Chapter 2 - Chapter l

Monday once more and I know thus because of my loud alarm ringing telling me to get up from my wonderland and start the day. I'm not a morning person but then again who does? Getting up from my bed is an involuntarily act its either that or the loud alarm and being missed by my brother and having to walk to school. So basically I get up and get ready for school.

I got my black leggings; white tank and a long  hoodie with Frankie from monster high on it. Its still my favourite  despite my step brother's remarks. After my bath I wore my clothes and applied light make up and then after checking my self in the mirror I put on my white sneaker and left my room all alone. My dignified sanctuary unattended with only my locked door for security.

" Athena darling here's your breakfast, we need you to loose some weight, you should look thinner everyday. I told you to quit that after school job you do its bad for health. You eat more there, its not healthy" my step mother Loretta says as I get into the kitchen. I could see through her fake caring but I know my father was the one she was targeting with her outrageous statement .

I just chuckled and cleared my throat . "Listen to your mother Athena she knows what's best for you. If you loose some weight a little  then we won't  have a problem with you working after school will we dear?" he saying facing the beast.

" Of cause Marcus hon. I don't know why she even goes there she has all she needs here anyway. Sports and gym class is what she really needs" she replied him in her snobby voice. " She like her job lets just let her have it. Speaking of work I'll be late for mine there's always a rush at the station on Mondays" he says giving me a kiss on the forehead and letting her walk him out.

I was enjoying my breakfast like it's the only thing I'll enjoy today, 'at least she can cook it' I thought to myself. Before I could finish my meal I heard my annoying step brother yelling " Get up , lets go Frankenstein." I tried eating faster but failed and he knew I'm a slow eater. " You I'm going as fast as I can" I whined. "If you can't eat it its cause you don't need it " he says grabbing my last slice and shoving it into his mouth.

Yes Stephan is pain it gets worse at school though. This is as sweet as he can get when he's around the parents. I just get up and go get my back pack. My step mom fusses about my weight not that I'm that big mainly because she wanted me to be a preppy cheerleader when I refused she made a big fuss about how I'd not qualify due to my weight. Its so she felt less bad over her idea being rejected.

Did I mention me and Mr  stupid who's driving me to school are in the same school, if I didn't then I am now. He's a typical blonde ; tall and jock kind of person all the essentials needed to be pea brain. I'm a black hair dark skinned average height; typically from the hood.

After mom dead when I was thirteen my dad remarried a few months later to this white lady who had a son of her own. She made us move from the township to a more familiar neighbourhood, by familiar she obviously meant to her of cause. So we moved and now we live here in the gosh don paper town.

' This is not a safe environment for a pretty little girl like her Marcus dear, you can't tell me you feel safe with her leaving the house and the environment it's self is toxic.' and 'Sure her mother was ok with her being at the school, she was a teacher there it made sense to keep her close. Luna dale high is the best school for her now so she move on from the tragic event that happened to her.'

This was all she'd preach everyday before we moved and I heated her ever since. Almero secondary school was the only place I had mom and with that gone I was lost. Until the café where I work. Its one mom used to take me to every day, I'd feel like she's still with me everyday.

I heard beeping slapping back to the real world. " Ey nerd get out of the road if you wanna keep your big head." The lunatic said almost running over a student deliberately. " I still think you bought your license… Do you really know how to drive?" I asked in s whisper hoping he'd  not hear me, he did however hear me.    " Frankie I do know how do drive. Ill teach you someday sis." The chuckled out loud. " No I'm good I'd prefer a licensed instructor thank you very much." I say with a scoff.

" Does Jordan work for you sis? He seems pretty into you I'm sure he'll  not mind at all." He said with an innocent tone like a sweet heart indeed. "Pimp me up again and I'm telling mom and dad what you did." I bark trying to threaten him a little which doesn't work because he just laughs then replies " Frankie you're a cute when u give threats. Fun fact mom will be happy you went out with football player and our so called dad will be happy mom is happy so… Good luck with that." I hated that he was right. I just banged his car door and stormed off to class.

" Hey mi amor … What's popping ?" Jordan greeted me when I entered the main hall way. He's a brunette ; tan skinned six feet two guy with wine coloured eyes and a sweet Spanish accent. If he wasn't friends with my dopey brother id go out with him, but is he is. " What do you want Jordan , its still in the morning." I grumbled back trying to walk as fast as I could.

Unfortunately my little stature does not is nothing compared to his well built self so I was basically failing badly. "Easy rosa I come in peace and love mostly" he retorted wiggling he's eye brows and I just faked to buff up his words. He grins like there's no tomorrow before saying.

" I talked to Stephan and all so… I'll give you a ride after school. It'll be nice and calm I promise just me and you princess". Great , just great he pimped me out again I wonder for what this time. "Great… I can't wait" I said in a rather sarcastic tone and walked away. However  I heard him praise himself as I walked away I guess very few understand the language huh.

As if my morning drama wasn't enough gym class was first in line on my time table. I HATE working out, who's bright mind was it to torture children on a warm Monday morning and sober their minds with muscle cramps and back pains. What a lovely way to start the day, note the sarcasm.

As if he's class wasn't bad enough Mr Marone or as the athletic types called him 'Coach Trey' was the worst teacher in the whole school. He's class was always the slowest and I'd get a C- no matter what. Don't get me wrong I'm not heavy I'd rather just do a soft subject like biology or chemistry.

The class started with squats and all the other workout routines I still fail to memorise by head then he said he's happy so to pair up and hit the jungle gym. I know you think it's the exciting kids palace but no its not its series of extreme activity designed by him of cause  to tear our limbs off.

Sweet Jordan was my paired up partner. Things actually went really well, I wasn't full comfortable with him since I know he's friends with my step brother and that there's something he gets out of this. Maths came up and what a joy this class quiet with very few students, just how I liked it.

It was finally lunch time at last, three more hours and I'm heading to my second favourite place, the café. The cafeteria is always packed with bullies to survive this high school never go in the cafeteria unless you have real back up, which I don't. I just sit by myself on the bleachers eat my lunch and play games on my phone or read a novel to pass time before lunch is over.

"Is this seat taken mi amor ?" I heard a now very familiar voice, Jordan De Léon . " if I didn't know any better I'd say you're beginning to stalk me." I grumbled to which he chuckled and set next to me. After a long time of silence he asked a question that made me very conscious of my atmosphere. "Why do you hate me so much cariño ?" he's voice sounded heavy.

Despite not know Spanish I knew he wasn't insulting me. The question however did strike a nerve. " I guess the idea that my brother sort of hocked me up with you so that your brother can let him be the head quarterback on the team bums me out. I don't even know what he signed me up for… It just really scares me you know". I replied him knowing I sounded like a typical nerdy teenager at that moment in time.

" Its all alright mi amor, I understand. And I don't plan anything sinister actually I just wanted to be around you. How about we be friends that's a good start isn't  it?". He asked and he had a genuine smile while holding out his hand. " Jordan De Léon  glad to make your acquaintance" I simply smiled and held out mine." Athena Meyers a pleasure to make yours." I replied as a shook it. Just like that my day flew by so fast. Before I even knew it, it was go home time and I'd be with mom soon enough. I couldn't wait to tell her Jordan my new friend.

As I walk into the school parking lot I notice Stephan's car is no where in sight, I just sigh and take out my phone from my pocket to check if he sent a massage. Funny enough there was one it read :

'Ey Frankie I noticed how cosy you were with Jordan during lunch. Now I don't feel bad for ditching you. He said he'll take you home 😉 . He probably already told you this yah be nice Ok. – Steph.

So once more I was stuck with a guy he'd chosen for me so he could get something out of this. Jordan was actually the third guy he'd hooked me up with but surprising he was a nice fella. Today would be the first day I 'spent with him'. On Friday we had met and I may have been bored by my step brother's tricks to even know his last name I just got an uber to the café.

He's car pulled over not very long and he got out. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long cariño. Ready to go home?" he said opening the door for me. He's such a gentleman if you ask me, at least way better than Stephan. "No you are just on time actually. Thank you it means a lot." I replied him as I got in. " No problem mi amor. What your home address?" he asked me looking at the GPS as if he could feel I was sceptical about offering it to him my home address.

" 9 sage drive Klipton ridge". I reply with confidence. " Wait you live all the way down town?" he says sounding very unsure about the trip. Its typical how people from the rich side always assume down town is a dump where humans feed on each other. Its really not we live in a clean and peaceful environment, well I used to anyway. I had friends there, real friends who actually care about people not money. " I work at a café there actually". I said with a half smile, I think he took the hint that wasn't ready to open up to that topic. We drove in a sweet silence listening to his Ed Sheeran playlist. He dropped off , said good bye and drove off not forgetting to say be safe Rosa, I'd really to see you tomorrow at school

I entered the café as the little bell rang, I was hit by a sweet smell of cinnamon rolls and donuts not forgetting those freshly baked cakes. This was the feeling of home to me, what mom and mom used to look forward to everyday. " Is tell her how my day went and she'd tell me about hers. We'd talk for hours and later head him just to do it all again. I went into the locker rooms where my not book and apron would be. I looked at the time on my phone, " I have 30 minutes before my shift mom. I wonder how your day was today, mine was good. I made a new friend today, he's sweet boy from school I hope he is sweet. I miss you." I said to her picture, one I kept framed in my locker.

My shift was half way done when Mr Xander my boss called me to his office. He was an old friend of mom's , he'd  tell us to call him grandpa. " Hi grandpa  You called for me ?"  I greeted him as I walked in. " Yes my sweets I did. Your father called me earlier today, he said your step mom said somethings… Are you ok is everything at home Ok?" he asked sweetly. He was more of a parent to me than my dad was and after mom became sick he'd take me to visit her and made sure I was well taken care of. " Yes grandpa everything is going ok, she can be herself I'm used to it actually used to it by now." I tried to console myself, deep down I knew home would be as cosy as it used to about a year and a half ago. "Well if she becomes too much to handle you can come live with us, Your gran keeps saying she misses you anyway. You can go back to work I'm going to head home early".

He didn't really to work , the café was doing great and people loved him enough to keep coming back to his café. He was a sweet old man with  great heart . He's nephew Dean however the exact opposite and the main reason I didn't live with them anymore. I had lived with them for a couple of months after mom passed on and dad was struggling to cope with feeling of losing his wife and work shifts. Speaking of Dean I noticed him giving me a seductive smirk. This Neanderthal was the only reason I couldn't visit that sweet couple, he would make sexual remarks and slurs which tended to be uncomfortable

. " Hey baby doll you look great in those leggings. Want me to take you home later on, it does get a little creepy at night in these parts of town." He said and he winked at the words 'home'. " I'm good thank you Dean" .  I replied him hoping he'd tell I'm not the mood for his perverted ways. " Let me guess that boy that dropped you off is coming to pick you up?" he said with much venom. You could sense the jealousy in his words. Someone may ask me how come I was even entertaining he's idiotic self, the answer is its around six at this time and the café closes at seven. We having those customers who came later and cleaning up getting to close. " Nope." That was my only response to his question not caring if he heard me or not. "Good you not allowed to be around these rich snobs , they bad for yah." He said running he's fingers through his really curly black hair.

I won't lie he was a pretty boy type, he was coloured with golden eyes and silky yet curly  black hair, not to mention his dimple on his left side. He was however a perverted man who was in his twenties hitting on a high school child. He had stolen a few forced kisses here and there , he hadn't tried to rape me. That was probably the only reason I didn't report him. I had however  told Mr Vander but saw the heartbreak through his eyes when he had to lecture and send him away for about four months. He did come back and promised to stop but he never did.

I said my goodbyes to the other works and said a small prayer for mom then left the café and Lola had locked up and driven away. I had called an uber but it would get here in ten minutes So I had to wait. "Want me to take me home bay doll, or even better I could keep you warm and company till your taxi gets here. Just you and me." He said getting to close for comfort. I just shook my head Sara's that he might attack me in the dead of night. " Oh come on don't be a prude, I know you want me too." He said when he right in front of me. He started forcefully kissing me despite my ability to fight back I could push him off.

" I'd stop if I were you." A voice from the shadow said and it seemed to pull Dean away from me for a moment. "Oh yeah and who are you to tell me what to and what to do." He barked back at the stranger's voice and when the voice didn't reply he just scoffed and turned he's attention to me. To both out surprise I was a far from him, seems id slipped out of his touch. He started charging towards me. If my step mom was here she'd he marvelled to know for once I hoped I could ran faster like she said every time.  He caught up to me and pinned me on the ground. I'd been crying for help too loudly my throat was starting to hurt and the fact that he was deliberately choking me wasn't really of help.

I was starting to see black spots from the lack of air, I didn't really how but with the fast moved id say he was pushed off me at great speed. It took about two minutes to regain my sight even though my breathing rate was still fast. "I warned you, didn't I?" the voice from before said. I could hear Dean's cries from the torture given by the stranger. The guy was fast and vicious, he wouldn't stop. " You can apologize and I'll let you. Little boy, beg for mercy and I might consider it."  He said with a sadistic laugh. "Go to hell." Was all he coughed up and this only made the stranger even laugh more. " Care to wager who'll go there first the then ripped his hands off and bit on the neck until Dean could barely bleed or even move. He's cries had dead down. She had just witnessed his murder.

I tried to run and hide behind a dumpster, praying he had not seen where I was hiding. " I can hear your heartbeat out loud cupcake. You can come out, I hate to hunt it makes me rather brutal." He said leaning next to dumpster I was hiding behind. Realising she couldn't win she can out hoping not to anger him. " Please, if you're going to kill me make it fast. If you spare me I promise not to tell. " I  whispered in fear as I was shaking hard by now. My life was flashing right before her eyes then that's when I heard him say. "I'm keeping you alive for as much as I like which a long while so I wouldn't worry if I were you". That's  when he chuckled and bit me too. Everything then went black.