i frantically sat up and scanned my room, not seeing the source of the sound.
we didn't have a grandfather clock anywhere in the house?
but it sounded like it was right behind me.
i couldn't see it so i just hoped it would stop.
but it kept going.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
bang.
i looked out the window and saw a clock not too far away, smashed into a tree.
"what the-"
the unmistakeable sound of my door opening took my attention and the clock sound stopped.
"hey, mom told me to bring this to you. everything ok?"
"no, our brother is an asshole." i sighed, taking the soup from her.
"good point, wanna talk about it?"
"not really." i shook my head, putting the bowl down on my bedside table and looking up at her.
"alright, well i'm here if you need me." nancy smiled as she left.
i looked over at the soup and then back to the door, quietly picking up the bowl and eating.
i finished up and put the empty bowl down on my desk, grabbing my towel off the back of my chair and heading for the bathroom.
that damned clock haunted my ears.
i felt like i could hear it all the time.
i got into the shower, letting the hot water run down my back as it grabbed my hair and pulled it to the back of my shoulders.
i washed it and my body, stepping out and drying off.
i put one of steve's shirts on with some underwear and socks, skipping pants as i slipped into bed.
i pulled the sheets over my shoulder and closed my eyes.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
i woke up the next morning, getting up and looking at my hair in the mirror.
it was a proper rats nest.
i grabbed a comb and pulled it through, it wouldn't kill my curls as much as a brush would.
once it looked half decent i got to braiding, doing two french braids and leaving my bangs out.
it looked alright if i'm being honest.
i got dressed, a long black dress with a white long sleeve underneath, boots, a jacket and a few silver rings.
i picked up my bag and walked downstairs, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
"i'm sorry." mike spoke to me first.
"don't."
"i am, it was a really shitty thing to do, and i'm sorry."
"if you were really sorry, you wouldn't have called me a slut. you have no idea the shit i've been through michael." i glared, using his full name.
he didn't bother arguing.
i picked up my lunch and grabbed holly.
"steve's picking me and mike up, i figured you'd wanna take holly." nance smiled softly, fixing my bangs for me.
"thank you." i smiled briefly, hugging her and taking holly out to my car.
"are you ok?" she asked, climbing into the back seat.
"just fine hollicopter, just fine." i nodded, getting into the car.
i dropped her off at her school like usual and then went straight to school.
i parked, grabbed my bag and headed inside, same as every day.
then i heard it again.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
i'm losing my mind.
i've gotta be imagining it.
i rummaged quickly through my bag for my walkman and tapes, finally finding them and putting on an old talking heads album.
psycho killer, fucking legendary song.
i put my headphones on and clipped the walkman to my bag-strap as i walked to the cafeteria and sat at the hellfire table quietly.
i felt someone tap me on the shoulder gently and i looked up, sliding my headphones off and positioning them around my neck.
"you ok?" gareth questioned, sitting beside me.
"not really, but it's fine." i forced a smile.
"you wanna talk about it?" he asked.
"it's fine, it's just something my brother said."
"what did that asshole say that got under your rock hard skin?" he asked, putting his bag on the table infront of him.
"he called me a slut because i've slept with two people."
"aren't you like 17?"
"just, yeah."
"and isn't he like 15?"
"yeah?"
"you know you can still beat him up, you're not 18 yet." he joked.
i chuckled and nodded softly.
"i wish, but i don't like fighting unless it's fighting back."
he nodded.
"respect."
"well the bell is ringing soon, you want a hand getting to class?" he asked, standing up.
i shrugged.
"why not?"
we walked to class together, turns out we take similar classes.
we had english but different classes, he was in my math class, he took chem and physics instead of bio, he took music and metal work though.
at lunch, i decided it would be best if i didn't see mike.
going back to old habits, i went to the bathroom, hearing someone throwing up in a stall near the end.
either someone's bulimic or pregnant, and in this shithole, either option is just as likely as the other.
"you ok?" i called, walking closer to the stall.
the girl spat into the porcelain bowl before speaking.
"i'm fine, just go away."
i recognised that voice
cunningham, jason's little pet.
"well this is kinda my spot so.. i'll stay, thanks."
"just leave winifred." she spat again.
"i'm good, thanks." i sighed, waiting for a response.
she fell silent.
"chrissy?"
no response.
"chrissy, dude are you ok?" i questioned, knocking on the door.
not two seconds later she burst through the door and crashed straight into me.
"woah, are you ok?" i asked, looking at the sheer panic on her face.
"yeah...just fine." she nodded, speaking softly as she practically ran out of there.
i shrugged and sat down in the end stall, putting my headphones on before slowly and quietly eating my lunch.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
tick.
bang.