I woke up to a leg kicking at my back and a grumpy voice calling out. "Hey wake up kid, you have school today."
Her kicking wasn't exactly gentle, so I had to get up quickly to spare myself from some back bone damage.
I sat up with a groan stretching my hands high in the air to get rid of my stiff limps.
"What time is it?" I asked in my small gentle voice blindly reaching for my bedside drawer to pick up my glasses and put it on.
When it was finally on my face, I was able to see clearly.
My probably temporary roommate, had pushed opened the window and was leaning against it smoking a cigarette.
I've always hated the smell of cigarettes, but I had to get used to it so she won't have a reason to complain and leave me like the others.
We aren't friends, far from it. I don't even know her name even though we have lived together for five months now, but she was the only thing close to a friend I had, and I can't lose her for something as small as hating the smell of the cigarettes she smokes every morning and nights before bed.
She glanced over at me with her bored dark eyes. I've always found her intimidating and cool at the same time. Its strange.
She's actually the only one who had never looked at me with disgust at the scar on my face, or mock me for being so skinny and ugly.
She isn't particularly kind; in words though, but I am most comfortable with her out of everyone else in my life.
"Almost seven, I guess." She answered in her almost masculine voice and glanced back out the window, "neither of us have a clock or a watch or even a phone! How are we supposed to know?"
"I_ I think I'm late! I should have woken up earlier." I scrambled out of bed to go take a bath.
She shrugged uncaring and puffed out another smoke. "That sounds like your problem."
I quickly picked up my soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and towel, and I walked out of the room hurrying down the corridor heading for the bathroom. I was hoping it hasn't been occupied yet. Because if it has, I'll have to wait for almost an hour.
Nowadays there were a lot more homeless people in town, and the shelter was becoming too filled up. If you don't wake up earlier, you might lose the bathroom to someone else, because the shelter only has one bathroom for both the male and female.
It's kind of disturbing.
Unfortunately the bathroom had already been occupied when I got there. It took all in me not to burst into tears. I'll be late to school and get a detention, and detentions are never fun when everyone sees you as the school freak.
I knocked gently on the door, "p_ please whoever is in there, can you hurry up?"
I flinched when a male voice yelled out. "Don't tell me what to do bitch! I just got in!!"
"I'm so sorry. It's just I'm already late for school..." I tried to explain, but my lips kept trembling.
The door snapped open and a man clad in only a white towel that was wrapped around his waist walked out. His body was wet and shimmering, he was probably done taking his bath. He was almost six foot tall with a pot belly, and his chest was hairy. His head was clean shaven and he had a nasty expression on his face.
"The fuck do I care about your stupid lateness to school. I got here first and I'm gonna spend as long as I want in that fucking bathroom!!" He yelled on my face, spit flying from his mouth to my face.
I cower away from him in fear as tears escaped my eyes. I hated being yelled at. It makes me anxious.
But wait, I thought he was done with using the bathroom?
He studied my face carefully and grimace in disgust. "Oh, it's you! The monster face freak! How dare you talk back at me?! I should teach you a lesson."
He raised a hand to slap me and I gasped and whipped my head to the side awaiting the strike.
I was used to it already. Being constantly hit and bullied for my looks has become sort of normal to me. I always reminded myself that I just had to endure. Endure the rest of my days as a homeless person, endure my high school days and focus on my studies, someday things will get better.
But, did I not tell myself that at the orphanage as well? How has that turned out for me?
The pain never came, and when I looked up, a hand had grabbed the bald man's wrist mid air.
I looked to the side only to find my roommate standing beside me and glaring straight at the bald man. She was just as tall as him if not taller, and they both towered over me like giants.
Her grey eyes darkened and she harshly flunged his hand away. "It sure looks like you're done using the bathroom." She spoke referring to his wet body. "I'm sure you don't want a repeat of what happened last time prick, so fuck off while I'm still being nice!"
The man grunted under his breath and shot me a menacing glare before walking away.
I had no idea what happened 'last time' to make him so scared of my roommate, but she was so cool just now.
I couldn't help blushing furiously. No one had ever saved me before.
I looked down at my flipflops fighting back a grin. Maybe she does like me and consider me a friend even a little.
"T_ thank you." I mumbled in a barely audible voice.
"I didn't do it for you. I have to use the bathroom too, I'm already late for my morning shift, so hurry up!"
She was already leaving before I could say a word.
I glanced up at her retreating figure. The way she moved so confidently, so sure of herself, like she wasn't homeless like the rest of us.
My heart fluttered in my chest. But I remembered what she said and my shoulders slumped in disappointment.
I was stupid for raising my hopes. Who would ever want to make friends with an ugly freak like me?
I guess I was destined to be alone, and probably die alone in this life time.
I sadly walked into the bathroom to go take my bath.
School was another hell I had to get mentally prepared for.
I got dressed for school in a faded blue shirt and ripped jeans that was just as old as time. I had my worn out back pack behind my back and was almost leaving when my roommate returned from the bathroom wrapped in nothing but a towel.
I blushed and looked away as my eyes accidentally fell on her smooth toned legs.
I see it everyday, but I could never get used to it.
"Leaving?" She asked blankly as she dried her wet black hair with one of her clothes.
I gulped down my nerves and replied, "y_ yeah, I- I'm leaving now. I'll s_ see you later."
I made to leave, but she called out. "Hey kiddo!"
I paused and glanced over my shoulder at her. I watched as she reached for one of her jeans sprawled on her bed, and deep her hand into its pocket. She brought out some dollar bills.
She stretched it out to me, "that's twenty bucks. Get breakfast."
That fluttering feeling in my chest came again, and butterflies danced in my stomach. This isn't the first time she is giving me money, but the feeling it brings is always the same.
Is this what it feels to be cared for?
I gently took the money and smiled up at her with tears in my eyes. "Thank you."
She shrugged and returned to dressing up, "don't put too much thought to it. Your stomach was growling all night and I couldn't sleep because of it. I need my goodnight sleep."
I nodded accepting her excuse. Despite her little kindness here and there, she never allowed us to get close and become friends. She has this wall around her that seems impossible to penetrate.
Its heartbreaking.
I pushed down my sadness and smiled at her, "alright! I'll make sure I eat so my stomach won't disturb your sleep anymore."
She stared at me for a second too long, and I looked away self-consciously. She must be wondering how someone could be so ugly.
She cleared her throat and went on with her dress up. "Whatever."
"See you later, have a great day! Bye!" I waved at her even though I knew she wouldn't return it, and when I walked away, I couldn't help looking down at the money with a happy smile.
Is this what being loved feels like?
THE DEADLY REVENGE!