Breaking

Ch.1

 Chapter 1

The clear smell of marijuana slips through the splintered shed door. The wood creaks softly as my mother taps the door. Her soft voice is rough from the years of smoking. The harsh rasp of her once honey like words tell me, "I'm going to work." I turn off the oscillating desk fan on my single night stand.

Grabbing my bathroom supply bag, I scurry into the house. As I start the shower, I begin to make coffee. The tiny one bedroom house is a mess. My mother's needles line the table top. Lighters over- flow the blood stained drawers. Provocative clothing is tossed haphazardly across the black carpeted floor.

I step into the shower, washing off the stench of tobacco and sweat. I had worked late last night at the dinner with Micha. His large varsity jersey sits on the counter- top, waiting for me to change into it. I twist my wavy, shoulder- length hair into a messy bun. I pull on the South Cougar jersey, proudly wearing my friend's numbers.

Slipping on some dark wash blue jeans, I swiftly brush my teeth. I cover my brush and tuck it back into my bag. The sun is barely up, as my mother left the disheveled house to walk to work. She works at "The Wall". The Wall is the back city street, it's for the prostitutes, dealers, and bookies. If you need to blow off steam, you go to The Wall. They take care of her over there, feeding her addiction between her 'shifts'. At The Wall, if there are any wealthy or men of status, they'll come to the house. She forgets to clean, barely able to remember her own name.

I organize my mom's work clothes within her small closet by day of the week, color, and appeal. Her tall black thick heels now situate themselves at the bottom of the closet, no longer hooked across the ceiling fan. I pour a large travel cup of black coffee as I use a lighter to disinfect her needles. I gently line them up by size within the small silverware drawer. I test each lighter, tossing the ones too stubborn to spark.

The living room ceiling is stained a pale yellow from cigarettes, and I'm choked by the stale smoke wafting through the room. I open the fridge, seeing the same thing as always. An empty shelf, topped by three packs of cigarettes. I take one of the packs of menthol Marlboros. The green box tucked neatly in my front pocket, barely noticeable.

As I sneak back away from the now organized household, I notice the sun begin to creep over the bushes along the metal chain fence. I take that as my cue to start heading towards school. South County High, home of the Cougars. I slip back into the rotted shed, and pick up my black worn Jansport.

Quickly untying my hair, I slip on my go- to black combat boots. My hair curls against my chest as I begin to dawdle down the road. It's barely 6. Reaching the end of the road, I see a shadow cross. My heart clenched as I tightened my fist. Suddenly my calf is tickled and a soft purr slips past my mouth, mocking the black furball curled around my foot.

"Hey Skunk." The black kitten looks up at me, with bright blue eyes. The white patch around his eye, matted in blood. "What trouble did you get into last night?" He just whips his tail up in defense. Silly cat. I pick him up, tucking him against my chest as I reach the school.

I slink to the back of the school and wash him carefully with the house connected to the patio from the environmental class. I water the plants, and pick some blueberries, tipping them towards Skunk.

"THUMPER, PUT THE CAT DOWN!" Micah shouts loudly scaring me. Skunk hisses and balls up into my chest. To be clear, my name isn't Thumper. My name is Bunny, but everyone calls me Thumper because of my mom's name. I glare at Micah and like Skunk, hiss at him loudly. He ruffles my hair. "Hey, that cat was chasing rats behind the diner last night, he made a huge mess in front of the building."

"I'll clean it up." I state as if he was an idiot for judging my little kitten. "He's a troublemaker, but next time you scare me like that there will be an even bigger mess. It won't be rats either." Micah glares at me.

"You love me Thump." Micah pecks my cheek. A gag rings out behind us.

"Get a room Mikey," My best friend Eli cries out. She sends me a look. "Really, the cat again?" I hold skunk against me protectively. Eli has two gorgeous black labs.

"I have to go do biology work. I miss one day and I'm behind by a week. Later Eli. Bye babe." Micah kisses my head as he heads toward the room of the elderly Biology teacher. Suddenly, Eli turns to me with a serious expression.

"When are you guys going to get together?" She asks bluntly.

"It's not like that." I attempt to defend as he goofily waves at me. I stroke Skunk's head as the first bell rings.

"Sure it isn't." Eli shrugs and loops her arm with mine as we head towards class.

It isn't like that...at least I don't think it is.