I have to go to school today. I can't believe Malcom is dead. It can't be real. I mean, he wouldn't leave Crystal and me to go through life with only each other. I don't think I can make it to school without daydreaming about him still sitting in the back of the class.
Every time any teacher asked a question his hand being the first one up in the air. I chuckled to myself that was funny. He was too smart for his own good. That's what led him to being bullied, but he never let that get him down. I can't believe he's gone forever.
"Hey short-stack, you okay?" dad asked through the door.
"Yeah, Eric I'm fine," I said, plastering a fake smile on my face.
"Short-stack why did you call me by my first name?" dad asked.
"Sorry dad, it just came out," I told him. I facepalmed. I can't believe that I just said my dad's name out loud.
"It's ok, I know you're still sad about Malcom," he said. He has no clue.
"I'll be out in a minute or two," I said. I finished getting ready for school. I walked down to the kitchen, and sat down.
"Why are you so cheery?" Mayhem asked, looking me up and down.
"We can't always dwell on the past, Mayhem," I said. Looking him dead in the eyes. I smiled, then I remembered that I have to tell Crystal everything. My face fell, I stood up.
"I have to get to school early today," dad gave me a look of suspicion, "I have to take a test," I finished, and he nodded.
"Well text me if you're staying over at Crystal's place, ok?" Eric asked. I nodded, and started walking to school.
Stay away from the alley, and if you have to go near it don't go down it.' I told myself.
Just stay calm, you can do that. I felt someone grab my shirt, I whipped around, ready to punch someone in the fudging face. No one was there.
"I must be sick," I said, before I was gagged, blindfolded, and my wrists were bound. AGAIN! I can't believe this is happening again! Darkness started invading again. I can't let this happen. I started to struggle.
"Woah, there girlie." an unknown male voice said. I kept struggling, I can't be kidnapped again! I kicked him where I assumed was the groin.
"Yah, dumb girl." he said. I tried to punch him with my hands bound. He caught them, and held them to my lower back. I was struggling so much I don't even know what I might have looked like. He ungagged me, and I bit him in the throat.
"Ow, FUDGE!" he exclaimed, as he slapped me. Blood started to flow down my cheek.
"Mayhem!" I yelled, and without a doubt Mayhem came running to help me. I tried to point at the guy who had done this to me, but my god darn hands were bound. I tried to look around me, but I was blindfolded. I was unblindfolded. I saw Mayhem beating the guy up.
When the guy was unconscious Mayhem looked back at me, and he had blood splattered on his face.
"That's not your blood is it?" I asked, while he untied my wrists.
"No it's that son of a gun's blood." he replied. I nodded, and looked at my wrists, they were sore, and had rope burn.
"Let's get to school." I said, grabbing Mayhem's wrist., and pulling him towards the school.
"What about the blood?" he asked, gesturing to his face. I glanced at him, and reached for my backpack. I grabbed a wet wipe, and wiped his face.
"There's no more blood." I told him.
"Good, I don't need to be suspended." he said.
"Malcom's funeral is today. Are you going?" I asked him.
"I can't, I have to go to football practice." Mayhem said. I nodded, of course he's a boy he doesn't care about anything other than his stupid football. As we walked up to the school, I saw a newer car in the spot where Mrs. Hwang parks.
"Whoever parked there is going to be getting yelled at." I said. Mayhem nodded.
"Yeah they might even get fired." Mayhem said, looking at the car. We walked through the halls, to our classes. When I walked into the classroom, I saw my worst nightmare.
How did this happen? That psycho is my substitute teacher! I must be dreaming, no this is a nightmare. I looked at her, fear clouding my features. I walked to my chair.
"Crystal," I whispered, poking her left leg, she glanced at me, "That's the lady that kidnapped me, and killed Mal-." the words got stuck in my throat. Crystal patted me on the back.
"Oh my god! Brandon just posted on Instagram." Maddie said, eyes glued to her phone.
"Oh my god! He's so cute." Layla said, pointing to her phone. I rolled my eyes, and turned around in my seat.
"Hey ever heard of shutting up, and putting your phones down?" I asked.
"Eww! She talked to us, Maddie do something." Abigail said, looking at Maddie.
"You don't have to talk and be on your phones 24/7, ok?" I said, rolling my eyes, and shaking my head.
"And you don't need to talk to us. We're royalty compared to you." Maddie said, looking me up and down.
"You royalty, please, " I said, "ever heard the definition of royalty?" I asked, with the same snobby tone that she used. Idiots, they are the dumbest people in this whole city.
I can't believe that Malcom is getting buried today, at three thirty. I raised my hand.
"Yes, Ms. Smith?" Rebecca asked.
"May I go to the bathroom?" I asked, feeling like I was going to puke.
"Yes you may." Rebecca said. After I was excused I stood up, and ran to the bathroom.
I was feeling light headed. My vision blurred, I tried to walk, but I only stumbled, and fell down.
"I have to get to the nurse's office." I muttered, getting up, and trying, yet again, to walk. I feel like I'm going to puke. I stood back up gathering all my strength to stand, and walk. Half-way up the stairs, I fell back down.
"Ow!" I yelled, looking down at my shin. I'm going to have a bruise there tomorrow.
"What are you doing there?" Ms. Raine asked, I looked up at her.
"I fell down. I need to get to the nurse's office." I said, starting to get up.
"Stay there, I'll go get the nurse for you." Ms. Raine said, I nodded. About four minutes passed. Ms. Raine finally came down with Mrs. Kidd.
"What is wrong?" Mrs. Kidd asked with a Japanese accent.
"I fell down, and I feel nauseous." I said, looking down at my leg.
"Ok, do you think you could stand up, and walk with me to my office?" Mrs. Kidd asked.
"No I can't, because I used all of the remaining strength I had to get up to this spot." I said with a little bit of attitude. Mrs. Kidd nodded, not picking up the attitude in my voice. I rolled my eyes. She didn't notice that either. Mrs. Kidd stood up and started to walk away.
"I'll be back in a minute or two." Mrs. Kidd said, I nodded, and Ms. Raine walked away. I started to try to get back up. Once I managed to get back up I fell back down.
"Shiz, why?" I muttered, trying yet again to stand up, and failing miserably. I just sat there. How long are you going to take, Mrs. Kidd? I asked myself mentally. I looked around, waiting for her.
I saw this place every single day, why am I observing it now? It is so bland and boring. I heard someone muttering.
"Why do I need to be the one to make the runs up and down the stairs?" Takuma Okamura muttered to herself. She looked at me and walked away as fast as she could.
"Wow, she's normally nice to me, " I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I sat there for two more minutes, and Takuma walked by me.
"Hey Takuma, what's the matter?" I asked her. She looked at me.
"The memories hurt, the scars hurt more I don't know what it's like to drop dead on the floor locking the door, grabbing the noose making it tied this small girl is about to die." She said.
"Takuma don't say that," I said.
"Roses are red My bruises are bleeding The only sound at night Is the sound of my weeping. I fake the day I cry at night. The people say That I should go die. Maybe I should follow? Maybe I should not. Cause I cannot decide whether I should live or die.." Takuma said, starting to tear up. I started to tear up.
"Don't say that kind of thing Takuma, " I said, "you should go to the counselor," I suggested.
"You should know that the school counselor doesn't care about any of the students that go to him for help, he is the worst narcissist in the whole school, Gabby, you of all people should know that," Takuma said, I was confused.
"How would I know, I've never gone to Mr. Garcia," I said. Takuma shook her head.
"You haven't, but your brother has," Takuma said. Mayhem has gone to see Mr. Garcia!?
"What do you mean?" I asked, why would Mayhem need to see Mr. Garcia?
"When you were gone, Mayhem had to go to Mr. Garcia to see if he was doing fine because he was starting to be more and more distant from teammates, and friends. everyone thought that his behavior was because of something you did to him." Takuma explained.
"So that's why you didn't wave, or say hi to me the first time you walked by me today, " I said, and Takuma nodded, "But Mayhem is my baby brother, I'd never do anything to him." I finished, shaking my head.
"Do you know where Malcom Snow is?" Takuma asked, and my heart twinged.
"He's d-ead, " I said, my voice breaking, "his funeral is today, at three-thirty." I finished, a tear rolling down my left cheek.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know," Takuma said, genuine shock in her voice.
"It's fine, also don't get too close to Mrs. Lee, she's the reason I wasn't at school," I said, and Takuma furrowed her eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" she asked, confusion obvious on her face, and in her voice.
"Ms. Lee kidnapped me, and then she kidnapped Malcom, she pretty much killed him, and Mayhem saved me, and Malcom," I explained, the scenes replaying in my mind. Takuma stood up.
"I have to go tell Mrs. Hwang that Malcom will no longer be going to school." Takuma said and walked off to the office. What is taking Mrs. Kidd so long? I tried to get back up, and I managed to get up three steps, before falling back down.
"Gosh darn it why did it have to be me that got kidnapped?" I asked myself trying to get back up and failing miserably. I shook my head.
"You moved," Mrs. Kidd said before running up the stairs and tried to pick me up, failing miserably, after all, she's only five-three.
"Yeah I did, stop it, I'm capable of getting down the stairs myself, Mrs. Kidd." I said using my legs to pull myself down to the wheelchair. Mrs. Kidd tried to pick me up to put me in the wheelchair.
"How much do you weigh kid?" Mrs. Kidd asked me. I shrugged.
"I don't pay any attention to that when I go to the doctors," I said before I tried to pull myself up into the wheelchair.
"Well you should, that information is important to know." Mrs. Kidd said. I shrugged.
"I don't pay any attention to that when I go to the doctors," I said before I tried to pull myself up into the wheelchair.
"Well you should, that information is important to know," Mrs. Kidd said. I rolled my eyes 'I don't care.' I thought to myself.
"I have to go to Malcom Snow's funeral today." I told Mrs. Kidd.
"Oh, how did he die?" Mrs. Kidd asked, not realizing that he was one of my best friends and my only crush.
"I can't describe it," I said, refusing to describe the brutal death of my only true friend, and my only crush.
"Why not?" Mrs. Kidd asked me.
"Cause I don't want to break down," I said looking down at my feet.
"Oh, you two were that close." Mrs. Kidd said, finally realizing that she would be the reason for a student to be crying. Mrs. Kidd wheeled me to the elevator. We went to the main floor in the elevator, and then Mrs. Kidd wheeled me to her office.
"I'm going to be checking your temperature," Mrs. Kidd said, looking me dead in the eyes. I nodded before I got enveloped in my thoughts.
"When would I be able to leave school to go home to get ready for Malcom's funeral?" I asked Mrs. Kidd.
"You would have to ask Mrs. Hwang," Mrs. Kidd told me, still checking my temperature. I made a mental note that I would have to ask Mrs. Hwang. I stood up and started walking around Mrs. Kidd's office shakily.
"Oh, you can walk again," Mrs. Kidd said, a false shock lacing her voice.
"Yeah, kind of," I said, unsure if I should stay standing. I started to walk out of Mrs. Kidd's office, but then I remembered I never found out what my temperature was.
"Mrs. Kidd, what's my temperature?" I asked.
"99.2 degrees Fahrenheit." Mrs. Kidd said. I nodded and started walking towards Mrs. Hwang's office. When I got to the main office I told the receptionist that I needed to talk to Mrs. Hwang.
"She has an opening in five minutes, Gabby," Mr. Davidovitch said, "Please take a seat while you wait," he finished eyes returning to his computer screen. I looked around trying to find a seat that was relatively far from anyone else. when I found one I walked towards it, sat down, and waited for Mr. Davidovitch to remind me. I never really saw the inside of the office, because I'd never done anything to get in trouble before.
"Ms. Smith, it's been five minutes, Mrs. Hwang is ready for you." Mr. Davidovitch said, eyes not looking away from his computer screen. I stood up and walked to Mrs. Hwang's office.
"Mrs. Hwang?" I asked knocking on her office door.
"Come in Ms. Smith," Mrs. Hwang said opening the door and walking to her desk, sitting down.
"Sit down," Mrs. Hwang said. I did as I was instructed.
"Now what did you want to talk to me about?" Mrs. Hwang asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"What time can I leave to make it to Malcom's funeral?" I asked controlling my emotions enough so that I didn't cry.
"What time is the funeral at?" Mrs. Hwang asked.
"Three-thirty," I said, my voice weakening. Mrs. Hwang looked at the clock on the wall of her office.
"You can leave in . . . an hour," Mrs. Hwang said, "that should give you enough time to get ready for it," Mrs. Hwang finished. I nodded and got up to go back to class.
"Mrs. Hwang, Ms. Lee kidnapped me, and Malcom," I told her hoping that she believed me.
"I'll look into that." Mrs. Hwang said I rolled my eyes. Yeah right, why does it seem that every authority figure in this school doesn't care about a single student here? I asked myself, walking out of Mrs. Hwang's office. I went back to class only to find Ms. Lee holding Crystal by the hair.
"CRYSTAL!!" I yelled, "LET GO OF HER REBECCA!" I finished, grabbing the stapler off of Ms. Lee's desk. I started walking closer to Ms. Lee, ready to press it against her hand and stapling her. Ms. Lee didn't listen to me, I followed through with my plan.
"GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ms. Lee screamed out in pain, "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" she finished, clutching her hand.
I dropped the stapler, my hands shaking uncontrollably. I took a shaky breath, I backed away from the stapler and Ms. Lee. I looked at Crystal and mouthed 'I'm sorry', and ran out of the class. I ran out of school, ignoring the guard running after me. I ran as far as I could before I stopped to catch my breath. I stood there for a minute I looked up, I looked to my left, then my right, and I saw the alley.
I kept running until I got home. I ran up to my room and threw myself onto my bed. I laid there face buried in my pillows for a couple of minutes, then I decided to get up, and start getting ready for Malcom's funeral. I walked to my closet and grabbed the dress that I bought specially for Malcom's funeral. I walked over to my bed and laid the dress down neatly, I went to the bathroom, and locked the door behind me. I started the shower and got ready to get in the shower. After I was done with my shower I looked at my face, and I chuckled.
"I look like a wet dog." I chuckled again. I walked out of the bathroom with my towel wrapped around my body. I went to my room, and I got the dress off of the hanger, I dropped the towel and dried my hair, I got dressed and I went to my vanity cabinet, I grabbed all of my black makeup. I sat down and started doing my makeup.
*Bing*
I looked at my phone and picked it up.
"Who could be texting me?" I asked myself out loud. I squinted at the text. 'Where are you?' I looked up at myself in the mirror.
"Should I answer it?" I asked myself, again. I looked at my phone again, I started typing my reply.
*Who is this?*
*Dumb girl.*
*I asked you a question.*
*and I answered.*
*Don't test me.*
*I'm not testing you.*
I didn't look back at my phone until I was done with my makeup.
*Hello?*
*Are you there?*
*Leave me alone, I have to go to a funeral soon.*
I finished getting ready for Malcom's funeral. I looked at my phone's clock, and it was 3:10.
*Bing*
*I'm sorry for your loss, I guess.*
*Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?*
*Yeah, but you really don't know who Dumb girl is?*
*No.*
*I don't, at least not that I remember.*
*Wow Gabby, how nice of you.*
*How do you know my name?*
*You really don't remember me?*
*Ouch*
*I can't talk right now, Dumb girl.*
I stood up, and started walking back to my closet, I bent over to grab my black pumps. I put them on, and I started to walk around, I fell at least three times. When I finally got a solid grip on how to walk in the heels it was 3:15. I grabbed my phone, I looked at my notifications, and I saw another phone number that I didn't recognise. I clicked on the notification.
*Gabby where are you?*
Sent 1:05 p.m
*Who is this?*
Read 3:16 p.m
*Travis Kim*
*Why are you texting me now?*
*I wanted to say that I'm sorry for playing you.*
Read 3:17 p.m
*Please don't leave me on read.*
*Gabby.*
*Are you there?*
*Don't do anything stupid, I still care for you.*
Read 3:19 p.m
*I have to go,*
*But know that I will never forgive you, Travis.*
I changed the contact I was texting to my dad.
*Dad I'm going to head to Malcom's funeral.*
*Okay.*
I shut my phone down, and walked down to the living room, rolling my ankle once or twice.
"Ow!" I exclaimed as I fell in front of the couch. I pulled myself up, and sat, rubbing my ankle. I stood up and walked to the front door, When I opened the door Crystal was standing there.
"Gabby why did you run away from school?" she asked, then looked me up and down.
"Malcom's funeral, and the fact that I stapled Ms. Lee's hand," I said before I walked past her. I walked to the graveyard and dealt with the funeral. I started walking home when Crystal grabbed my hand and pulled me away.
"What do you want Crystal?" I asked, getting agitated.
"I want to know why you ran away from school earlier?" she said a dangerous tone lacing her voice.
"I told you already Crystal," I said, "If you're going to start acting like this every day then we can't be friends." I finished, storming away as best as I could.
"Gabby don't try me, I'm more dangerous than I look." Crystal said before disappearing. I can't stand her anymore. I grabbed my phone and powered it on.
*Travis, you're the last person I want to talk to right now, but Crystal kind of threatened me.*
Read 4:10 p.m
*What did she say?*
*'Gabby don't try me, I'm more dangerous than I look.'*
*Stay away from her for a while Gabby.*
*This is the only time I'll listen to you Travis.*
*T_T*
*-_-*
*U_U*
*Why are we like this?*
*I don't know*
*If we were siblings that would be a handful.*
*I don't even want to think about the trouble we would cause.*
*🤣*
*I think that my parents would have a heart attack.*
*I have to go.*
*K*
I can't catch feelings for him again. I shut my phone down again. I walked home, trying not to look over my shoulder. When I got in the front door I locked it and kicked the pumps off. I ran to my room and locked my door from the inside.
I closed and locked my windows and jumped on my bed still wearing my dress. I decided that I was safe enough to change into my pajamas, and take my makeup off. When I was done with that I crawled into my bed.
"I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight," I muttered under my breath. I pulled my phone out again and powered it on. I went to my contact and selected Dumb girl's number, and I started a phone call.
"Hello, who is this?" she asked.
"It's Gabby, Gabby Smith," I said, getting nervous.
"Oh, Hello Gabby. What do you want?" she asked, sounding like she just woke up.
"I want to know your real name," I said.
"It's Philopena," she said, and it struck me, that's my childhood friend's name.
"Phi-Phi?" I asked my eyes widening.
"Yep," she said.
"Long time no speak, Gabby," she finished.
"Yeah, so how's life been?" I asked.
"It's been ok, I guess, how about you?" Philopena asked.
"It's been ok unless you count my friend who was also my crush dying, and my other friend acting weirder than normal," I said, shrugging and jumping at the sound of thunder.
"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss, wait, did I say that in a text earlier?" she asked.
"Yeah, you did," I said, remembering the texts from earlier.
"YOU STILL HAVE A BETTER MEMORY THAN ME!" Philopena exclaimed, which made me pull my phone away from my ear.
"Phi-Phi calm your voice, please," I said, before turning my phone's volume down in case she decided to yell again.
"Sorry, I just don't like the fact that you have a better memory than me," she said.
"I just pay attention to things," I said, shrugging my shoulders again.
"It's not fair!" she exclaimed.
"How many times have you told me that life isn't fair?" I asked, tapping my chin, thinking.
"Don't even bring that up, I don't like to sound even the littlest bit smart," she said.
"You never have liked to sound smart, or be smart," I said, pointing out the obvious.
"Gabby I have to go, my mom is calling me down to dinner." she said.
"Ok, bye Philopena," I said, hanging the phone up. I put my phone on my bedside table and plugged it in to charge. I heard the front door open and I got out from under my covers. I unlocked my door and opened it, grabbing my aluminum baseball bat. I took a deep breath and walked down the hall, ready to swing it at anyone's head, no matter who they were.
"JESUS GABBY!!!! what's wrong with you?" Mayhem asked I shrugged.
"I thought you were someone breaking in," I said, about to shrug again when the living room window shattered. I gripped my baseball bat even tighter than I already was. Mayhem walked to his room. He came back a minute or two later and had his wooden baseball bat. I looked at my knuckles to see that they were white I loosened my grip, and took a deep breath. I crouched down to have the element of surprise, I started to walk like that to the top of the stairs.