Chapter 7

*Preview*

I take a shower for the first time after leaving the hospital. The soap subs cover my once clear skin. As much as it hurts me, I scrub at the marks pleading that they will go away. " Why did you do this to me?" I don't realize I'm crying as I keep going until my skin is red and raw. I finally grasp that I can't scrub my scars away. The regret will be there. Its slimy film layered on my skin. It taunts me as I attempt to rinse it off. My tears run down with the water on my face. Closing my eyes, I let my mind take me, " Adrian trusted me to get home safe, and I'll do just that..." her voice gives me a headache. But I don't let her get the best of me.

I turn off the shower, and I feel a bit refreshed from before. Bypassing the stained clothes on my dresser, I walk over to my vanity. I turn on the lights on the mirror and unrecognize the girl in front of me. Her light brown eyes stare back at me, hiding guilt behind them. She rubs her scraped, warm beige skin. It hurts me to keep staring at this figure; I have to call my own. " Ida is our best friend. She wouldn't do this on purpose." I argue with my reflection. " But best friends care for one other, its ride or die not die or die." I bury my face in my hands, trying to calm my thoughts. I silence the voices and begin thinking about cleaning myself up, just for the taste of a fresh start.

" Maybe I should remove the bandage?" I pick at the cloth, trying to find a way to see underneath it. "Should I call Mom? She might know if I should keep it." My hand hovers the phone but immediately retreats. " She is busy with her boo, Alivi," I say, mimicking. "But she probably knows what to do…" Shrugging it off, I leave my phone right where it is. I had taken off the bandage and expected worse, but my forehead seemed to be healing from the glass that was lodged into it. The back of my head that I had fallen on was a bit tender, but I could manage. I put my hair up into a high ponytail, and I don't bother to fix any loose strands. After I throw on a sunflower print sweater and force on some sweatpants, I take another look in the mirror, but this time, the girl smiles back at me. Twirling in the mirror, I laugh to myself before heading out of my room.

I reach the end of the hallway to see Lorelai setting up the coffee table in the living room. She's mesmerized with whatever is playing on the TV, " I was wrong to like Twilight more than Rainbow Dash." she mumbles. I hold in my laugh as I walk over to the couch. Does she not see me? Is she seriously watching MLP? The Tv immediately plays Law & Order by the time I'm standing next to her. " I caught you!" I exclaim. Lorelai looked at me in confusion. " So I can't make food? Dang Everest, you're kinda too late to change your mind." She's trying to hit me with the don't-know-shit- talk. We have been through this before too many times. " Your food finna be cold, Alivi." She says my name in a melody tune as she walks back to the kitchen.

I sit in front of the table and realize Lorelai only made one plate. " Thank you for the food Lai but why aren't you eating?" She sighed, "I already let myself in and touch their appliances, eating here too is a huge stretch." "But, I wanted to eat with you…" I whine. Lorelai sighs as she finishes putting her coat and stuff on. " I love you too, Everest, but you know how your so-called parents are." The fact that she's right makes me sad.

"But cheer up, we got to see each other today." Lorelai walks over gives me one last hug. " Yeah, that is a good thing, I guess." We depart, and she smiles at me pearly whites and all. "Keep smiling for me, okay?" She walks up to the door and waves to me before leaving. " Yes, I'll keep smiling, just for you," I mumbled to myself. I return to the couch, and right before I can change the channel, the door opens.

* End of preview*