke clearly over the laughter. I didn't dare turn around but I felt like I knew that voice. It was the voice of our all-star pitcher, Zach Harr. He also turned out to be Hayley's boyfriend. That made the situation even more awkward.
I kept walking toward the science wing, not stopping at my locker. My dad wasn't in his classroom so I just decided to wait there until the period started, when I knew he would be back. But he walked in just seconds later. "Oh hey honey," he said as he put his lunch in his desk.
"Hey daddy," I whispered. I sat on one of the front desks and he walked in front of his desk to stand right in front of me.
"You okay?" he asked. I nodded.
"I just kinda wanna stay in here for the rest of the day." I mumbled.
"Okay," he said with a smile. He didn't ask why or if I was okay after that. We did this a lot, especially when I was ahead in class and having a bad day. "Lemme tell your teachers you have a terrible headache and just wanna lay down."
"Thank you." I mumbled again as he kissed my forehead. I went to the back room as he sent out the e-mail.
I stayed there for the rest of the day with newsies blaring in my ear and reading The Hunger Games. It was my little sanctuary, no one disturbed me, no one came back…that is until last period. My head shot up just when the door opened. Who dare disturb me? I imagined myself saying but I decided against it, knowing my dad wouldn't appreciate it much. So instead I turned my music up even louder and pulled the hood of my hoodie high on my head. But I peered under it, trying to get a good look at who entered.
A boy with long blonde hair entered the room. He was perfectly tanned and had blue eyes the color of the ocean during the storm. It was Zach, our all-star pitcher, the class president, and the guy that stuck up for me.
I bit my lip, he didn't seem to notice me sitting there. He sat down at the table and began taking a test. It amazed me how quickly he wrote the words down or filled in the bubbles. Within a few moments, he was done and checking over his answers. "Whoa," I said in an almost inaudible whisper. Or so I thought, but I must have forgotten you always seem to make things louder when you have headphones on. He spun around quickly to face me. "Sorry," I mumbled as I pulled out my headphones.
"How long have you been there?" he asked. His eyes sparkled which made me angry. I wasn't really sure why but he was one of the people who have made my life hell for years.
"Uh, since I had a carton of milk thrown on my table at lunch," I said in a sour voice. He bit his lip and brushed his blonde bangs out of his face.
"Sorry about that, I tried to get them to stop…but you know Hayley…" he mumbled, letting a little of his New York accent slip through.
"Yeah, trust me, I know her." I said with so much anger. "After all, me, you, Rachel, and her used to be best friends." I whispered. I looked up at him; his eyes were down casted at the floor.
"I need to get back to class," he whispered. He grabbed his test and ran out the door with not so much as a good bye. I felt a small tear go down my cheek. I honestly missed Zach, he was my best friend and not to mention, ever since he moved here in 5th grade, I had a crush on him.
And seeing him with Hayley every day, it broke my heart everyday.
King of New York came on my iPod and right as the line, "A porcelain tub with boiling water" played through my ears I threw my iPod half way across the small room. "Damn you Spot Conlon," I mumbled. "Damn you Zach Harr."
That was the true reason of my hatred for Spot Conlon. Because he reminded me of Zach, the new Zach, the Zach that broke my heart. Another tear rolled down my cheek. The bell signaling last period was over sounded out and I wiped the tear away. I picked up my iPod and ran from the back room, giving my dad a small kiss on the way out.
I bolted to the parking lot to meet Rachel. She was leaning against her car picking her at her nail polish. "Hey sorry…" she shook me off with a smile and jumped in the car. I let out a small sigh of relief and we began to pull out of our spot but something pulled me to look out the window.
A car whipped around the corner, going at least 75 miles an hour. In the driver's side was the one and only, Hayley Stevens, yelling at the passenger. I took a quick look as they approached us to see it was Zach, and he was rolling his eyes and rubbing his forehead. Before I could tell Rachel to get back into the parking spot, our car launched into the air, turning around in spinning upside down while I discovered my door indented.
We landed on the ground upside down, "Rach…" I tried to look over the best I could, but it wouldn't go more than a small angle. She didn't respond and from what I could see, she had a huge gash above her eyebrow. "Rachel!" I tried saying a little louder. I turned a little more and fought off the pain. Her chest wasn't moving and I felt a tear escape my eye.
The song Ghost of You came to my mind as I felt something crawl up my throat. It tasted metallic and thick. I coughed and it landed on my shirt, it was blood.
Everything went red for a brief moment, then, my world filled with black, empty space.
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