"Morning mum," I greet taking milk from the fridge.
Mum smiles at me before going ahead with her vegetables on the counter. She seems bubbly this early morning. Well, why wouldn't she? It's not like she has the image of a hot naked guy under the duvet haunting her mind.
The scenario messed with my head throughout the weekend. I couldn't concentrate on a particular thing without that image creeping into my head. And I don't know why I reek of jealousy.
It annoys me to think I'm jealous of that douche bag and his high-profile girlfriend. They can go ahead and win prom king and queen.
I sigh dejectedly. Taking a seat, I revel in the taste of milk on my tongue. At least it tastes better than whatever they share.
"Are you okay hun? You seem distant." mum asks, watching me in concern.
"I'm fine, it's just school stuff." I reply, placing my glass next to the tablets.
"Oh... Well, I'd love to hear about it then. I used to be a teenager like you and had plenty of guys chase after me."
I wiggle my brows in wonder.
"Don't doubt me, I was almost a prom queen but my boyfriend then... Well, he, never mind." she shrugs and cuts short her speech.
"It must've been messy then, right?" I suggest.
"Well... Life's messy. So I heard something from somewhere." she pipes up.
"What's that?"
"That you and Eric are the school's heartthrob duo and might emerge prom king and queen. Is that true honey?" She giggles. I've not seen mum giggle in a while.
I smile. "It's not really like that. True, lots of people are vying for us but we aren't the only couples at school. I mean the big girls still have their influence."
"Oh forget that," she brushes off. "I had big girls in my own time but none of them could compare to me."
"And how did yours end?" I ask, stating the obvious.
Mum gulps down. "Yeah well..." I say in resignation.
"No no I get it, it's true. You can't just win by being pretty you've gotta be more."
"Exactly sweetie and I know you and Eric will be prom dates slash king and qu_" I don't let her finish as I interject.
"Okay, mum I gotta go, love ya!" I yell behind me.
***
At school...
After four to five hectic hours of class, the bell finally rings for a break. I sigh in relief and without waiting on anybody I rush down to my locker.
I might have placed them there. I search thoroughly in my locker and can't find my drugs. I can already feel the migraine building up. It's gonna get worse if I don't take them.
I'm frustrated because I can't seem to remember where I put it. Maybe I left it on the dinner table in a hurry to avoid Mum's cheesy questions. Huh, I slap my forehead but my crown bangs in a ruthless way. I nearly wailed.
"Hey, you okay?" Cheryl is beside me with concern in her eyes.
I'm fine, it's just a little headache.
"Sure. Are you coming to the cafeteria for lunch? Let's hang out" she suggests but I need time alone.
"I'll meet you there later. I need to be somewhere first" I excuse myself and head out for fresh air.
On my way to my unknown destination, I saw Einstein Hat and his prime-time girlfriend standing beside a familiar black Cadillac SUV.
I stop on my track, racking my brains on where I've seen that car before, I feel I've been in it too. As I try to remember it gets more difficult to think and my head bangs harder.
As if he felt my presence from afar, his hulk-like gaze falls on me, totally ignoring his girlfriend right before him.
His stares are usually electrifying but this time around I remember the image of him with her, under the duvet and I feel funny emotions.
I walk ahead to the bleachers, where I can hide out and bear my headache till it decides to kill me.
At some point, I let out fits of crying as the ache gets worse. I'm clenching at my hair because it feels like it's being ripped apart with a sledgehammer. I'm miserable as I tumble over from row to row finding the best position to stay in for my head to calm down.
I didn't think I was making a lot of noise when someone spoke from below the fields.
"Hey! Are you alright?" I sit up from my crawled position and turn to see Mindy Brookes in a red overall.
Has she suddenly turned into a janitor? I wonder.
"I'm fine," I say dismissing her. I don't want her pity. I know that's all stuck-up bitches can ever do.
Surprisingly she doesn't walk away rather she throws her rake to the floor and climbs the distance to meet me.
She plumps beside me wiping her dirty hands.
"Well I needed company" she states, digging out snacks from her pockets.
"You want one?" She offers but I frown. "It's contraband for me yuuno?... I'm not allowed to eat lunch at lunchtime or attend classes with my mate. I mean how wicked can they get?" She hiss.
I watch her in confusion. Why is she suddenly interrupting my space?
"That Yvy girl thinks I'm done with her but by the time I'm done? She'll beg to transfer schools" she chuckles, biting on her snacks.
"Thought you both were inseparable?" I ask.
"Yeah... We were. Only that I was pretending to be. And she was an asshole. I should've gotten rid of her earlier" she mutters.
She turns to me. "Why are you hanging out alone miss amnesia?"
"Wait what?!"
"Is this your first time being called that to your face?... Well, get used to it cos that's what everyone calls you. It's all over my vlog or rather 'was'..."
"Really?... Can I see it?" I ask
"Didn't you hear me? I said it was but got taken down by the school authority. I used to have videos and gist on everything about school"
"I can barely remember old memories of this school" I whisper.
"I do remember when Einstein Hat kicked a ball at you from that place" she points to a part of the field. "To the bleachers and landed you in the infirmary. That was the first time I saw the twins fight" she chuckles.
"I do remember all that!"
"Uh, so you do remember right?"
"Not everything though. There's a little glitch"
"Hmm but you remember what happened in Hawaii right?"
"Everything about that trip is empty in my head"
"Einstein drove you to LA in his Cadillac I guess a bloody road trip. Then flew with you to Hawaii"
"He did?" I gasp
"He's not that devil y'all make him out to be. He still has a heart in there" she beats her chest for emphasis.
"Buh_thats impossible, he hates me!"
Mindy shrugs, biting more of whatever she was eating.
"I guess you're sort of their proceed possession"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Whatever you want it to"
"Can anyone around me ever make sense of the incident? Not speaking in parables!"
"Well, you should've seen the loud thud your skull made when it connected with the wet tiles, I was in a freakin bloody pool for fucks sake!!" She rants fuming at me.
"I'm sorry" I whisper.
"That memory lives with me. Though I caught some part of it on camera"
I feel sorry for imposing my problems on her so I try a safer topic.
"So why are you doing community service?"
"Because I leaked a damn video of my friend... Well ex-friend"
"And was it intentional?"
"Maybe... I felt sad for a while but after getting punished like this I don't. She deserves whatever she's going through"
"Yvonne?... I don't like her. Créme Delarius seems like a nicer queen bee"
Mindy breaks out in laughter startling me. "You think?"
I stared at her in awe, even in her red overalls and sweaty hair she still looked flawless. Her pale skin ran so smooth like an egg shell. Her black Asian hair is left with tendrils. I watch her clean-cut nails as she munches on her biscuits.
I look down at my chipped purple nail polish and realize it's been a while since I had a manicure. It hasn't been a priority for me since I woke up.
"Crème Delarius is conserved but calculative. She's not like Yvy, she destroys. They say the devil you know is better than the angel you don't"
"I'll have to disagree with you on that because I don't wanna be prejudiced on others' opinions. I've seen your friend tear people down in public without remorse and I wonder why nobody does anything about her. And you're in a corner filming"
"It's my job"
"Does she pay you to do that?"
"No, it's what I enjoy doing. Plus I get views, follows, and traffic on my page"
"That's an insane reason to air people's shame out there. You uploaded my videos at that house party in your vlog and everyone had me under scrutiny like a mad dog"
"You were a batshit crazy girl" she chuckles
"That ain't funny. Glad you took it down"
"That was the first time I felt his notoriety. I've only heard about it" she mumbles.
"Who?"
"Einstein. He threatened me, I was so scared he might break my neck that day but he didn't lay a finger on me. What's with his intimidating eyes though?" She turns to me in wonder. I shrug recalling the same feelings.
"He really drove me to LA?... Why did no one mention it?"
"Wait why the f**k don't you remember anything?! Anything at all? You should ask your friend?" She huffs in frustration.
I keep quiet, unsure of what to say. I know it's a heavy burden bothering people for my stray memories.
"Well I have my files backed up somewhere, maybe when I'm done with community service I'll let you see some of the clips I took," she says, making me feel elated.
"I'd love that Mindy, thanks so much" I greet, finally getting some hope in my life.
When I return to the parking lot, Einstein is no longer there, his car too. I realize why it seemed familiar to me at first.
I have a lot of puzzles to fix in my head, and it might help me understand why I feel bone-wrenching jealousy toward Einstein and Créme Delarius.
Cheryl has some explaining to do.