Twisted

Chapter 1: That Wasn't On My Bucket List

You know it's going to be a tough day when you're already in the principal's office at ten AM, with your parents, and a fellow classmate you supposedly punched in Mr. Rig's math class precisely twenty minutes ago. And you're standing there, your arms crossed, looking like a giant idiot while trying to convince the dimwitted zombies around you that it was a pinch, not a punch, it did no damage, therefore no punishment is necessary. Case closed.

Welcome to my life.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, " Principal Williams began. Oh, joy, we've all heard this speech before, get on with it. "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and we hope you can forgive us for pulling you out of your daily schedules on this extraordinary day." I about barfed in my mouth at all the fancy words he was using.

"The reason we have pulled you here today is that your daughter seems to have invaded the personal space, and committed an act of violence against another student. As you well know, these are both very severe issues, and we have terms to discuss the punishment mandatory for this incident." I could tell he had rehearsed this in the mirror last night.

"Accident," I corrected, earning myself the all famous Williams' side-eye. Every kid who had earned a ticket to the principal's office had seen it for themselves. It was rumored that whoever saw it would be mesmerized, and do exactly as the principal said.

All I saw was that kids are stupid, and my school has issues.

"On the contrary Miss Parker, we are here to discuss punishment for your actions, not to demonetize my speaking skills." He shrugged and turned his attention back to my parents.

"On the contrary, " I spit back. "I did not punch Joshua, and no, I do not deserve a punishment." My mocking skills were up to point today. I copied his exact shrug, and looked at my parents.

***

I smirked as I relived the exact moments leading up to an amazing stay at detention. A year's supply of detention, to be precise. Principals can be very petty. Especially mine, who was "done tolerating my crap," and decided detention would be just what I needed to set my attitude straight.

Little does he know that I'm never set straight.

My mind has always been twisted and crooked since a traumatic event that changed my life when I was eleven years old. It was so serious it was considered that I was put into therapy afterward to protect my sanity. Demons and fairy tales do not mix, along with a few other side effects to add to the pot.

It's frightening to know what sex is as a six-year-old. A very inappropriate age, if I'm being honest. And when you spill the beans to others...

I got my parents in a lot of trouble when I was younger. It was considered that they were physcos, teaching me those things at that age. I was a victim for gossip the minute I stepped foot into a public place.

Like anyone, I learned to block out the whispers behind my back, but I never forgot the truth to all those rumors.

Gran.

My sweet, innocent grandmother who, turns out, wasn't innocent at all.

She was psychotic and insane. Her brain was malfunctioned, and her murderous ways tore my sanity apart. She stuffed my head with horrendous images of demons, ghosts, and lovemaking when I was a toddler, then attempted to murder me once I was almost a teen. She was sentenced to prison, and I never spoke to her again. I'm grateful for that, I prefer her vanished from my life.

I have enough to consume my time already, beginning with this detention I seemed to have added to my plate of ever-growing predicaments.

The bell interrupted my thoughts, signaling the end of third period. Students escaped from their classrooms, relieved to know that only two classes remained in their schedules. And of course, loud chatter started to echo through the corridors. People explaining to others what happened in class today, probably some kid who picked their nose and someone saw, or maybe Joshua Knight graffitied another hate comment on a wall.