Warm Winters

Chapter 4 - Burn Marks

"Giselle you really don-"

"Bag hurry," She said armful of beer bottles.

I rushed to the kitchen and opened a new bag. She dumped the bottles in and we smiled to one another. "Thanks for your help." I said.

"What friends are for, Daisy. Real friends."

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"You have never seen that show?!" Giselle gasped. "It's like the ultimate mean girl show." She paused. "No offense."

"It's fine," I laughed. "Let's watch it then,"

I pressed play to the show 'Gilmore Girls'. We sat in silence as it played. I grew invested with the plot. I never had nights like this with friends. Usually were always out or having a pool party or just parting, but this was a nice change. Most kids at my school were rich and because of this they got into the school easily. There were three ways to get into our school. One is to be rich. Two pass with flying colors on the entrance exam, but you have to go on a wait list. Three know someone like myself. I was on the wait list, but my aunt was able to get me off of it.

I used to be obsessed with education and my future. I wanted to prove my dad wrong that I am more than what he thought I was going to become. Then I got sidetracked. I fell into the wrong crowd and peer pressure. In freshman year I began dating a senior, but when things got too real I broke up with him.

"Daisy can I ask you something?" Giselle asked.

"Sure. What is it?" I asked sitting up.

"Not that it's any of my business, but after we started hanging out people have been saying stuff about why you changed and stuff. Are any of it true?" She fidgeted with her fingers.

"Oh... What have they been saying?" I asked, but did I really want to know?

"Well there was that you got pregnant?"

I laughed. "Yeah no,"

"Then there was you got a DUI and blamed it on your friends so you had a falling out."

"No, all of us are still driving right?" I pointed out.

"Right. There were a few others that weren't as popular, but the most popular is you cried rape?" She winced at her own words. I gripped the shirt tightly in my hand. "I-I'm not shaming you or anything if that happened or trying to make assumptions, but t-that's a big thing for people to s-"

"Don't listen to rumors Giselle," I said with a sad smile.

Something clicked in her head and she nodded her head in agreement. She laid back down on the bed and continued to watch the show. We began to drift asleep on my bed after a few episodes.

————

"Crap. Crap. Crap." Giselle cursed.

I groaned and sat up to see her in her underwear rushing to get dress. "You good?"

"It's ten!"

"And?"

"Were late for school!"

"Screw school," I frowned laying back down.

"No Daisy. Up. Now." She pulled the covers off of me and I whined. She grabbed my ankles and dragged me off the bed. "Go shower I can smell you from downstairs." She laughed.

I rubbed my side where I fell and went into the bathroom. I hopped into the shower feeling the hot water hit my shoulders. I wanted to vomit. Feeling more nauseous than I usually feel. I could feel my chest heavy with anxiety weighing on it. The steam from the water made breathing feel harder.

I hugged myself as I sank to my knees. Everything hurt and burned now. A knock sounded on my door, "Daisy you ok? You've been in there for a while." Giselle asked through the door.

"Y-yeah. I don't feel so well I may have to stay home," I stuttered. I heard her mumble something and then quiet.

I felt cold, I couldn't feel the heat from the shower. I turned up the water finally feeling the heat.

I finally built up the strength to get up and shut the water off and step out. I wiped down my mirror and wrapped a towel around myself feeling a stinging sensation on my back.

I hissed and pulled the towel low on my back so it wouldn't touch it. I turned around to the mirror and gasped.

How did I not feel it?

I struggled to touch it hissing in pain. I can't walk out there for Giselle to see. I can't put on clothes it will hurt. I burned myself. I am an idiot. I could feel my lips quiver and my vision became blurry. 'Stop it. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't f-ing cry Daisy.' I scolded myself.

The door burst open and I pulled the towel closer to my chest. "Hey sorry for barging in, but I was getting worried an-" Giselle paused at the scene in front of her.

Me, crying, half wrapped in a towel covering fresh burns. 

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What do you think about Giselle?