002: First day disaster

×Anastasia×

Breakfast isn’t an option for me, I hate to eat in the morning and since Alexis said those things to me last night, I’ve been more than eager to get to school. There has to be a logical explanation for why people don’t like me…and I want to know.

Maybe she’s wrong, and they do like me. I get why my family was hated but I never received hate, not once. I wasn’t liked, but I was never hated. I didn’t do anything to people so they did what I did and kept a good distance.

Hate….

Maybe you joined your family in terrorizing people?

I don’t think so Cecil. I would never do that. I never understood what happiness they gained from causing other people misery. It definitely isn’t a thing for me.

I woke up at the early hours of four to five. School starts by eight. I remember memorizing this little detail and the excitement that thrummed through me. I wonder what it was like, the first day of high school. I’ll be getting the same experience, but it’s the first day of my senior year. I don’t believe people when they say high school sucks. If I’m cheer captain then it must have rocked for me.

I waddled through the long line of clothes in my closet. It’s basically it’s own room. The overly short and tight outfits, I’ll admit, are very pretty. I’ve still got my loving sense of fashion. But what to wear? What would be perfect for my return to school?

Even though you don’t know what to expect, you’re still excited.

I hum a reply to my wolf. Why wouldn’t I be?

The you I met wasn’t great, I’ll be honest. You were nice to me though, that’s as far I recall.

Tension rolls over my shoulder. Are you saying I was ….you know…mean? I shuddered.

Cecil’s sputtering laughter fills my head. I refrain from rolling my eyes, it was almost instinctual.

I don’t know. My memory, even if that time has its holes. It’s fuzzy.

Thank you. That helps plenty.

She laughs again, it’s contagious. I can’t help my giggle.

I like you. She says softly.

I’m glad you do.

I continue my search for a decent outfit to wear, and finally find something. It would go perfectly with a shirt I saw, the shirt read- the future is female. I mean, hell yes. This is it. I’m going to walk into Grimsborrow high, with a big grin.

I couldn’t help myself, I took an early shower and got dressed. I spent my time picking the right bag, shoe, and styling my hair. I was standing at the bottom of the main entrance stairs by the time Alexis woke up.

My black back hanging between my shoulders. I spun when I heard her gasp, planting one of my hands to my hips.

“Anastasia?” she stutters out, her face is drained of color and worry nags me.

“Are you okay, Alexis? You look a bit pale. Let me check your temperature-” I moved one foot toward the steps, and she shouted-

“NO! I’m fine. You just stay there. I’ll go take my bath, and be right down.”

She bolted out of sight, leaving me stunned.

Was there something on my face? My clothes? I took careful steps, stopping by my mother’s picture. There was a small mirror on the wall next to her big painting. Her almost tanned skin matched mine, and our light brown eyes were identical. I wish she was here.

Being a bad person or not, my mother was an excellent listener. Her kids meant everything to her. She treated us like gold. Now there’s only me. And my cousin who is terrified to be around me.

I gave my reflection a once over. My head tilted and I repeated the position Alexis caught me in. One hand on my hip. I look normal. Nothing scary about me.

You look dominant. In charge and unbending. Cecil points out.

I can see it now. But that isn’t a reason for her to be afraid of me, is it?

When Alexis came running down the stairs, I was waiting for her. Reading to ask her about her strange behavior.

“Let’s go.” She mumbles, her tone is a bit harsh which shocks me.

Not wanting to get into some kind of argument, I nodded. She had a look of regret course over her eyes, I ignored it and filed out of the mansion.

The sun was shining in the skies, the day looks like it should be beautiful but it feels ugly. There’s something stirring in the pit of my stomach. What if she’s right? What happens if I am a mean girl? That isn’t what I planned for my high school. I wanted to join the cheer team, and the robotics club. That was it.

A teen girl almost living a double life. I snort.

Not the kind that scares her cousin.

The drive to school leaves me feeling queasy. Alexis and I don’t speak to each other. Letting the silence drag on. My mood perks slightly when I see the large stone with the School’s name on it. Welcoming students back for another semester of knowledge.

She finds a parking spot, one with my name written on it. Another shock for me. Since when do I- I can drive?? I have to relearn then.

“Listen, I’m sorry for the way I reacted.” Alexis finally breaks the silence. The car is turned off and from the corner of my eye I can see students chatting and hugging. My heart speeds up.

“It’s alright.”

“It is?” she gasps.

I question her with a single eyebrow. “Lexi, we’re not just cousins. We’re friends. Why are you acting like I’ve been bullying you or tormenting you?” I breathed the words.

Her eyes extend, and that gobsmacked look doesn’t leave her face. “We’re friends?”

Ok. I can’t do this. I flipped the lock out, and moved my way out for the jeep. I gripped the straps of my backpack, and closed the door. The sound alerted so many people, and with the frown still egging my face, I saw most of them flinched. Some even turned and took off.

Completely amazed, I heard a girl with dyed blue hair scream.

“SHE’S BACK!” She bolted away when I directed my stare at her. Whispers passed all over. They were all eyeing me with scared looks, waiting for me to do something.

But what? What could I possibly do? I guess Alexis isn’t the only one who turns pale at the sight of me.

I brought my feet forward, and the remaining students turned and ran. They ran like a demon was on their tail. My excitement turned to dust, and I made my way to the entrance of the school. A banner was hanging from the doors.

Also welcoming the new and old students. The door opened before I could reach for it. A grown man, mid fifties, walked out. I gave him a smile, and he immediately shook his head.

“Not today, Anastasia. It’s too early for me to give you a good grade.”

Excuse me? I was repulsed. Shrinking into my skin. “I don’t know what arrangement you had with me, but I earn my grades.” I marched into the building with anger storming my veins, even worse was the feeling of confusion that came with it. The teacher had dropped his mouth when I said those words to him. I’m not only scaring people, I’m also surprising them.

The entire hall is empty. Sweet lord, are they hiding from me? What the hell did I do?

I’m not sure. I’ve never seen people flee from one person. It’s like you were a plague.

I know!

Maybe stop frowning.

I removed the frown, and stopped by the map of the school. There was an app on my phone, it held the schedules of the new semester so I wasn’t completely clueless. The map showed my first class was just down the hall.

I wish I knew what my locker was. Hmm…I checked every locker for a name. If became egotistic, then I’m bond to mark my own locker. And voila. My lips tug downward. I was hoping I wouldn’t be right. There was a combination to the locker.

I thought of a set of number I wouldn’t forget, and punched the digits in. Relief washed a bit of my tension away when the lock went green.

“Okay, who possessed me?” there are pictures of me in here too. Seriously, what the hell? Am I being pranked? If so this isn’t funny at all. I tore the pictures off, but left the mirror. I actually like that. I got a single note, and my biology textbook. The locker door closed back, and I nearly jumped from my skin when I spotted a man- the janitor maybe- staring at me from across the hall.

A mop in his hand, and a bucket by his feet. His hair was thin and falling. He was no different from a dead man with how dry his body is. And the worst is, he looks right around the same age as the teacher. Old but not old enough to look like a walking corpse.

I bit down my fear, Cecil howled her protection and convinced me to head to my class. The bell would ring soon. The closer I got, the more fear seeped into me.

As I crossed past him,

“You should have remained dead. Now you’re gonna get it.” He snarls, I finch. Hurrying my steps and putting a smile on my face. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Who wishes death upon a person?

My shoes make loud sounds on the clean floor. I could finally breathe when I saw the door to the class. I entered and everyone went silent. I mean really, cemetery, silent. They were chatting when I turn the handle, and now, they’re all staring, some glaring, at me.

“Miss Gastillo, you’re early to class. The bell hasn’t even rung yet.” I gave the teacher a strange look, she shuffled her feet. Uncomfortable under my gaze.

Shaking my head, I found my voice to reply. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember when I usually come to class.”

“I think hell just froze over.” The teacher comments, she raise a palm to wipe her eyes.

“So the devil can apologize, hallelujah.” A male student Snickers. Maybe I’m rewired but I shoot him a glare without thinking. He shrinks into his seat, and I apologize immediately.

“I didn’t mean to do that. Sorry.”

He bats his eyes. The whole class is once again, quiet.

“You really do have amnesia?” someone says from the back. They sound too happy about my current condition.

I do, however, give them a nod. Finally entering the class. There was an empty seat at the back of the class, similar to the one I saw in the pictures. Speaking of which, I haven’t gone through my phone fully. Maybe there is something there that can remind me of who I was during the past three years.

Besides the devil.

I walked over to the chair, trying not to feel bad at how people were scooting their body parts to not even brush against me. I slid into the chair, and rolled my backpack down my shoulders. Eyes followed my every move. They were once again, waiting for me to do something.

“This should be interesting.” Another person says, this time the whole class giggles. They shift their stares from shellshocked to evil. Grinning like demons.

I felt fear before it even crawled up my spine.

The class began the second the bell resounded through the walls. It was a briefing of what to expect this term, and what was covered in the last. Nothing seemed too difficult, and all I have to do is study. Reverse the old notes. I was expecting some kind of announcement from the principal, that’s usually how we started a term in middle school. High school is so different. I wish I could enjoy it.

“And once again, I’m looking for an assistant for the rest of the term, I’ll be paying eight dollars and hour so if you’re interested…” the teacher, who I now know as Miss Bickens, trails off.

No one responds.

I raise my hand to get her attention.

“Yes, Miss Gastillo?”

“I would love to be your assistant.” I tell her. My smile struggles to meet my eyes when she appears stunned.

Whispers begin again, they’re chattering like busybodies. Shocked that I offered to be the teacher’s assistant. Why? Oh how I wish I knew.

“You?”

“Yes me.”

“But why?” isn’t that the million dollar question?

“Biology is a fun subject. I’d love to understand it a bit further. I don’t recall anything since I started, working with you will help me gain more knowledge on the subject. It’s like getting knowledge right from a reliable source.”

“I think just had an internal stroke. I didn’t know she was capable of sentences that didn’t involve insults.”

“What?!”

My classmate says nothing in return. He keeps his head on me, ridiculing me. Who the hell was I?

“I will think about it.” This is coming from Miss Bickens. Immediately, I know she’s not going to take me as her assistant. She was just asking for a student interested in being her assistant for the term, for her to say she’ll think about it…. I’m not dumb.

I nod, pretending I’m okay.

The rest of the day goes pretty much the same way. Students make strange comments when I answer a question, the teachers nearly lose their minds, and I have more questions than I needed.

I felt their continuous glares as I headed for my locker. I have a free period before school ends. But when I get there, three girls are trashing through my stuff.

“What the hell are you people doing?” I frustratingly shout. They stop, freezing. One of the girls, a brunette flips her hair over. There’s a bottle in her hand. White liquid sloshes around it.

“Well, how the queen hath crumbled?” She mocks. The queen of what?

The other two girls, red hairs, chortle. They strut towards me, and Cecil barks an order for me to run. Before I can even process what’s happening. One of the girls reaches an arms out for my shirts, and yanks it. Her press ons rip the front half off, and she ducks to the side, allowing the brunette to splash that white liquid all over my face and chest.

I quickly wrap my arms around my chest, protecting my bra from the public eye. Laughter erupts.

“Awwn, what a pretty slut?” she catcalls. Slurs flow round the room. Students call me all sorts of names that I’ve never even heard of.

Tears run down my cheeks, mixing with the white liquid. I shake some of it off my eyes, and run down the hall to the front door.

My eyes lock with a silver eyed male, the same one from that photo. But I don’t stop to take a good look at him as he raises a cellphone and click a picture.

My tears increase, and sibs flee from my lips. I spit to the floor as a bit of that liquid entered my mouth.

What the hell did I do to deserve this?