Reason

It was her.

That’s why she looks so familiar with her blonde hair and green eyes.

She’s Britney’s Aunt. She’s the reason why Britney can strut her bum around in school. Making trouble for the people that she disliked and beating me up with a ‘reasonable’ excuse which is me being the reason for my family’s death. For Kyle’s death.

‘I should’ve known that the principal was not here for an investigation and instead, she’s going to give me a warning about crossing her niece. I mean like I get that she is Britney’s aunt but it is not fair to bring me more torture! But why? Why does it have to be me? Of all people, they could have just picked on someone el-

“Are you daydreaming in front of me?!” She let out another scoff and then the school bell rang, indicating the end of classes. “Well, it’s about time I get out of here anyway. Tell them that I investigated your matter clearly and gave the punishment needed to that boy, understand?”

I was about to stand up for myself when I saw her glared at me and told me very clearly, “Unless you want to be kicked out of this school for violent behavior, I suggest that you follow my instructions.” She stood up and left, leaving me behind, making me fear what will happen if I didn’t follow what she said.

The nurse came in after the principal left and told me that I could go home. I got up and left the clinic and walked down the crowded hallway.

“Hey! Grim Reaper, wait up!” The voice gave me shivers. I walked faster to shake them off but one of them managed to catch up to me and grabbed me by my hair forcefully and I yelped in pain.

“What’s this? You grew some balls to ignore us now, huh? Remember that when we call you, always -and I mean ALWAYS- stop where you are and answer to us, got it?” I just nodded, keeping my head down while people stirred clear from us.

Britney finally came while strutting her hips, over to where Stacy and I are. “You did a great job, girls. Now find a private place for Grim Reaper here to spend the night in.”

“What? No, you can’t do that!” Britney then glared at me, making me realize my mistake. “I-I mean please, don’t do this, I can’t get locked up here.” But all Britney did was grab my phone and ordered her minions to lock me up in a small dark room. “This is what you get for seducing Hayden. I can’t even believe that I let Grim Reaper close to him at all.” She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

They dragged me to a door and I can see that it has a padlock on it. Britney then took out a bunch of keys from her pocket and unlocked the door. I heard her muttering “Thank you Auntie Principal for always taking care of me.”

They pushed me inside the room and Britney reminded me, “Oh, and just so you won’t forget. The next time you seduce Hayden, there'll be scars all over your arms. Got it?” After that, she immediately slammed the door shut behind me. I can also hear them locking the door and that is when I finally broke down. I sat down on the floor crying silently, thinking that no one can save me at all from this place.

With all the pent-up emotions inside me, the frustrating situations that I have to go through, I curled up into a ball and think to myself about all the decisions that I could have made.

Like why don’t I just transfer to another school? But then again, I want to feel like me and Kyle graduated together once I finish high school here. Just one last school year and I’m done with this place. I can transfer to a place far away from here. My only problem would be if I have enough money to transfer to another place. My parents didn’t get to leave that much money, just enough for me to get by every day until I’m 20. I guess I’ll have to use that money and get a job for food.

“Mom, Dad, what should I do? You’ll guide me, right? You’ll make me choose the right decisions; I know you will.” This moment of thought suddenly brought me back to a memory that I will cherish forever. The words that my parents have told me whenever I’m having trouble choosing.

#######

“Mommy, which one do I choose? I can’t decide since they are both so pretty. Can’t I have both?” A 9-year-old me questioned my mom. “Sweetie, you can’t have everything/ Choose what you feel is right.” My mom smiled at me and my dad came over, “Honey, what’s the matter? Can’t choose again?” He just laughed at me and helped me choose what dress to pick.

“If you’re going to choose between the both of them, check the details, the designs of the dresses. Check which one seems more pretty and the one that can hold on for years.”

The 9-year-old me puts a hand to her chin and then finally decided which dress to take. “Thank you, mommy! Thank you, daddy!” She hugged them both and they got to the cashier to pay.

#######

*Thunder roaring*

I jumped up in fright when I heard the thunder. ‘Guess it’ll be a rainy night for me.’ I sat back down and sobbed. I can feel the fear. The fear of darkness getting into me. I closed my eyes and thought of happy memories to keep myself calm. Slowly but surely, I was able to enter dreamland in the shivering cold night.

#######

I woke up to the sound of people talking and their footsteps passing my door. I looked over at the door to see light emitting from under it and I can see shadows of the people walking by. I thumped on the door, hoping that someone will notice amidst the noise outside. “Hey! Can anyone hear me?! Please let me out!” I continued yelling for what seemed like 20 minutes and that is when the bell ringed, indicating the start of classes.

“Please let me out! Anyone?! SOMEBODY!”

After a few moments, I can hear someone coming with keys jingling. I yelled again for help and the door finally opened.

With the sudden flare of brightness from the outside seeping in, it hurt my eyes a bit. I squinted my eyes to get used to the sudden flash of brightness when I saw who opened the door. It was the school’s janitor.

“Hey kid, what were you doing here? Stand up and get to class, you’re not supposed to be here.”

I thanked him and left for my locker.

#######

I got to the locker and grabbed the extra clothes that I have inside. ‘Good thing I always keep a pair of clothes here at school…’ and changed into it.

I walked towards my classroom and when I entered, I apologized to the teacher for being late and I can feel the whole class looking at me, staring at me as if I did something wrong.

“It’s her, isn’t it? I can’t believe that she would do something like that.”

“I know right? It’s not enough that she’s a Grim Reaper, but she even has to do something as disgusting as this.”

“Quiet! Miss Sweetheart, take your seat.” The teacher continued with her lesson and the whole class stopped looking at me but they kept on stealing a glance while I sat there. I am now wondering what is happening and why people were staring at me weirdly.

“Psst! Grim Reaper! I didn’t know that you have the guts to do that.” My seatmate whispered but as she was a little too loud, everyone around her looked at me too but with disgust and scorn in their eyes.

“What did I do?” She just showed me an article from the school’s forum talking about me, Hayden and Robin, and what happened yesterday but with more exaggerated nonsense.