Intoxicate me

Chapter 5

I look at myself in the mirror. My reflection is unrecognisable. This isn't Viola, this is definitely not me. The plump girl in front of me has a nasty, messy brown nest for hair and two small black buttons for eyes with huge dark circles surrounding them. Her skin is as pale as that of a vampire and for a second I expect the two sharp teeth to make their appearance but when they don't, I feel kind of relieved. The girl - for I refuse to accept the fact that this ghost is me - smiles slightly but as soon as her yellow teeth come into view, she closes her mouth instantly. Holy crap. I have a lot of work to do. 

Having brushed my teeth and washed my face I head out of the bathroom, to my parents' bedroom. My dad must have already left to work and that leaves my mum and the huge, warm, comfy bed alone. 

"Mum!" I shout knowing that she's not asleep, that woman wakes up at five in the morning every day.

"No." She grumbles and then she turns over, her arm knocking the pink pillow off of the bed. 

"Mum, I'm sick." 

"Go to school, Viola." 

"Look at me, mum." 

"Get ready or else you'll be late."

"But, mother..." 

"Go away, you're not my child."

I smile at her even though she can't see me, her head is tucked under my dad's pillow and she is so still that someone could think she's a dead body. 

Back in my bedroom I decide to wear some comfortable clothes, then proceed to eat my breakfast quickly and without even glancing at the grand mirror in the living room - I am afraid of cracking the poor mirror with my unattractiveness today - I head out of our flat. 

~

"Miss Snow is absent today." Ann's face is lighted up like a Christmas tree. 

"What?" I blink.

"Only four hours in this awful building. I think I can put up with it." 

"Ann, our school is that not awful."

"Yes, it is."

"What happened to Miss Snow?"

"Her son was involved in a car accident or so I heard."

"What? Is her son okay? We should ask the headmaster-"

"Viola, it's none of our bussiness."

"But what if-"

"Your face looks extremely white."

"I know."

"You remind me of-"

"Casper the Friendly Ghost?"

"I was going to say Christopher Lee as Dracula."

"I will do my very best to take that as a compliment."

Just when she's about to answer Mr. Gehal enters.

"You annoying adolescents, take your seats!" How polite of him. "As you probably already know, Miss Snow is absent today. I am aware of your joy at the moment but frankly, I don't care. Open your History books."

"Whoa, sir." Leo stands up. "I thought we would not have lessons for the first two periods."

"Wrong." Mr. Gehal opens his glasses' case.

"That means we'll finish two hours earlier, right?" 

"Page fifty-two."

"Right?" Leo, whose desk is next to mine, turns to look at me and I nod positively but Mr. Gehal's patience has wore thin - not that he has a lot of it anyway.