POV JULIE
I get home and go straight to my room. I'm glad my mom isn't on the couch waiting for me to get home so she can ask me lots of questions. I know she'll do it tomorrow anyway, but knowing that I'll have some time to think makes me feel relieved and anxious at the same time.
I was actually having fun, Scott was being nice to me. I still don't know why this sudden change happened, but I was enjoying knowing that he wouldn't torment me anymore until this was over. I even went on the Ferris wheel, something I had promised myself I would never do. I was trying to socialize like Mom had told me, but life seemed to want to show me that I didn't belong in this world of people with friends, who go out to places to have fun, who lead a "normal" life. Even though I thought there was nothing abnormal in staying home at night reading a book instead of going out to do "things that young people my age do," as my parents had told me earlier.
I don't know why Penny did that. I've never done anything to her. Thinking about it, I've never done anything to anyone, and they always treat me badly in the same way. On my first day at college, I felt out of place, as if I didn't belong there. Everywhere I looked, I saw people talking animatedly. Some of them already knew each other, you could tell by the way they spoke. Others just met at that moment, but they still seemed to have a lot to talk about. As always, I was in a corner, hiding behind a book while observing everything around me. As the days went by, everyone there seemed like they had become childhood friends, and I felt even more out of place. It wasn't long before they started calling me names, whispering as I walked through the halls, making offensive jokes, and I just kept walking. Scott was the one who humiliated me the most. He never missed an opportunity to make me look ridiculous in front of everyone. I know that I wasn't the only one at that college who was the victim of mistreatment from everyone who looked at me with a dirty look, but it seemed like I was their favorite. The year went by and I put up with everything in silence, always hoping that this year would be different, which is actually the case, but what happened today makes me fear that everything will go back to normal or that it will get worse.
I look at my body and see that my clothes are all stained. I needed to take a shower and get that sticky stuff off my body. I had gotten it off more or less with the help of Hanna, Scott's sister, but he was still there to show me that there will always be someone to make fun of me. While we were in the bathroom trying to get the dark stain off my clothes, Hanna talked to me as if we were old friends. Friends, could we be friends? She made that very clear to me when she gave me her cell phone number and told me to call her whenever I needed, that I could count on her and that she really wanted to be my friend. But I don't know, I'm afraid of getting too involved and ending up deluding myself, even though I know that she's not like the others, I don't know why, but I felt that I could really count on her.
And then there was the conversation with Jack. I had seen him in the school hallways a few times. He always hangs out with Scott and the others, but he had never even exchanged a word with me. I don't know why everyone wants to talk to me now. This is all very strange and is making me more and more confused. Until a week ago, I was just the strange girl who buried herself in books so she wouldn't have to deal with the meanness of my college friends, and now everyone decides to talk to me and treat me differently.
I go into the bathroom and when I look at myself in the mirror, I remember what Scott said, and then it occurs to me that the real Scott could be back. He was making fun of me once again. I feel a tear run down my face as I remember today's moments and I quickly wipe it away. I take off my clothes, adjust the temperature of the shower and let the water wash away all my sadness. After a few minutes, I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body and one in my hair. I put on my pajamas, lay down on my bed and curl up between the sheets, thinking about the events of the last week and today. And after thinking and reliving everything in my mind, my thoughts always turned to the same questions: What does Scott want from me? And why did Jack tell me not to trust him?
[...]
I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock, with my eyes closed I slide my hand along the nightstand until my fingers find the off button. I sit up in bed with my eyes slightly open as I get used to the light and soon I feel two little hands covering my eyes.
_ Guess who it is? _ I smile at his question. Even if I spent a century without hearing him, I would always be able to identify my little brat's sweet voice.
_ The most beautiful brother in the world. Did I get it right? _ He took his little hands away and his face entered my field of vision.
_ You got it right _ He says with a smile and throws himself into my arms.
_ And the most fragrant too _ I feel the scent of your soap enter my nostrils and I breathe it in deeply _ What's gotten into you today, huh? You've already taken a shower and everything.
_ Su took care of me _ He says looking at me with his little eyes shining and I hold him even tighter in my arms _ Oh, sis. It's strong.
_ Sorry, it's just that you're such an irresistible little brat _ He lets go of my grip and jumps on my bed.
_ Now for the shower _ He points to the bathroom door with a serious face, I can't resist and I burst out laughing.
_ I think you're reversing the roles, I'm the older sister here _ I say with my arms crossed in an authoritative posture.
_ But I'm the big brother, I have to take care of you _ He says and a big smile soon takes over my face.
_ And how are you going to do that? _ I ask curiously and he looks thoughtful.
_ I don't know yet, but I promise to take care of you. I'm already big and that's what big brothers are for _ He was standing on my bed and I couldn't help but laugh. He was still very small.
_ Very big _ I say ironically and he seems to notice because a not very happy expression soon takes over his beautiful little face.
_ Yes, I am big, I'm almost the size of Cot _ At the mention of his name, memories of yesterday hit me. Maybe it was nothing serious, but I was afraid he would treat me badly again. _ What happened? _ I feel Arthur's little arms around my neck and soon the bad thoughts go away.
_ Nothing, I was just thinking _ I say with a smile and he smiles in response.
He lets go and gets out of bed with a little difficulty. My bed was a little high for his size.
_ Bath. Now _ He pulls me towards the bathroom and I enter smiling _ I'll wait for you watching cartoons _ Arthur says and closes the door, leaving me with a silly smile on my face.
Don't I have the best brother in the world?
I take a shower and look for some clothes to wear. Once I'm ready, I organize my books and go out to find Arthur lying on the couch laughing at some cartoon. He doesn't seem to notice when I approach, when I'm about to tickle his feet he turns and shows me a smile.
_ I caught you _ He says laughing.
_ What do you mean? Did you see me? _ I ask confused.
_ I'm a super hero, have you forgotten?
_ I had completely forgotten. So what does the superhero want to eat? _ I pick him up and he wraps his legs around my waist.
_ Pancakes with honey from Su _ He also loves pancakes with honey from Susan.
_ Pancakes with honey from Su _ I confirm and he hugs me tighter, leaving a kiss on my cheek.