I remember the first time I started playing with sharp objects. My aunt, she, well, she was always so out of it. Yes, I still remember clearly. It was about a month after mother's funeral. My aunt told me things I did not want to believe. She told that my mother was always the one with all the attention. That she was always the favorite. While my aunt was the 'other child'. It didn't make sense at first. Well what do you expect from a six year old? But years later, I understood. I understood what it felt like not being noticed. If I were to be noticed, I would have been teased by the other little girls. Why did they do that? Well maybe they were just being little girls? Girls will be girls. They picked on me. It was awful. I told my aunt, and she gave me a knife. She said. "To defend yourself." Why was I that stupid? Why did I have to stab that other girl? Oh yeah, she was being mean. But I never got in too much trouble with that, just a slap on the hand. Then there was another. Alfred. He had more attention by his 'bratty' attitude. But, I cannot hate my own twin brother for being so 'hyperactive'. I was being good. She didn't have to lock me in the closet. It was his fault that he busted your deliveries.
Yes, I remember the first time I started playing with sharp objects.
Love Always, Madeline
She signed her name with swirls and a happy face
"You should!" I watched Feliks' spoon fly across the table. "It'll be totally fun!"
"I don't really know." Fiddling with the bows in my hair I stared down at the note received earlier. It was the second note today. Same paper, same handwriting, same question. It was starting to creep me out. "I have to tell Aflie about this"
"What! No way, He'll go ballistic! Just keep it a secret! Fun is just right here on this piece of paper with scribbles!" Feliks slapped the table, startling me.
"Uh-h!" The bell rang, ending our conversation. Feliks immediately stood up dragging a confused Lithuanian with him.
"Just do it!"
I hung my head on the way to class. I wonder what I should do. Seriously? Whoever wrote this is probably a worse greedy stalker instead of creepy like… My mind went to the Russian. I felt my face get a bit warm. Someone bumped my shoulder.
"Sorry" Doubting that person would hear my whisper I stood next to a water fountain. My mind wandered to the cocky albino. Well he would just ask straight out, right?
I waited for the final bell to ring, so no one would bump into me in the crowded halls. Funny thing is that the hall is so empty and white; the white tiled floors make everything look bleak. I wonder if Alfred would go ballistic or go hunt down the anonymous person. To think about it, he would do both.
"Dobriy den' Madeline!" (Good Afternoon) A voice from the right of me made me squeal. In an instant I threw a blue pen, which I happened to be holding, in the direction the voice was. I was not expecting anyone to talk to me, even if was in a foreign language. Wait, who said that? Turning to see who the person is, a blue pen was waving in my face.
"You dropped something" It was Ivan.
"O-oh I-I… I'm sorry. You u-um startled me." I stuttered sheepishly. Looking down because I saw that the dirty floor was more interesting, I tried to figure out what to say. "W-wh... Um… What's up?"
"Were you going to class? Let me walk you there? Or were you ditching?" the Russian sounded pretty happy. I took a second to think about going to class. I shook my head.
"So you are not going to class? I happen to be ditching myself. Would you like to ditch with me?" My head shot up only to see Ivan smiling.
"Where to?" I lifted my bag to my nose hiding my smile.
"Anywhere you want to go"
-oOo-
"Here try this. It'll calm you." Long bony fingers held a white stick in front of the young girl's face.
"W-what is this auntie" The little girl's voice was barely audible. She took the object between her tiny fingers. Examining the object, it was dark green; it looked almost like chopped up lawn grass and clumped together. It smelled like sweet herbs of some sort. She licked her thumb that had contact with it. It was sweet with a tang of sour. Her amethyst eyes looked over at her aunt. Her aunt looked like she was about to fall asleep but nodded urging the girl to try it.
"Come on, Just put the joint* to your lips and inhale. This stuff is a lot easier to take than a cigarette." The woman leaned closer to the girl. "Here like this Madeline." The woman took the object, lit it, and then inhaled. "Hold it in for seven seconds" She spoke while holding her breath. The seconds passed by slowly. She exhaled. "Remember to exhale slowly. Now you try."
Madeline took once again took the object between her tiny fingers. She glanced back her aunt then back at the skunk smelling grass. A lighter was lit in front of her. She put the paper end to her lips and leaned towards the small glowing flame.
-oOo-
"Madeline" A concern voice shook me from my thoughts. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Ah, yea, I was just thinking" I looked across from myself to see a skeptical face.
"Alright, but if you feel unwell just let me know." He smiled again. Why are his smiles always so… Childish? Well he does have a kind looking face. "M-madeline, you keep zoning out."
"This ice cream is so good though!" Great excuse. "How does yours taste?" Did I really just say that?
"Taste it." He held a cone with a ball of melting cream and topping near me. I tried to pry the cone from his hand. He refused to let go, instead he kept his usual smile. I think he scared the guy working here with that smile. I felt a slight blush on my face as I leaned closer to the cone. My tongue met the frozen treat. It was creamy and sweet, and the cookies made it even better. "Its good, da?"
I nodded, my face was still warm.
The * stuff:
Joint- People, you should know what that it. And my aunt was someone who did a lot of this, so I tried many types in the past.
