Acting “Normal”

Taking a shower improves everything. That's what my mom used to say. She also used to say that baths helped too. I didn't understand what she meant until I got into the shower. I stood there, just thinking. It was like my brain was spinning. Like a snow globe, I suppose. All my thoughts whirled around, like a blizzard.

There was so much. Most of it, I couldn't change. I tried to push all the thoughts out of my head. I tried to focus on the water flowing down my body. In a few years, I could fight to gain custody of Justin, then live with him in our hometown. Away from Eric. Away from the Youngs. Away from Justin's foster person. Everything is just a small set back.

As I got out of the shower, there was a knock on the door. I quickly wrapped up my long hair. I didn't realise how long it had gotten. I wrapped another towel around my body and opened the door a little bit. Mrs Young was there, smiling.

"Time for dinner. We'll wait for you."

I nodded and closed the door. I dried off and got dressed in pajamas. Then I went downstairs and sat at the table. Mr and Mrs Young were already sitting at the table. After praying, Mrs Young began loading plates with food.

The door opened and Nathan casually walked in. He smiled and waved.

"Hey, I got lonely at my house. Can I stay for the night?"

Mr Young laughed. "Move back in while you're at it."

"We might not have room for that," Mrs Young said as she got a new plate.

"I couldn't move back in anyway. I've got all the music stuff that wouldn't have a home over here."

"So, I heard that you left school early," Mr Young said, turning to me.

I nodded. "Cramps," I said as Mrs Young handed me my plate. I set it in front of me, then began pushing my food around.

"I have some pills you can take tomorrow," Mrs Young said. "They'll help you deal with them."

I nodded.

Because of course, pills are the thing to fix imaginary cramps. You should tell them, but you won't because you���re a pathetic little worm.

Nathan nudged me. "You okay? You seem down."

I shook my head and gave a small, fake smile. Of course I'm down. How can someone be okay in my situation?

Because you pity yourself too much, you idiot.

Suddenly, my phone dinged. They looked at me and I quickly took it out of my pocket and glanced at the message. It was from an unknown number. I locked the phone again. The plan was to slide it into my pocket, but Nathan took the phone from me.

"Gabriella, who the heck is this?"

I shrugged. Mrs Young frowned and Mr Young stood up, to take the phone from Nathan.

"What does it say?"

"Someone wants her to drop out of the play. They're threatening her."

Mrs Young looked at me with her signature smile. "Gabriella, you're in the school play? That's amazing! Who do you play?"

I hung my head. My gaze was fixed on my peas. "I was Viola. In Twelfth Night."

"Why are you saying 'was'," Nathan asked. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You're still going to be Viola. This person can't stop you."

"I'm going to the school in the morning, and talking to the principal," Mr Young said. "This is unacceptable."

My head snapped up. "No, that will just make everything worse! What if they find out?! I wasn't supposed to tell anyone!"

"You've gotten more than one text?" Nathan looked at me and I hung my head again. "You should go in tomorrow, Dad."

I sighed and pushed my food around. Mrs Young got up and hugged me tightly. I sighed and got up, running to my room and slamming the door.

The next day, I got up and got ready for school on time. I ran out the door, before anyone could see me. Link was waiting on the sidewalk. I ran down the steps to meet him.

"You sure you're feeling better?"

I nodded. Instead of saying anything else, we began walking to school. Upon walking into the school, I began feeling paranoid. I felt like everyone was watching me and whispering about me.

I exhaled, trying to exhale all the negative things that I was feeling. My old counselor used to tell me that if I concentrated hard enough, I could exhale all my negative feelings. It sounded so stupid.

"So, what did I miss yesterday," I asked Link.

He shrugged. "Not much. A few worksheets. Theatre was an interesting class without you. Chuck had to fill in for you."

I frowned as I tried to imagine Chuck playing Viola. I couldn't. It was terrifying. I looked at Link and he started laughing. I laughed too.

As we passed the main office, on our way to math, I saw Mr Young walk into school. My heart began to race. My eyes filled with tears. My phone was in his clenched fist. He saw me and Link, and his face immediately softened.

"Hey guys," he said with a smile. "I hope you aren't going to be late to class?"

I shook my head. "Please tell me you aren't going to talk to the principal."

"I have to," Mr Young said with a soft smile. "Don't worry about it. I'll see you at home."

With a sigh, I nodded and we walked away. Link looked at me as we began climbing staircases.

"What the heck was that?"

"I've been getting random texts," I said with a shrug. "Don't worry about it."

He's going to hate you for lying to him. At some point, everyone will find out how messed up you are, and how much of a handful you are. Everyone will be mad that you lied to them. They'll hate you.

I sighed and shook my head, trying to escape from the freaking voice. I was sick of that voice. I wanted it to go away, but how can you run from yourself?

"You okay," Link asked.

I nodded. "Don't worry about it."

Link nodded hesitantly and we got to math. We sat at our seats and I watched as my group sat at the table. They looked at me and I realised the red head was in my theatre class. She was the girl that played the captain. She had complained about me being Viola.

"What are you looking at," she asked.

I shook my head and looked down at my backpack. I dug out my notes and took a deep breath.

"Hey," one of the girls said.

I tried ignoring them, but the girl reached over and tapped her fingers on my side of the table. I looked up. It was the blonde.

"Is it true that you're hooking up with Link the Geek?"

My jaw dropped. "W-what?"

"You and Link and Geek? Is it true that you idiots are together? You walk to school together, hang out at each other's houses. At school, it's like you two are up each other's butts. You two have to be hooking up."

I shook my head. "No. We're just friends."

"Oh, so he's still gay?"

I squinted at her. "What? I don't know. We mostly talk about school and run lines. We don't talk about love or what gender we like."

The girls scoffed all at the same time, and flicked their hair over their shoulders. I looked over at Link. He gave me an amused look that screamed "what the heck?" I shrugged and we both went back to our notes.