Silent Lies - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

I sigh as my alarm for school goes off, I've been staring at the ceiling for half an hour waiting for it. I fell asleep early, as I do a lot lately, so I woke up early as I also do a lot lately. I hiss in pain as I sit up, go to my closet to get clothes, then go to the bathroom.
I had two and half-ish days to heal the best I could, though I didn't much. Some more bruises were just added during the weekend. I look in the mirror and shake my head, seeing how much of a mess I look.
I take a quick shower, get out, dry my hair and body off the best I can, then wrap the towel around my body as I brush my hair and teeth. It's so confusing when I look in the mirror, seeing this girl look back that is somehow me.
The girl is unrecognizable but again, somehow me. I'm not what I used to look like, at all. My skin is so pale now. I used to have very rosy cheeks people would mistake as blush all the time, but I've lost practically all the color in me. My hair is so brittle now too, falling out all the time probably due to how little I eat, but not to the point I'm bald or something. I have so many scars now, when the only one I used to have is from when I fell off my bike when I was little. I'm so underweight too now, thanks dad.
Sometimes I look disgusting to myself, well most of the time actually, but I ignore it. I have more problems than worrying about what I look like now. Though the self conscious thoughts don't just go away because of the other issues in my life.
It hurts when I put some clothes on, just like it did when I was taking them off, but I manage. I grab out my makeup to cover the bruise on my jaw, wincing as I cover it. Thankfully no new bruises that were added are where anyone can see them.
Despite how much I want to stay home again, I know dad will really hurt me again. Those two, three days off went by too quick but not quick enough. Going to school won't help healing at all but it will get me away from dad a bit.
I go down to the kitchen, risking it all to grab a banana and apple to eat again. I've barely eaten in days now, I need something, I just hope on everything dad won't notice. He keeps the food stocked in the house, but barely lets me eat, he enjoys torturing me so much.
I grab my bag and phone, then head off to school. The walk is miserable, but I make it, out of breath though.
Divine texts as I walk in asking if I'll be here today, I text back saying I will be as the bell rings so I head to class quickly.
As soon as I lay my head down in math, I fall asleep as though I didn't sleep for nine hours last night, that walk exhausted me. Thankfully the teacher, or anyone in that matter, didn't wake me up at all until the end.
"You need to start paying attention in class, Ms. Carter." I cringe hearing my last name.
She hands me the homework that's due tomorrow, and I smile as a way to say sorry even though I'm really not.
In art, as soon as I walk in, Mrs. Scarlett smiles at me. "How're ya feeling today, Olivia?" I smile and give my usual thumbs up, even though I'm far from good.
I think Mrs. Scarlett caught onto me not being good when I have my head down all throughout class. She comes up to my desk and sits across from me, making me set my head up for the first time since the start of class.
"You sure you're feeling good, Olivia?" I nod, giving a look as a way to ask why. "You just don't seem like...good, what's going on?"
I always get nervous and scared when people can tell when I'm not good. I'm nervous they'll call dad. Im scared I'll break and tell them with my own words. I don't talk, only for the reasons of dad though, too scared I'll slip out what happens at home. But I don't know if those are the only reasons anymore honestly.
It all started because of dad but now I genuinely am scared to talk. It's been so long since I have, I think I'll only be able to talk to the ones I trust but I trust Divine? Right? I don't talk to her though, and I've known her over half of my life. I really don't think I can just talk to anyone anymore. But at the same time I think if anyone starts asking specific questions if they catch on, I'll break and talk to tell them everything. I don't know though. Everything about this all is so confusing. My heads a mess.
I point to my head, to signal a headache.
"Another headache?" I nod. "You have a lot of those lately." I shrug, scared knowing I have been using that a lot more than usual lately as an excuse. "Did that ibuprofen work the other day?" I nod, it barely did but I'll try it again if I have a chance. "I'll get you some more after class then."
I smile to thank her. She thinks she's just doing a small little favor when in reality she's helping me a ton. I'm so thankful for her.
We do what we did the other day when she gave me ibuprofen, waiting until everyone in class is gone. I go to lunch after, Divine beams from where she's already sitting at our table. She stands and gives me a hug as soon as I'm close enough, I love her hugs but I wince due to everything dad has done.
She pulls away and her hands rest on my shoulders. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" She sees my arm wrapped around my torso, she notices things too well.
I give a thumbs up that she doesn't seem to believe at all, but she doesn't pry-thankfully. We sit and she opens her lunch, pushing something towards me.
"Mama made banana bread last night, you've gotta eat some. You know she makes the best kind." She's not wrong, her mom makes the best of any food. Mom and dad would always be jealous when we preferred Mrs. Abara's food over theirs, I smile at the memory that's quickly wiped away.
I take a piece from the lunch container as Divine does too. I take a bite and smile, it's still the best as expected. But then Adrian sits down across the table from us, ruining the moment, along with two others I don't really know the names of I just know the from seeing them around school.
"Hey, Liv." Adrian's grinning, seeming actually happy to see me. Why he'd be happy to see me is beyond me. "Are you feeling better?"
I look to Divine, wanting to know what he means. She tells me quietly, "He asked where you were Friday and I said you were sick."
Now he's asking my best friend stuff about me? Okay then. I just give him a thumbs up, wondering about the two sitting beside him who are now bickering about who knows what.
"Oh, that's Danny." He points to the brunette dude with a Bart Simpson hoodie? "And Ashton." He points to the dude with platinum hair now, who cusses Danny out over something. I recognize him from one of my classes too, math I think it is. Divine looks at them like they're the most annoying peasants ever. "Sorry, they just...they get along sometimes I promise."
I nod, not believing that until Danny stands and states how hungry he is then Ashton says he is too and follow each other to get lunch. Guess they do.
"So..." An awkward silence comes over us three now.
"So." Divine repeats Adrian.
Then, thankfully, Adrian's two friends come back arguing once again so the silence is gone.
"Can you guys be quiet, for once?" Adrian rolls his eyes at them then they both team up on him, getting along to annoy him now.
Me and Divine laugh at them, enjoying the unusual entertainment. Adrian turns towards me though like the second I laugh, smiling. Why the fuck is he smiling at me?
Then I question everything. Why Adrian and two of his friends are sitting with me and Divine. Why does Adrian even keep trying to talk to me. Why is he now asking Divine about me.
It's probably all some trick, people have done it to me before.
"Here's your food and you be quiet," Danny tells Adrian and hands him a burger off his tray. "Since you're too lazy to get food on your own." Adrian flips him off.
I look to Divine and give her a look that she catches onto quickly. Danny and Ashton are too busy talking to each other, actually not arguing, to pay attention.
"Why are you guys sitting here?" Divine straight up asks Adrian. I'm sure she's questioning all the same things as me.
"I wanna be friends with Liv," he says while smiling at me. Then motions towards Divine. "And you too, of course...since you're like her friend and yeah..." He trails off, seeming nervous.
Divine gives him a look as he looks away, scratching the back of his neck. "He's weird," she whispers to me and I nod, agreeing.
All of this though has made me forget the pain that I'm in, mostly. Maybe it's the ibuprofen too, though.
Ashton and Danny go quiet, then Ashton looks towards me and asks the question I hate being asked. "You really don't talk?"
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, regretting moving at all when pain surges through my body. Adrians shaking his head then I see Danny elbow him in the side.
"You can't just ask shit like that!" He whisper-yells at him.
Ashton curses under his breath and actually looks like he feels bad. "Shit, I'm sorry I didn't mean it like-"
"Yeah, you really can't ask shit like that," Divine cuts him off and I give a look trying to tell her it's okay.
"I'm sorry," he says to me again and I smile at him to say it's okay, since he actually genuinely seems sorry. That's a shock.
Then the bell rings and Danny curses multiple times. "Thirty minutes is not enough damn time for lunch!" I laugh and all of us agree with him.
I eat the rest of the banana bread on the way out of lunch, Divine hugging me before she goes her way to the opposite side of school. I'm walking to english by the time Adrian and his two friends are out of the cafeteria.
As I walk into physics I see Adrian sitting in the seat by my usual seat, again. Then I see Lexi sitting in one of the desks in front of us.
I fucking knew it. She sent Adrian to fuck with me, why else is she suddenly sitting in the desks in front of mine?
I should've been more careful though, because Lexi has the perfect opportunity to trip me from where I am-and that's exactly what she does.
I fall straight down, embarrassing. I try to hold back the tears the best I can, but I feel one slip down my cheek. I flinch when I feel someone touch my arm and I quickly wipe the tear away.
"Oops, oh no. You should really watch where you're going." I hear Lexi say and now I wanna get up and punch her, then say 'Oops, watch out for my fist next time.'
But I'm dragged away from those thoughts when the hand is still on my arm-it's Adrian. He helps me up and I let him, because really I need it. My body hurts so bad once again now.
"Lexi shut the hell up, me and everyone in here know you did that on purpose." I look around the classroom to see everyone looking at me, my entire body flushes. Even more embarrassed now.
"Adrian-" He walks away before she can say anything else. I practically limp the rest of the way to my desk. Then I feel his hand on my lower back making me shiver.
"You okay? Do you need to go to the nurse or-" I cut him off with a forced smile and a nod to say I'm fine. He sighs as I sit down, my arms wrapping around my body. "She's such a bitch." I nearly laugh, surprised to hear him say that. I thought they were friends?
It's probably just their way to continue fucking with me.
"Hey so-" Adrian starts but stops talking as I lay my head down. Sorry, but I'm sleeping again.