Chapter 6: Silence In Awkwardness And Silence In Pain
"I think she's caught between who she is and who she wants to be."
✰✰✰
These past few days have been nothing new... well kind of. Maggie and I have been getting closer. Devin is now ignoring me even after he apologized then dropped me twice. Adrian calls Keaton an asshole any chance he can get. And well Keaton? I have tried to ignore him as much as possible. I can't stand him as much as he can't stand me, maybe even a little more.
Anyways, today is Friday. After school I have to go home till 5:45 before I walk to the boxing arena for my night shift. But for now, I am walking to the locker building to meet Maggie before class.
I walk up to her with a wave, "Hey!"
She turns around, "Oh, hey, Camilla!"
I open up my dial to my locker to get books for my first couple classes.
"Are you ready for tonight?" She asks, exceedingly.
"Yeah, actually I am! But how do main events work? I have never been at one before."
Her eyes widened out of shock. "Oh! I will have Adrian explain it to you at lunch since he fights on main events."
I smile. "Thank you!"
I shut my locker, facing Maggie. "Do you have a job?"
She chuckles lightly, "no, why?"
I pull a knowing smile.
She knows what I am going to ask before I say what it is.
She points a finger at me. "No! Camilla, no way!"
"No way, what?" Adrian asks as he walks up.
I raise my hands in surrender, "I didn't even say it."
Maggie looks over at Adrian. "Do you think I should work for the medical team at the boxing arena?"
Adrian's eyes widened, as if they would pop out of socket. "I think if Camilla teaches you how to help people... you wouldn't be terrible."
I feel a lightbulb moment. "I have an idea!"
"What is it?" They both say simultaneously.
"Tonight could be a trial run. And if all works out you can be my work partner instead of Devin." I say.
Maggie lightly smiles. "I like that idea. Okay, I will try it out."
I clap out of excitement. "If all goes well, I will talk to my manager before I leave."
Adrian nods. "It's not a bad idea, actually."
We talk for a couple minutes before the three of us head to class.
~*~*~*
"You're telling me in your almost 6 years of being on the medical team, you have never worked a night shift?" Adrian questions.
I roll my eyes, "yes Adrain. I just want to know how a main event night is different from any other night?"
We are at lunch and for the past 5 minutes Adrian has questioned me for never working a night shift.
"Fights are back to back. Whoever wins moves to the next round till there is a winner of the night."
"Okay," I look towards Maggie. "This is probably a bad night to see how well you would be on the medical team but just try your best."
"Got it!" She says with a smile.
Silence fills the air.
After a couple minutes Adrian speaks up, "Is Cory fighting today?"
I look at Adrian with wide eyes. "Cory who?" I ask hesitantly.
"Cory Ray. He goes to Newport High, you know him?"
I shake my head. "No. But I forgot I have a teacher to talk to. See you guys later." I get up abruptly.
"Camilla, wait!" I hear Maggie shout.
I turn back around. "See you in History."
I turn back the other direction, walking towards who knows where.
I have never seen Cory at the boxing arena. Maybe it's a different Cory?
There is no way Cory, who made school a living hell, is a fighter.
I shake my head, not believing any of this.
I have never ditched class before and I didn't even think before I started to walk away from the school.
I walked towards the cemetery, to visit my mom. I always go there when I need someone to talk to.
The cemetery is about 20 minutes away from the school which is about the same amount for the boxing arena in a different direction.
I approach the gate, opening it and closing it behind me.
I walk around all the graves to find my moms. Every time I pass by a grave, I always give my respects. It's just something I feel is respectful to do.
I find my moms and sit criss-cross applesauce in front of the grave.
"Hi mom." I whisper.
I take in a deep breath.
"If you were here, you would be so disappointed in me." I start.
"Camryn died." I say slowly.
"You're the first person I have admitted this to."
A tear escapes my eye as it slips down my cheek.
"It's all my fault. Everything is all my fault. If I never did cartwheels in the street, you would still be here."
When my mom was here, my dad would hit her too. He never showed Camryn and I his angry side. My parents always said they were just playing a game.
Up till after my mom died, I realized there was no game. This is our lifestyle now and there is no escaping it.
"I love you so much mom, I am going to graduate and go to college to get a degree. I will make you proud. You and Camryn are the only thing that matters to me and I am sorry I didn't protect her like she has for me."
For a while I just stared at the grave, remembering happy memories of her.
I kissed two fingers and gently placed it on the grave. "Love always comes at a price."
I stand up and start to walk out of the cemetery. My mom has always told me that love comes at a price. I now know what she means.
I open the gate and close it behind me.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and check the time.
3:05pm
School ended not too long ago. I can head home and everything will be fine for two hours.
I walk up to the door and unlock the front door. I step inside and lock the door.
I look up and see my dad leaning against the hallway wall with a bat.
I drop my keys and bag by the door.
"You are such a disappointment."
He walked up to me as he whacked the bat to my right eye.
I fell to the ground, not fighting him.
"Worthless."
Another hit.
"Stupid."
Another hit.
"Worst person I have ever met."
Another hit. He opens the front door and slams it shut.
I lay in silence, remembering how worthless I am.
That is until I black out.
Author's Note:
Hi lovelies! Thank you for reading my story. It means a lot! Hope you have an amazing day!
Vote and Comment if you want! :)
Instagram:@ author.makenna
Follow for sneak peeks and discussion boards!
Will Maggie do a good job on the medical team? Will anyone find out what the dad does to Camilla?
Find out next time on Shards of Glass!