Sharp
• School •

The weekend couldn’t have gone by any faster. Mom asked me to do more chores around the house; raking the leaves, doing the laundry, cleaning after ever meal, vacuuming everyday, and cleaning the bathrooms. All by myself. She even spitefully made three hefty meals both days, leaving me plenty of dishes to wash. Considering we don’t own a dishwasher, doing everything by hand was the only way to get it done.

Even though she was trying to labor me as much as possible, I did without a fight. She dictator what I did those days, giving me things to do when I was just laying around in my room doing nothing. Which oddly kept me busy. I had no need to try and make the day go by, since she already had planned my day out. Which I almost didn’t mind.

All of my siblings looked at me with guilt, except for Miranda. She naively thought I was just being helpful, understandably. My brothers on the other hand, they knew too well that I was being disciplined for skipping school. Recognizing that my door was missing. Since every time they went up the stairs they had sight of my room, which normally never occurred.

Since it’s Monday, finally, I was going to be able to see Tony. Bright and early. I was suppose to get word on whether or not he was going to be able to take care of Misty. Since that was still an issue when I return to school.

Today, I decided to wear my black and white converse, black leggings, and a large black sweatshirt; the one I inherited from my dad. Which I had to change in my closet since the bathroom wasn’t available. Due to my mom taking forever in the shower. I also chose to match my outfit with a plastic choker and my simple studded earrings. The majority of my makeup was black eyeshadow that was included with mascara and eyeliner. I didn’t want to take the time to use foundation or other products to make it look more appealing.

“Let’s go!” I heard loud and clear from the downstairs, since there was no longer a door to filter the noise level. I grabbed my backpack, which also contained Tony’s ancestoral journals. And gladly headed down the stairs. I was the first one to head down. Which I got no acknowledgment for from my mother. Not even eye contact.

As all my siblings flew down the stairs after me. She then opened the door with car keys in hand. I stood as my brothers and sister was welcomed through the door. Feeling hatred saturate the air.

Then my mom walks out, leaving the upswingable door open. I chose to walk as if her actions were of no affect to me. Though it took so much courage not to wanna cry.

As I got out of the door way, my mom waited for me to get out in order to lock the door. As she did so she said, “You can walk to school today.”

After notifying me that I wasn’t allowed to ride in the car along with them, I nearly broke it. I could feel my eyes dwell with water. The feeling of being unwanted while my siblings were catered to. That wasn’t fair.

Starring at the door as I heard her feet shuffle through the fallen leaves to then open and shut the car door for herself. When turning around, the car was quickly off.

How was it so easy for her to act so unjust towards me? To show no sympathy for me. My brothers didn’t look eager to stand up for me. Why would they want to anyways? They haven’t liked me either. If they couldn’t stand up for me with Misty, why would I even expect it against our mom. The thing is, I never expected it anymore. I dumbly ask as if it could would get me a better odd. Never did.

Walking to school did help with being upset. The cold late October air felt soothing on my face. The changing of the leaves as the colors turn bright reds and oranges. Hearing the wind whisper through the trees, sending leaves to fly through the sky and land on plush lawns. Almost every step I took included a crunch from the crisp leaves underneath my feet.

This lifted my spirits ever so slightly. Making me realize there are good things in the world. Even if my family wasn’t one of them anymore. At least there are simple things like autumn weather. The Halloween decorations were finally making appearances at people’s homes. Carved pumpkins and scarecrows. Hay stacks and fake spider webs. Woblins and creatures. Some scary and some cute.

If there was any holiday that had to be my favorite, Halloween was it. I could dress myself and it could be considered a costume to some. Dress as any mystical creature and receive praise. Haunted houses were always popular in town.

Upon approaching school, I scan through all the cars to try and replace the black Cadillac. Seeing if he’s being dropped off or has been. Still no sight. I begin to walk slower to see if I only needed to give Tony more time. Unless he was punctual and had already gotten to school. Which I then carried my speed back to normal.

My mom’s car wasn’t in sight either. Since cars move faster than walking, which only makes sense.

The closer I got to the school, the more anxious I became. Worried if my problem with Misty was still an issue. If Tony was going to be mad since I didn’t return his calls or texts, since my mom took the phone.

After seeing a few students, I noticed no one was starring at me like they normally did. Everyone avoided me completely. Just how my siblings were. Oblivious to why that would be, I continue on my way.

Entering school brought the same energy. People only caught small glimpses of me then returning to their ways. The more I walked, the more I noticed everyone doing about the same thing.

What did Tony say to Misty because this strange behavior from the student body was extremely strange.

When I got to my bright green locker, I put the journals in there to keep them safe. Since no one knew my combination, except for the school of course, the locker was going to be the safest place for those journals to be. I already had my Chemistry book in backpack so there was so exchanging school materials necessary.

Shutting the metal locker then I was off to class. I really hoped Tony was already there, waiting for me to arrive. I already know I was going to apologize for my absentance. Though it wasn’t my fault.

I turned the hallway corner and the teacher was out of the classroom talking to another student, one of the guys within the class. Approaching closer I noticed the guy seemed quite upset. When I got close enough that they noticed me, they ended their conversation quickly and he walked inside the classroom.

The teacher looked at me as I walked up to him. I could tell from his expression that looked like he was going to ask where I was, but he didn’t.

“You have all the assignments I gave you before your suspension?” He asked with his arms crossed into one anothe just he said it quite nicely.

“I do, it’s in my backpack.” I swung my hand downward and hit underneath my backpack.

He nodded, “Alright. Give it to me after class is over, okay?”

I nodded back in agreement. My anticipation was on the brink of explosion, making me quickly rush through the doorway.

When walking in, Tony wasn’t there. Not sitting in the lab spot that we shared. My heart sunk deep into my chest. It’s empty, the lab table was only awaiting me.

Today just got worse. Since the only thing giving me drive was him. School was going to feel pointless without him.

When I sat down, I also realized Misty wasn’t behind me either. On further search, everyone in class seemed extremely saddened.

The last bell rang.

“Welcome class. I understand that for some of you today will be difficult. If some of you don’t know, a student in our class has passed yesterday, Misty. She will be greatly missed. Our hearts will be heavy for awhile. Remember though, that school is very important and helps aid your future. Treat your future as if it means the world to you, because it is your whole world. Some of us are only gifted for shorter times on this earth. Other are gifted with longer adventures. Let’s treat everyday as if it’s our last.” Everyone’s eyes were focused on Mr.Greenwood, even myself. “Thank you everyone. I will let today be a study period. No assignment will be due tomorrow. We all need to heal for a moment and I will help you with any homework from other classes. Or if you need someone to talk to, I will be here to talk to. Or if you choose to take this period to talk amongst your class mates about stories you have, you are free to do as you wish. As long as you aren’t goofing around and keep the noise level low.”

As he sat down, students began moving their stools and making plenty of noise. Yet there wasn’t much talking yet. I dove into my backpack and grabbed the homework assignments I had waiting for Mr. Greenwood. Taking out by purple folder, which was for his class, and grabbed the assignment.

When I got up, I expected everyone to stare at me. No one did. It was as if I didn’t matter to anyone anymore. The death of Misty left everyone to not bother me. Which for me, was a strange blessing.

Approaching his desk with assignments in hand, “Is it alright if I hand you the assignments now?” I ask him.

“Certainly, I have an assignment you missed on Friday. Make use of this time to finish it before you leave. Just so you don’t have homework later.”

“Sounds like a good idea, thank you.” We both slightly nodded and I was on my way back to my seat. Still no one was paying attention to me. Not one pair of eyes contacted with mine. Everyone collected into groups, talking about different things. All in hush tones to abid by the noise level rule.

I sat down and noticed the assignment looked awfully familiar. As if I had already done it. Since the first few questions I knew without the science book. I then got back up to head towards the front of the class again. To ask to see through the assignments.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I think I gave you this same exact assignment.” He placed his glasses on to take a better look.

He flipped through each assignment to see if any of them matched. Which the very last one did.

“I guess I had given it to you on accident. Beneficial for you. Well, just take the time to do as you wish. Catch up on other school work, read, draw, whatever suits you.” He looked down and went ahead to grade the assignments I have just given him.

“I left my reading book in my locker, any chance I could go get it with the bathroom pass.”

“Be my guest.” I gestured to the door.

The bathroom/hall pass always hung on the door. We were allowed to go to the bathroom whenever we needed. Out of all teacher, Mr.Greenwood was by far my favorite. Though he hasn’t expressed much fondness towards me, he still carries respect. Which I heavily appreciate.

Off I went to my locker to grab the journal. I had plans to leave the brown leathered one there until I’m done reading the one about Arielle.

My locker is around the corner from the classroom so the trip wouldn’t take long at all. When I did get there, I noticed my locker was already open.

I swear I closed it when I left. Quickly going to my locker, thankfully seeing that the journals were still there. The thing that was out of place, was that there was a letter sitting on top of them. I took it and saw it was a closed envelope with nothing written on the outside. Opening the journal and stuck the envelope right inside. To read it when I get into class.

This time, I paid close attention to how I closed the locker, making sure it was locked and sealed shut. Then off I went back to class.

I couldn’t wait to see what was inside the letter. I took it back out of the journal and opening it with my finger.

The letter read:

Dear Rebecca Hanson,

If you could please visit me at my home after school, I would greatly appreciate it. I won’t be able to attend school today, but I will be there tomorrow.

I saw you brought the journals with you to school. Probably a safe place to keep them. I assume your mother had been quite angry at you for what happened on Friday. I apologize for forcing you to ditch school. Though I don’t regret it.

See you later.

~Tony Sharp

Standing in the middle of the hallway, I looked around. No one was around me. Empty hallways, strangely quiet.

What if I just left now? What else do I have to lose? Maybe his grandfather could excuse the rest of my day. Just fool and say that he’s my own grandfather. All of mine were dead, so he could replace them for an afternoon.

Strolling through the hallways and making my way back to the classroom. How would I be able to excuse myself from class?

I opened the door and put the pass back on the hook that’s located on the backside of the door. The teacher didn’t acknowledge my presence, which was alright with me. I headed back to stool with the journal in hand.

Maybe I should just continue the rest of the day. There isn’t any need for me to go there immediately. I would have a simple hour with him at the least, until I’m expected to be home. I could tell my mom that I stayed after school to make the homework I missed on Friday. Or say I had to attend an after school detention. Since I’m sure if my brothers will tell on me for not coming home right away.

I took the letter I found in my locker and shoved it in my back pack. When my hand came back out, I noticed a sharp pain on my index finger. Blood was quickly streaming down my hand and onto my wrist and down my arm. The paper cut didn’t hurt that much but the cut was enough to send my blood spewing out.

I covered it with my sweatshirt as much as I could. I took my other hand, carefully putting the journal inside the backpack. There wasn’t any other belongs except my backpack, so I got up with it. Steadily trying to keep the open zipper from letting anything out from. I travelled to the teachers desk.

“Mr.Greenwood, I paper cut my hand really badly.” He looked up.

“Oh, can you show me.” He reach his hand in his drawer ready to grab a bandaid for me.

I pulled my sleeve back past my wrist and his eyes widen in worry. Taking his hand back out the drawer with no drawer.

“Oh gosh, go to the nurse.” He quickly took a teacher pass, which needed a signature and the travel destination. Filled it out as quickly as possible. In that time, I was able to zip my backpack shut while holding my backpack with the bloody wrapped hand and using my free hand to zip it up. After I did that, the pass was ready for me to grab. I took it and was on my way.

When traveling down to the nurses office, a hallway monitor stopped me. Which I had a pass to show them, yet they escorted me to the nurses anyways. To make sure I got there without being stopped again. Since I showed my continually bleeding hand. Which at this point, it was filling the sleeve up with blood and was getting pretty damp.

When I arrived in the nurses office, there were only one new nurses inside. Leaving me less anxious on whether or not I would get adequate help.

“What seems to be the problem?” The young lady attended to me. Her brown hair was beautiful waved and she genuinely looked happy to be here. Unlike the nurses before her.

I revealed the blood underneath the sleeve and widened her eyes as large as my teacher had. Her feet flew from across the room and to the cabinet next to the sink. Selecting a few thing in which would aid her in bandaging this properly.

Leading me to the metal sink, she urged me to lift the sleeve further so she could exam my hand better. Since the sleeve was full of blood, it smeared blood all along my arm. She gently took a pair of blue plastic gloves and put them on before touching me.

She took my hand and began wiping it with large pads of gauze to see where the opening was, “I got a paper cut on my index finger.” I told her since she was having a hard time figuring out where it was all coming from.

She smiled, “Thanks.” Taking a new gauze and wiping the large amounts of blood off of it. Which was quickly filled right back. She took another new pad of gauze, yet this time she applied a firm pressure to it for about 30 second. At this point we’re both holding my hand above the bloody sink just standing there. She’s staring at my hand as she mentally counts. Then she tells me to hold the gauze with my other hand.

She takes more pads of gauze and continually wipe my hand and arm free from the blood, then settling them down into the sink. She works on that for about 5 minutes.

Though all the blood, wasn’t gone she relieved my hand from its duty. She lifted the gauze slowly to make sure it didn’t agitate the paper cut. The bleeding had shown to have stopped. She took an antibacterial wipe from its wrapping and wiped the finger to remove the left over blood that had began to dry on my finger.

Once done, she took a simple bandaid and placed some ointment on the bandaids middle part to make sure it would prevent any infection. After she placed it on my finger for me, she then started talking a few more of the wipes and wiping the blood off of my hand and arm.

She had attended me so well that I couldn’t tell that I had been bleeding so severely. The sweatshirt I was wear was still full of blood and it was not a good idea to continue wearing it throughout the day.

“Any chance you had a different sweatshirt I can use? This one is full of blood.” I ask sweetly.

“Of course. I can give you a school hoodie?”

I tried not to look disgusted but it was too late.

“Let me check to see what’s in the lost in found real quick.” She went to the other side of of the office that only the nurses were allowed to go to. I stood by the sink looking at how much blood one paper cut could make. Seemed almost impossible, yet it happened to me. It didn’t make me queasy, but the sight was a bit overwhelming.

The nurse came black with a large grey sweatshirt that stood the same size as the one I had on currently. My smile was large and the nurse reflected the same smile.

“I’ll grab a plastic ziplock bag so you can take the sweatshirt home with you to wash without getting blood on everything.”

“Thanks so much. I really appreciate your help.” She gently handed me the sweatshirt. “I mean it, you’re a ray of sunshine compared to the older ladies who working in this office.”

Her cheeks looked to be rosy in color, but it was from her blush.

“I really appreciate that, just make sure to clean your cut at the end of the day. To make sure that you don’t receive an infection. Other than that, you should be fine.” She pointed to the nurse’s office bathroom. “Go ahead and change your sweatshirt and I’ll have the bag ready for you and a pass back to class.”

Going to the already lit bathroom to change my sweatshirt, since underneath was only a black bra and the leggings. Luckily, the lost and fold had a color that didn’t ruin my soul and large enough to cover my butt. Almost like things are finally looking up for me.

When I took my sweatshirt off there was more blood around my arm so I cleaned the rest of it off at the sink. Once I finished I put the gray sweatshirt on. Smelled a bit strange but nothing a few sprits of body spray couldn’t change.

The body spray was in the small zipped pocket in the front; alongside tampons, my wallet, and an old chapstick. The fragrance of the spray was vanilla and black orchid which had to be my favorite one thus far.

When I had finished, the nurses was ready for me with plastic bag and pass in hand. Also with a welcoming smile. This type of attention was so new to me. Though new, it was something I was starting to enjoy. Even if it were in small quantities. Also from people who I didn’t expect it. This lady was dramatically pretty. Her dark drown eyes are intense as well. The tips of her hair were lighter than the rest of the brown hair, assuming she had gotten and ombré or a balayage awhile back ago.

I glance over at the sink and she didn’t have time to clean out the blood. She probably had waited for some time for me to get ready and was waiting for me to leave to clean the mess. Makes sense.

“Thanks so much.” I grabbed the items from her and took the sweatshirt into the plastic ziploc bag.

“Anytime. Make sure to be more careful with paper I suppose.”

We both laughed and I was off on my way. Heavily surprised she wasn’t thrown off with my look or the way I chose to dress.

As I was walking, I saw one of the buildings door. Making my mind flood with the thought of leaving. Looking around for any hallway monitors.

If I wanted to go, this would be my chance. The door was to the left toward the locker rooms. Though it was passed the gymnastium, I highly doubt anyone would notice me walk pass. It could be as if I was going to the locker room. Maybe my gray sweater will blend in with the navy painted walls. No one will even notice. Especially with my black hair and black leggings, I could turn invisible.

My feet decided and they were heading for the doors. The travel wasn’t far and it would be easy to get to the street’s sidewalk from the exit as well. As long as no teacher decided to stop me. Why would they want to anyways?

When passing by the opened door of the gymnasium, no one was even in there. Giving me a free pass to the exit door. It felt like everything was pointing me out. There was no obstacle to stand in my way.

Hoping there wasn’t some random alarm on the door. That would really be the stop to this.

Yet, when I opened the door everything was soundless. All you could hear was the clunk of the metal door opening, which sounds exactly like the gymnasium doors. So if someone was around, they could easily be fooled by the noise.

I was out of the building. There are security cameras around the perimeter of the building. I’m sure if someone was standing watch of the cameras, they wouldn’t have the need to go after me.

I turned right towards the front of the building. Along side the brick walls that had no windows, nothing. When I made it to the corner, I continued going straight through the grass. Then walking alongside the fenced that sat in between the school’s property and people’s homes. A hedge hide from anyone seeing their back yard so it was so obvious that I was walking through the grass. I’m sure if someone was looking around I can easily be found, but no one was going to stop me. Not now.

I needed to see Tony. Tell him about Misty. That some how the odd weren’t against me for once. That he didn’t need to do anything now. He didn’t need to protect me anymore.

As I travelled down to the sidewalk, the bell had rung. The first class was over. Everyone was expected to move on to their second class now. Which for me would have been math. I’m sure one more day wouldn’t make me terribly behind. Even if it was a new consent, I would learn it fairly quick.

In reality, I could homeschool myself if it came down to it. As long as I could read a book that tells me all I need to know. My mom thinks she would have to do so much work, yet all she would need to do was grade. Which nine times out of ten, would be a worksheet that she can reference from.

Given, she wouldn’t take that extra time to do anything for me. At this point, I didn’t want to go back home. Maybe I could run away for certain this time. Leave her and my family behind.

It didn’t feel right going back at this point. I did make the decision to ditch again when my mom told me not to. What would she even get rid of at this point. Everything else doesn’t hold value to me. Locking me inside wouldn’t be possible for her. She could easily be charged or thrown in jail if she decided to physically abuse me. Which could easily get me out of the house.

Walking to Tony’s house from school isn’t all that far but it isn’t as close as my mom’s house. I could easily walk to school in ten minutes top. Tony’s house was close to 30-40 minutes in walking.

I thought about what he would do when I got there. What did he need to talk to me able. I already had plan to ask and tell him so much. The main one would be about Misty.

It may be evil of me to celebrate the loss of her life, but she has done nothing to consider herself of any value to me. If it was value, it was against me and how much she made my life a living hell. And some how, it was like the schools placed her in every class of mine to make sure she had access to give me hell. Since the 6th grade, she’s done nothing but torment my life and existence. She has almost every class as me. At this point, I’m more relieved that ever.

Now it was my family that I needed to overcome. Since Misty was now out of the picture.