Even After Death

The Elders Daughter

"Anastasia, you're going to be late!" Mother is screaming up the stairs. 

"Uhg, I'm coming!" I yell back. Great, first day of sophomore year. First day of the end. Father says I'm exaggerating, "It can't be that bad," he says. Well, he doesn't know about the bullying. He doesn't know about the glares and whispers. 

I get out of bed and start getting changed. Uniforms. Ew. Mother says they build character. I think they're scratchy and ugly, I'd rather wear sweats. My bag is sitting on the floor, in the same place I left it last night, I remember packing it through my tears. No more crying though, I have to look like I don't care. Who am I kidding, I'm terrified. I'm always terrified it seems. And despite what father says it is going to be that bad. I can feel it. Quickly throwing on my shoes I head down the stairs before mother can yell again. 

"There you are, Anastasia. You have no time for breakfast, just grab an apple on your way out." My mother cares, I'll give her that. But she is obsessed with how the town looks at us. I mean I understand, kind of. Father is the elder, the leader. He calls all the shots, makes the rules. People listen to him. Me, being his only child am supposed to be elder when I grow up. And, I don't want to be elder. It's too much pressure. Dress like this, act like that. I want to be me. No one can find out though. I'd be disowned. 

"Have a nice day at school Anastasia." Father waves as I leave the house. As I walk down the dark, marble steps I have to hold in tears. I never left the house all summer, so I haven't smelt fresh night air in forever. The school is only a block away from our old victorian house. Oldest one in town, at least that's what father says. He's always so proud about it, says its the nicest looking and the oldest. I used to explore it as a kid. Always finding new hiding spots and stuff. 

The school looms over me. I swear if it could speak the building would insult me too, or laugh, I hate getting laughed at. And as planned, I'm late. Everyone is in class. It's better this way if I barely make it to class every morning people don't have time to make fun of me. As fast as I can, which is fast even for a vampire, I run to class. The bell rings as I sit in my seat, back corner of the class, just how I like it. 

"Cutting it close Miss Himura." The moment my last name is said whispers erupt throughout the classroom. Sometimes I hate that I don't have a super common last name. 

My thoughts are interrupted by the teacher "Welcome to your first day of sophomore year!" She's too enthusiastic. I hate it. The rest of the class is announcements about activities and the school play. None of which I pay attention to, it's not like I'm going to participate in any of them. 

"Well, everyone, that about sums it up! Enjoy the rest of your day, I'll see you all tomorrow." Yes, she smiles too much. Everyone gets up out of their seats and I run into the hall before anyone. If I'm fast enough I can get to class before anyone can make fun of me. Sadly, luck is not on my side today. 

"Hey, elder brat! I hear your dad just forces the teachers to pass you! I bet you don't even have to work!" He's wrong, I do have to work. If I get 'inadequate' grades I'm punished. Usually by not getting dinner or being thrown into the sunlight for ten minutes. I prefer starvation, the sun burns my eyes, skin, and everything.  

"Is that true! Oh. My. God. What a brat," some girl whispers. 

"Loser," another girl whispers. 

"Stupid," A guy laughs. More insults and whispers follow me down the hallway to my locker. I hate this. I want to go back to my room. The paper in my hand says I'm locker seventy-nine. As I look up from the paper I see a girl in front of me. She has blonde curly hair and her skirt is to short for her. Her face is also covered in makeup, so she looks like a barbie doll. 

"Hey, you must be the elder's kid!" I already know where this is going. 

"Hi," I mumble. 

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after school?" The girl looks at her nails and chews her bloodgum louder, it reminds me of a horse. 

"I'm good." I know how this works. She asks to hang out and then starts asking for favours and money. I'm friendless, not stupid. 

"Aw, come on. It'll be fun," Her voice is dripping with venom. 

"It's okay, go find someone else to hang with" I mumble, twisting the lock on my locker. 

"Uhg, everyone is right, you are insufferable!" She stomps off as I get my locker open. Shoving my bag inside I grab my gym uniform. The clock on the wall above me ticks. The hallway's gone quite. I spin around and see everyone staring at the entrance of the school. A second goes by and then everything goes back to normal. As if no one had stopped in their tracks to stare at nothing. The bell rings and I run to the locker room. This is going to be the worst. 

"Hey look, its Miss Stupid!" Seriously, that's the best they could come up with, the kids in grade five came up with better insults. 

"Haha, ya it is!" The girl who was talking to me earlier laughs, "She wouldn't even hang out with me. I mean, come on, do you like being lonely." No. I don't. But you just wanted someone to use.

"Come on girls, leave her to her loneliness," A girl with brown hair and orange tips laughs. Everyone leaves the locker room and goes into the gym but me. 

I want to go back home. I want to curl up and cry. But they'll just say more. I hate being alone. I hate having nobody to talk to. But that's just how it is. I can't change it, as much as I want to. Throwing on my gym clothes I walk out into the gym as the bell rings. Perfect. 

Now I just have to get through the rest of the day.