Her Innocence

I walked through the crowded hallway, " Therapy Session" blaring in my ears. Ignoring all the stares from the other kids, I held my head high and walked to my locker. It was evident that the other students were making conversations about me. The way they would try to cover their mouth to whisper yet maintain eye contact with me. It didn't bother me anymore, though. I've grown used to it.

I grabbed my books before slamming my locker and heading to my first class. Sitting in my usual seat at the back of the classroom. In a corner to the left, I watched as the other students strolled into the class. Everyone avoided me and the seats in front or beside me like I was some fucking plague. I don't really care, I'm not a fan of people anyways. I prefer my solitude. I watch as the brain-dead-fucks gossip, messing around, some even swapping DNA. How are they so oblivious to everything? Why are they so happy it's a Monday morning?!

The teacher strolled in, obviously not happy that her weekend came to an end. I just threw my hoodie over my head to block out my surroundings and blend in with the darkness. I turned my music up some more, not caring to hear anything she was saying. Resting my head on the desk, finally getting some sleep. It's hard for me to sleep at home, all because of HER. A loud bang caused me to jump up, I looked up at the annoying teacher with a face that could kill. I removed my earphones and sat up straight.

" What?" I questioned not in the mood for anything, maybe my period is close by.

" You're wanted in the office." She said and walked away, going back to her lesson, I grabbed my stuff and walked out of the classroom heading to the stupid office. I don't know what I did this time, and honestly, I stopped caring. I've been in here one too many times for me to feel scared. I opened the door and waved at the secretary, she smiled at me, a look of sadness in her eyes. What the hell? She's usually a bitch.

" Hey, Kaci." I said using her first name, I expected her to correct me and say "Mrs. Birch" like always, but she just mumbled a "hey" before telling me Principal Jones wants to see me. I walked into the office and saw my principal and a cop talking, okay I give trouble but not that much.

" Azalea, have a seat." She said I raised an eyebrow before following orders.

" Azalea, do you have anyone that could pick you up today?" She asked she knows damn well I take the bus for that exact reason. It's a small town, they know my business, shit they know it more than me. I gave her a looked that expressed my thoughts, and she sighed. Ughh, the theatrics.

" Can somebody just grow a pair and spit it out? I have shit to do." I said, earning a look of disapproval from Jones.

" Azalea, it's about your mother." The officer said, what did she do this time.

" If you found her passed out close to a bar, she'll be awake soon, just put her in a cell and let her sleep it off," I said, getting up, but the officer held out his hand, letting me sit again.

" WHAT!" I yelled I hate when people beat around the bush with me.

" Azalea, she...I need you to come with me to identify a body." The officer said I looked at him and blinked a few times before I chuckled. There was a sharp ringing in my ears, my head suddenly felt heavy.

" What the fuck is going on, what do you mean to identify a body?" I voiced, looking at the both of them.

" You're the only one that is her kin." He said. I nodded my head and got up from my chair and started to exit the office.

" Are you coming or not?" I questioned before stepping out and walking through the halls with the officer hot on my heels. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at us; of course, making assumptions of the reason, I'm walking with a cop. I should have let him handcuff me just to give them something interesting to add to the story. I sat in the police car and looked out the window as he drove us to the coroners.

" It's her," I said and tried to make my way out the room.

" Azalea, we need to talk." The social services lady said. I groaned and rolled my eyes, excellent, I'm gonna be thrown around the system now. Thanks a lot, Cheryl.

" Lady, I have ballet practice to get to and a job, how about a rain check," I said and walked out the room.

" I know this is hard, we can get you a therapist during this time, but I need you to tell me if you have any relatives." She said and grabbed my arm to keep me from moving.

" The only person that can be classified as my family is laying on a block of fucking ice, do what you got to do," I said and yanked my hand from her. Her face had a sad look on it, ughh now the pity looks from everyone.

" You can't leave the station Azalea, we need to put you in the care of a guardian first."

" I was the guardian!" I yelled before scoffing. She looked at me, and I rolled my eyes before agreeing with her. I sighed and followed her. I guess I might as well tell her about the rest of the Lockhart family, the stuck up snobs that only worry about their damn reputation.

************************************

" Hello, I'm here for Azalea." I heard her voice, I looked up and saw the lady dressed in her sea-green scrubs and white crocs, her hair pulled in a top knot. I disregarded the exchange between her and the cop and looked at her. She hasn't changed much since the last time I saw her. I was eight. She just looked older but the same facial features. She looked like her, you could definitely tell they were sisters.

" Azalea?" She asked, I mentally laughed at that, she didn't even know what I looked like. Of course, she wouldn't; she didn't try to keep in contact.

" Angie," I said, she gave me a slight smile. Her eyes were puffy, oh please there was no way she could have been crying. She didn't deserve to. After my aunt filled out various files and talked to the caseworker, we left the station.

" Could you drop me home, please," I said, she nodded and asked me for the address, I gave it to her, and after putting it in her navigation system, she drove away. Plugging my ears with my earphones again, I threw my hoodie over my head. I forced myself to drift away to a different reality. Ignoring her and the whole situation. I felt someone grabbing my shoulder, I gripped the hand and looked around to see my aunt's shocked face. I released her hand and pulled my earphones out.

" I don't like being touched," I said and got out of the car, I made my way to the busted apartments only to hear feet crunching behind me.

" You did your part, you can go back now," I said, really just needed her to release me, I can take it from here.

" What no, it's not like that." She said, I groaned and walked into the building, making my way up the dirty stairway. Graffiti riddled the walls, among other substances, I wish not to know what they were. I heard her mumbled, "oh my god" before following me.

" You're in my custody at the moment, I have to make sure you're safe and everything." She said as she looked around, I rolled my eyes. I hope one of the rats run out on her legs, just to hear her squeal. Apparently, God was on my side because I heard a squeak and then a blood curling scream.

" Careful, we have rats," I said with a smirk, she looked at me with petrified eyes—drama queen. I opened the door to the apartment and walked in, I tried closing the door, but she grabbed it and made her way in.

"You are not my parent, so you don't have to do anything," I said, making my way to the fridge. I saw some leftover Chinese food. When did we have Chinese? Opening the box, I almost threw up when I saw the fluff covered noodles.

" I can order pizza." She said I nodded my head, actually grateful for that. She went on her phone after asking me what I wanted I told her all the stuff I wanted to make sure it was enough to last me some time I made my way over to the window in the kitchen. I mean, free food, I was going to get the best out of it while it lasts. After she made the order for a large bbq chicken pizza, cheesy bread, and garlic bread and some bbq bacon boneless wings, she hung up and made her way to the sofa.

" I know I'm not your parent, and you don't know me well or at all, but Azalea, I'm here to stay okay." She said I've heard that before.

" Your sister said that as well, she said that every time she would get clean, yet she died from an overdose," I said, making her eyes well up with tears, save it.

" So sorry if I don't believe anything that comes out of a Lockhart's mouth," I said, sitting on the opposite side of the sofa. She sighed and looked around the dirty, barely furnished apartment. It looked nice once, but then she started selling our furniture for more drugs. JUST DUMB!

" Well, I keep my word, I'm going to go through whatever procedures I need to be your official guardian." She said I looked her up and down before taking out my phone. A grin appeared on my face as the doorbell rang, I let her collect the food and smiled when she placed them on the coffee table. I dug right in, I haven't had warm food in so long. My tummy growled when I took up my second slice of pizza. I wasn't starving or anything; I just didn't eat like I was supposed to. My job only covers so much.

"I'm so sorry Azalea." she said, " I should have been there for you, I tried-"" I'm going to my room." I cut her off and grabbed the box of cheesy bread and bbq wings before heading to my safe haven.

Throwing myself on my twin-sized bed, I continued to scroll through YouTube, trying to find something interesting to watch. I heard a knock a few hours later and groaned, she's persistent. I really just want to be alone. I didn't say anything or move to open the door .I heard her sigh, I expected her to walk away, but instead, she started talking, OH MY GOD! This lady doesn't quit. I don't want to hear her promises, her false hope. I had enough of that to last a lifetime and some.

" I know I wasn't there for you like a good aunt should, I know you must hate me but A-"

" I have school tomorrow Angie, and I don't hate you," I said and heard her sigh again, this time it sounded more like relief." Still, I don't like you either, I get it you feel guilty for leaving your niece to grow in a crap environment with a crap mother, but it happened. So please stop trying to talk to me to make yourself feel less guilty." I said before plugging back my earphones, blocking out whatever else she had to say.

They all left me to fend for myself, grandma, granddad, her. As much as my mom wasn't shit, and would come home with random guys and would be so drugged up, she didn't even recognize herself much less me. At least she was here. Now she was gone, guess I didn't mean that much to her.