KEEPING 10

001: lost in tommen's

Life always surprises you in ways you don't know how to react.

I don't remember almost anything from my childhood, from my biological mother. My dad only says that she was ashamed of me and that's why she abandoned me with him, and that the only reason I stayed with him is because Marie didn't want to throw a little girl out on the street.

Although I think I would have been better off anywhere else than in that house.

Teddy Lynch doesn't want anyone, but even less so bastards like me, that's what he calls me.

I was the result of an affair between a married man and a woman he found on the street. Six years later, that woman left me on his doorstep with that monster claims to be my father.

I don't remember her, and I prefer not to ask.

-Ari, Joey says we're going to miss the bus-my sister Shannon, who's only a month younger than me, says as she pokes her head through the door of our room.

We moved to Tommen. Marie didn't want me to stay without Shannon, and she didn't want Shannon to be alone in a new school either

Besides being 'twins we get a discount that benefits my entry too.

-¿Are you nervous?- I dare to ask as I approach her, and she just looks at me with clear nervousness radiating from her body.

She's ten centimeters shorter than me, and her hair is black while I'm blonde. I really don't think anyone would believe we're twins.

-¿What if they don't like me either?-my little sister asks as I take her hand and give her a smile.

-They'll love you, you're the sweetest person in the world-I say with complete sincerity. She's the most beautiful girl, at least in my eyes.

-¿And are you nervous?-she asks, and we both know what she's really asking about - or rather, who.

Shannon had a group of friends, two blonde girls I never really got along with. But if I hung out with a blonde guy, he moved to Tommen and I went to the crappy school.

-No, I'm not nervous- I tell my sister, trying to give her security- It'll be a good start- I smile sincerely, really hoping it'll be a new and better beginning.

-Let's go before Joey goes crazy- Shannon says with a nervous laugh, squeezing my hand.

Not seeing Teddy all day was a good start. He was probably at some bar, wasting Marie's money.

-Run, the bus is coming- is the first thing Joey says as we leave the house, with his arms crossed and a cigarette made of something I don't want to know between his lips.

I prefer not to say anything, I've already begged him to quit smoking.

I decide not to look at him and just quickly get on the bus when it stops.

Shannon stays behind talking to him; they're siblings and have a bond that I think I'll never understand. Although Joey does everything for us, I don't think he sees me the way he sees Shannon.

-I want to see Lizzie and Claire- my sister says when she sits down next to me.

I know she wants to be with her friends, ¿but who will I be with?

After a few minutes, the bus stops in front of Tommen, and Shannon and I get off, one more nervous than the other.

-I'm with you-I whisper when she takes my hand, and we start walking together.

The uniform skirt is too short for me, since Shannon and I share, and she's shorter and smaller than me in some way.

-It's Claire and Liz- she says, stopping dead in her tracks while two blonde girls wave at us from a distance, staring fixedly at the dark-haired girl.

-Go with them-I tell her, seeing her hesitation. I know she doesn't want to leave me alone.-It's my chance to make friends-I smile, still seeing the doubt on her face.

Shannon laughs and quickly walks towards her friends, letting go of my hand and leaving me behind.

I let out a sigh and adjust the backpack on my shoulder to continue on my way to the other side. Honestly, I don't know where I'm going, but I prefer not to run into Shannon's friends.

The bell rings loudly, making me pull out the paper with our schedule. I have no idea where I am standing.

According to this, I'm in the blue area, and my classroom shouldn't be far away since it appears in the green area, which, according to the map, is just down the hallway.

I know Shannon will be okay with her friends. I always tried to never leave her alone, I always tried to cheer her and my brothers up after our dad beat us, making us lose our minds.

I tried to pretend everything was okay, sometimes I pretended so much that everything was okay that Joey worried about me and my obsession with evading reality. Maybe he thinks our dad's beatings have already affected my brain...

Finally, the green area, or rather, the green door is in front of me, which I don't hesitate to open.

I don't want to be late for my first class in a new school, and unfortunately, they couldn't give me the same schedule as my sister.

-Good heavens!-The words escape my mouth as a bunch of half-naked guys appear before my eyes.

-Looks like a doll got lost- the blonde guy with green eyes and a charismatic smile says as he adjusts his tight pants.

-Girls can't be here-the dark-haired guy next to him says, looking at me with a gaze that's nothing like the first guy's.

-I'm sorry, I thought this was my class- my words get tangled in my tongue as all the guys stare at me like I'm a deer lost in the woods.

-Clearly, it's not-the grumpy guy responds, leaving me speechless.

-¿What class do you have, sweetheart?- the charismatic blonde asks me while subtly biting his lip.

It's uncomfortable, especially since I can't take my eyes off the shiny things on his nipples.

-Chemistry- I respond, and he makes a weird gesture with his hand, indicating that I should pass.

I'm frozen in place while everyone laughs, except for the dark-haired guy, who shakes his head but seems resigned.

-Show me your schedule, and I'll tell you where your class is- his voice sounds relaxed but also amused.

I'm afraid to go in, but it's a school full of privileged kids, I don't think they'll hit me or do anything to me, and there's no one in the hallways to ask.

-You're scaring her, Gibs- another dark-haired guy joins in, his number 12 jersey catching my attention since he's turned around.

The guys start arguing about something in a second, and now everyone's staring at them.

My chance to escape.

I take a step back, trying to let go of the door without making a noise, but my back hits something hard, leaving me like a statue. Especially when I feel large hands on my arms.

-Be careful- that voice leaves me paralyzed, and my body trembles with anxiety.

I quickly turn around and move away from him as if he had a highly contagious disease.

His face falls when he sees me, his light brown eyes and blonde hair, his perfectly detailed face

Hughie Biggs was even taller than the last time I saw him, if that's possible (which was years ago).

-Arianne- my name comes out with such sweetness from his lips, and his expression of surprise changes in a second, but we both know he didn't hide it well.

-I got the wrong class- I say before my feet take control and literally run down the empty hallway.

This isn't a good start.