Ace's POV:
New York City,
New York
CHAPTER 5 : Those three words
Dear Mr. John Doe,
I hit huberty. I woke up with these two balloons on my chest. And Mom gave me the most embarrassing talk of my life.
Wow what an interesting way to start a letter.
I swear if I had been drinking water, I would have definitely spit it out. However it didn't stop me from choking on my lobster, almost to my death. I had just been having my lunch when the letter arrived. I couldn't wait till I reached my room, so I decided I would read it here. Now I'm regretting my decision.
But to be honest, I knew this day would come. I had to go through it two years ago. It was so embarrassing to talk about. Everything grew, my arms, hands, legs, feet. I grew at least a feet taller. I banged my head against every door I walked through. My voice got so low and hoarse. It sounded like I had something stuck in the back of my throat or maybe a bad case of cold with a sore throat. And the hair. It was everywhere. Ugh. Also there was this thing dangling between my thighs. I had these dreams about her. A girl whose name I don't know. I remember the first one, in particular, very vividly, if I may add and the next day I woke so disoriented and confused, but most of all ashamed and embarrassed. How could I dream something like that about my best friend?
Flashback:
I was confused if I was really dreaming or not cause all of it felt too real-
End of flashback
Wait. What am I doing? I am not reliving that horrible memory all over again. I take a sip of the juice to gulp down the lobster.
I am yet to get my period and Cara didn't get hers either. So I wanted to ask what yours was like? Since you're older and all.
I spit out the juice I was just drinking as I read that.
She thinks-oh my-what was my first what like! I can't. What? I- I can't even.
What did her parents tell her? Well they probably told her everything but being the dreamy head she is, she was probably thinking about ice cream. I'm not telling her about periods. Mostly cause I don't know what it is. And partially cause I just don't know how to.
Also, I'm not talking to you. I hate you so much right now. Why didn't yoy tell me this before? You already knew all of this, didn't you? If you had warned me before hand, I wouldn't have had that god awful talk with my parents.
At least her parents talked to her. My parents won't even talk to me about anything, let alone something so personal. I had to talk to learn everything from those tutors. At least she had the chance to be embarrassed. But I never did. I swallow down the lump in my throat and fought back the tears that were on the verge of falling down in a waterfall as I thought back to when I had asked my parents. It was a really hard time with no friends or parents to guide me. All I got was a stupid science teacher.
Flashback:
We were having dinner at the table, with mom on her phone and dad on his tablet.
My friends at school said that all families talk together at dinner time about things that are important to them and their parents ask them about everyday things like how did their day go, how were they feeling.
But why doesn't mine?
How great would it feel if we actually talked and stayed together like a family.
But right now, I had a question.
"Mom, Dad, what is puberty?"
Mom and Dad exchanged a look and said, "We'll call your science teacher tomorrow."
"But the kids at school said that their parents tell them all of this stuff."
"That's cause they can't afford a science teacher. We can," Dad said, dismissing me.
"But the other kids-"
"Well, you're not like those other kids at your school. You're rich and those kids simply cannot compare," Dad said while wiping his hands with a wet towel and Mom followed.
I looked up to argue but they had already left.
Like every other time.
They always leave.
~~~~~~~~
I quickly dismissed the thought as I read on.
Also Mom and Dad said that we can't say "I love you" to each other anymore. Something about the birds and the butterflies.
No more "I love you's??!!"
I know. I know that's what I said too. But do we really have to listen to them? I mean when have I ever done what they say.
Well that is true.
Also what's birds and butterflies?
Thankfully this time I don't choke or spit. But I did get a mini heart attack.
"Are you okay, Young Master?," Mr. Harris looked worried,"You look pale."
"I'm....fine," I replied, still feeling shook.
"I think I should call the doctor, just to be sure," he insisted.
"No. No. It's fine. I-I'm fine." I wave him off.
He looks at me, sceptical but doesn't push it any further as he retreats to the kitchen, where he must have come from in the first place.
I look down at the paper. And just when I thought nothing can be worse than this. BAM!! I fall out of the chair and on my butt as I read the next line. I stay there for a while and after some time, I finally decide to stand up. I look down at the three words that left me stunned.
What is sex?
Those three words.
I never wanna hear anyone saying, let alone explain them to someone. For my sanity and peace of mind, I folded the piece of paper neatly and walked upstairs to my room where I stacked it with the rest of the letters ,deciding that this much was enough for today and would read the rest tomorrow or maybe day after tomorrow or maybe never.
I took out the books the teacher gave to me and put them in a box and kept it aside. Some of the titles I don't ever wanna read again.
Hair in funny places.
What's going on down there?
What boneheaded dummy would keep such a name on their book?
I'll parcel them to her later.
She'll be so embarrassed once she reads this. Middle school sure is something you can't forget.
Middle school was such a bad experience. I shuddered as I remembered my first day in Middle School.
I walked down the grand hallway of my new school. It was huge and looked beautiful but the place I loved the most was the playground. It was so pretty to look at, there were ducks playing in the pond and fruits and vegetables growing in a miniature farm.
The children were running across the ground, some on the slides, some on swings, others on see-saw. At lot of whom I'd already met. They were happy. Smiling. Laughing.
I walked forward only to trip on something in my path. I fell on my front on the muddy surface. It hurt a lot. I looked up to see a face I knew very well. It was Zayn, one of Arthur's mean friends. He was two years older than me. Can't they at least leave me at my new school?
He put his hand out for me to hold and I took it. But before I can get up he pulled his hand back and I fell again, this time on my butt.
"What a little crybaby. Can't you do anything without help from your workers?," someone yelled.
A loud laughter was heard to my right and I turned my head to see some kids from my grade standing there, laughing so hard. Laughing at me.
"Weak ass princess. Weak ass princess," they started chanting together in sync.
I looked down, dejected and embarrassed. Am I really weak? I was on the verge of tears but I won't let them see me cry. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm never going to cry again.
Zayn gave me a glare before he spat out at me," Don't get in my way ever again."
He turned to look at his friends who were still laughing,"Little spoiled brat thinks he got the whole world at his feet. Guess what? No one here is going to bow to you."
I don't want them to.
"Stop that!!," someone shouted at Zayn. But I was too tired to look up.
"You shouldn't do something like that to anyone."
"But he's too cocky just because he's rich," Zayn scoffed.
"Did he say that?!!"
"No but he thinks he's better than everyone else and he needs to be taught a lesson."
Before I could register what happened the guy who was defending me lunged at Zayn and punched him square in the face. Zayn hit back but he couldn't land a punch on the guy. The guy swinged again and this time Zayn landed on his back.
Everyone on the ground was shouting at them. Wait. Not shouting. Cheering them on. Are they mad?? Don't they know that fighting is bad?
"You're the one that needs to be taught a lesson," he shouted while hitting Zayn again.
I had been sitting outside the principal's office for what felt like forever along with Zayn and the boy I now know as Mason Park.
After half an hour we were sitting inside the principal's office. Zayn was going on and on about how I hit him and then when he tried to defend himself the guy I now know as . And boy, was he fuming. I could actually see the smoke coming out of his ears. He was that mad.
The principal then looked at him before his eyes set on me. I quickly lowered my eyes.
"You tell me, is all of this true,?" the pricipal questioned sharply. I turned to look at Zayn giving me a chilling look that sent shivers down my spine.
"Y-Yes,"I stuttered as I looked anywhere but at him.
"Are you sure?," he asked again, his tone skeptical.
"Y-Yes, I'm sure," I stated again, a little clearer this time, playing with my hands on my lap.
"I don't have the time for this." the principal muttered while rubbing his forehead.
The principal regarded me with keen eyes as he moved around the table and stood in front of me.
I backed away slightly.
"Then why's there mud on your clothes?," he interrogated.
"I-I f-fell," I said.
"He's lying!!!," exclaimed Mason .
"I'm sorry, Mr. Park. But I couldn't take any action till I know the truth. And if you're caught fighting again, you'll be suspended."
As he turned around, Zayn looked in Mason's direction and flashed him a smirk.
Mason reached out to hit him but I grabbed his hand. He stared at me and then my hand and once more shifted his gaze to me. I got the message. I shaked my head at him as I released his hand. He forcefully took it out and glared at the pencil stand sitting on the desk.
"Now, get out of here!," the principal's voice startled me but both Zayn and Mason seemed indifferent.
I quickly scrambled out of my seat and like the coward I am, I ran out of there. I ran, ran like my life depended on it. As I reached the washroom, I cleaned what I could of the mess that was on my clothes which were thankfully easy to remove.
At lunch, I kept to myself, sitting in the corner. As I was about to get up, a shadow hovered over me. I looked up to see Mason.
"Thanks a lot." he said with a fake smile as he slumped down beside me. Sarcasm clear in his tone.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied through my teeth.
He gave me a look," Seriously though, why didn't you tell the truth? Why did you have to go ahead and lie? When it was clearly him who was in the wrong."
"Look, I don't want to be the cause of unnecessary troubles. My parents wouldn't be happy with me causing havoc. Also it would be bad for the reputation of our family, " I sighed.
"You were the one causing troubles!? " he exclaimed, "You need to stand up for yourself. Your family wouldn't be happy seeing you get bullied either."
"Trust me, they'd much rather see me crying in solitude than being an embarrassment in public."
"Of course, rich people don't care about their families. They don't give a rat's ass about anything," he scoffed.
"Don't use bad words," I chided him.
"Whatever," he rolled his eyes.
"You're a good person. Would you like to be my friend," I smiled at him as I stuck out my hand.
"Where did you come from? The 1900s? Who asks that nowadays," he laughed and my smile vanished.
He noticed and quickly said," I didn't mean it that way. I decided I like you so yes we can be friends."
The rest of the day went peacefully with Mason by my side but I couldn't ignore the stinky eyes I received every time I saw a breathing human. The only people who seemed to be somewhat pleased to see me were the teachers but it only seemed to make the matters worse for me. I was tired of tripping and being walked over the whole day whenever Mason wasn't around.
As the school bell rang, Mason and I said our goodbyes. I put my hand out for him to shake but he gave me a bro hug and we parted our ways. As I was walking through the huge corridors towards the exit, I was pushed to a room and the sound of a lock clicking in place scared the heck out of me. I looked around to see it was the janitor's closet.
"Let's see how you're gonna get out of there," someone shouted from the other side of the door.
I knew that voice very well. It was Zayn, once again, aiming to make my life miserable.
"Don't worry, that minion of yours is not here to protect you. Nobody is going to come and find you. "
"Please, please don't leave me here. Please, Zayn. Please!!!"
Nothing. I got no respone.
"Please!!" I shouted once more, desperate to get out. Desperate to escape.
Again nothing.
I shouted again and again but they had already left.
I walked backwards until my back hit the wall and I sat on the ground. The darkness is scary. I am scared. I don't want to die here. I pulled my knees to my chest and began rocking myself. But I felt something moving around and I curled myself into a ball. I covered my eyes with my hands and squeezed my eyes shut so I wouldn't be able to see anything. But I felt it. Dark and evil. Coming to kill me. I peeked through my fingers. As I looked around, I realized that I couldn't see anything. I can't stay here. I have to get out of here. I gathered all of my courage and stood up again I slowly stepped into the darkness and when I reached the door, I banged my fists against the door. I screamed and screamed and screamed till I couldn't. But nobody heard me. No-one is there. Nobody's going to hear me. I stumbled back.
My breathing accelerated. I could feel the monster coming for me. But all I saw was black and all I heard was a low buzz as I felt myself going crazy. I wanted to get out of here. I needed to get out of here. I felt my breathing growing more and more rapid by each minute that passed. I couldn't stand straight and my legs gave out beneath me. My heart was pounding so hard. I felt fear gripping me. My throat constricted, my hands were sweating and I felt like there was an earthquake. I wanted fo puke. So bad. But nothing came out of my stomach. I felt myself slipping away and before I knew it, my eyes closed and I drifted into a deep slumber as darkness invaded my mind and soul.
Tears almost fell down my eyes as I felt my breathing accelerate once more, just like that day but I held it in. I'm not weak. I'm not weak. I'll never cry again. Never again.
I slumped down on the bed and looked around the golden cage I was trapped in. The king sized bed with the soft satin sheets and comforter felt like pricks and thorns. The floor to ceiling windows felt like they were closing in on me.
And suddenly my surroundings changed, once again all I saw was darkness, the feeling of someone creeping in on me. I could feel the monster and I could feel it trying to choke me as my breath came in heavy pants. My hands sweaty and the feeling of nausea in the pit of my stomach making me bend over and heave but nothing came out. And before I knew it, I passed out once again.
I opened my eyes and quickly squeezed them shut, the flash rendering me blind momentarily. I looked around to see what woke me up and saw Ms. Nelly talking to the doctor.
"- be fine? I found him on the ground and he was hyperventilating. It felt like-like..."Ms. Nelly sobbed.
"Look, Ms. Nelly it's a serious mattet and I need to speak with the parents of the child about it. I hope you understand."
"I'm his caretaker, you can tell me. P-Please, doctor, I need to k-know what is happening. I've ne-never seen him this scared," Ms. Nelly said between cries.
"Are you sure?," the doctor asked with a raised brow.
"Yes, I think so."
" Well, I believe he is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."