The Only Reason

Chapter One

"Please!" I screamed.

She just watched me laughing, taunting me with those eyes. She snapped her fingers to her friend.

I watched as her friend gave me an evil smirk as she smacked me across my face. It hurt, she hit hard. That would defiantly make a mark.

Another one of her friends came through the door, locking it.

I knew this was the end, I couldn't wait for the darkness to take over, to stop my pain.

She looked up at me, smiling.

As they start spewing hateful words towards me, I jolt awake in my room, on my bed.

I can feel fresh tears on my face. I've been having this dream a lot now. I don't know what made me such an easy target to people, but I was.

At school, I never went without getting physically or mentally tortured.

Home wasn't much different, I felt alone, my dad was a doctor so he was gone most of the time, so me and him don't have the strongest relationship in the world. My mom, well me and her have different views on things. She just tells me to suck it up and deal with it.

I only get along with my brother Alex, he's a year older than me, and the only person I trust.

My dad got a promotion that was located in Australia, and I jumped on the idea and told him to go for it. I just really wanted to move away from where we were...

I know that this school won't be any different. I've been too many, too many to count. Even if it is in Australia, teenagers are all the same. I can't trust anyone, it seems like anyone that is nice to me turns around and stabs me in the back. It wouldn't be the first time and definitely not the last.

The worst bullying I had was at my old school, being in a physical fight. I never thought it would get that brutal. My mom didn't seem to care how horrible I looked when I got home that day, my clothes and hair were disheveled and a bruise by my eye. My dad doesn't even know I'm bullied. I'd hate to bother him.

I'm just an average girl at everything. I'm fairly average height standing at five foot four with straight chestnut hair that comes down past my shoulders and green eyes. I don't try too hard to get noticed, I just try to get by in life one day at a time without getting into drama. I don't try to show off anything about me, I'd rather stay in the shadows. 

We just moved here a few days ago. Alex and I start school tomorrow, and now that it's only hours away, I'm dreading it.

Maybe I'll actually make some friends this time. Most likely enemies.

I let sleep take over me again, not wanting it to ever end.

→  →  →

I hear a light knock on my door, and groan in response. I hate to have my sleep interrupted. The door opens and Alex pops his head in.

"Good morning." He says letting himself in.

"Go away." I say turning over, covering my head with my blanket. I know he's rolling his eyes at my lazy ass, but I really don't want to get up.

I feel my blanket removed and my pillows being swiftly taken away from me.

"Really?" I ask, not amused at all.

"We have school today." He says simply. "You have an hour to get ready." He turns and walks out the door, shutting it. Wow, rude.

I check the time, he's right.

First day. New school.

Am I ready?

No.

Even though I begged my dad to take this new job, I feel bad for running away from my 'problems'. But I had to.

I don't want to go to this new school, I don't know if these people will like me, or hate me. I did this for a new start, I don't want what happened at my other school.

I feel trapped, no way out. I have to go, I can't cower out now. New school, new life, new people.

I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom across the hall. I brush my hair out and do my makeup, I can't leave the house without it. Just one of my many insecurities. After I'm done I head back to my room to change. I grab a tank top and skinny jeans then my sweatshirt and my vans.

I look at myself in the mirror, I look okay. I'm in all dark clothes and makeup. I'm just asking to be judged...

I walk downstairs grabbing my backpack on the way and look for Alex. He has never had trouble fitting in, he makes friends left and right. Unlike me, he's a social butterfly.

I find him sitting at the table eating, he smiles when he sees me. I return the gesture as I sit next to him.

I couldn't settle my nerves, my leg was bouncing uncontrollably under the table. Somehow Alex knew exactly what I was thinking, I could see it in his concerned face.

I sighed, I know he was going to ask if I was okay. I gave him a look telling him to not ask. I'm sick of him worrying about me all the time.

He nodded looking away.

I wasn't hungry at all, probably because of my nerves going haywire. I'm afraid to try and eat, it'll most likely just come right back up. I push those thoughts away and focus on how I'll survive today. Talk to no one, trust no one, stay out of the way, just focus on schoolwork.

Only if it was that easy...

Alex grabs his keys, after cleaning up after himself.

"Shall we?" He asks.

"We shall." I mimic him. He rolls his eyes as he grabs his backpack and we head outside to his car.

"Are you going to be okay today?" He asks getting into the car.

"Yes." I reply not looking at him

"Why don't I believe you?" He pushes. He knows I probably won't and he wants me to admit it.

I take a breath to settle my nerves. "I'll be okay." With that, we left for school.

As the school came more and more into view, I grew more nervous, my stomach twisting and turning. I can feel the tension and butterflies building up in my stomach. I can do this. I take a deep breath.

Never mind. . .

"I don't think I can do this." I say, my voice rushed to Alex, on the brink of a panic attack. He parks the car and turns to me taking my hands.

"We could go somewhere else for the day and you can go tomorrow."

"No! I'm not missing the first day, and I'm definitely not making you miss it."

"Are you sure, I'm fine with it.." He smiles, as good as that idea sounds, I can't give in. If I don't go now, I'll never go.

"I'll be fine." I groan. He nods letting go of my hands. We get out of the car and walk up to the school together.

"If you need me at all, just text me." He says putting an arm around me protectively.

"But, school.." I say motioning around us. I would hate to see him get in trouble just for texting me.

"It'll be fine."

"Okay.." I sigh.

We make our way to the main office, a woman who looks to be in her thirties greets us with a friendly smile.

"You must be our new students, Alex and Emma Mills, right?" She asks, accent strong. This will take time to get used to.

"That would be us." Alex nods.

She hands us our schedules and points to where everything is located. We say our thanks and make our way to find our lockers. I end up finding mine first.

"Remember to text if you need me." He whispers, giving me a serious look. I nod and we hug briefly before going our separate ways.

I toy with my lock for a minute before actually opening it. My hands won't stop shaking, making it harder to open the darn thing.

I put everything I had into my locker and leave out a notebook and my schedule. No point in carrying my backpack around yet.

I shut my locker and search for my first period, history.