Eleven: tooth

Temperance


I pop two pills into my mouth with a bottle of water I have under my bed. I'm not sure if I can mix my pills with regular Advil but that has yet to stop me. I figure that even if I accidentally overdose, it would be ok. Right?

I put on black leggings and an oversized dark blue hoodie that stops mid-thigh. 

As I'm driven into a coughing fit I place my hands over my mouth. The acts of coughing wrack my frail body, my head spinning as I try to calm down.

Stepping into the bathroom I avoid looking at myself in the mirror. I can't bear to see myself. 

I turn on the faucet, letting the water run over the bristles of my toothbrush. I find myself mesmerized by the flow of the water before placing my toothbrush into my mouth.

I wince at the shooting pain I feel inside my mouth. Curious, I take my toothbrush out of my mouth, nudging my tooth with my tongue. 

As one of my molars wiggles, I feel the color drain from my face. This isn't supposed to happen, my teeth are supposed to be the only part of me that I like.

My empty stomach churns at the thought of losing one of my precious teeth.

A bird chirps from outside and I immediately try to compose myself, stepping out of the bathroom. I grab my backpack and sling it on my back. I can't help but nudge my wiggling tooth with my tongue once more.

The bruises on my face throb with every step I take. I know my face must look completely distorted now. My eye is almost swollen shut at this point.

My swollen eyes making me partially blind isn't anything new though. It's nothing as bad as having one of my teeth be knocked loose. I can only pray it doesn't get punched out.

I am still surprised that last night's beating wasn't terrible. I'm surprised I'm still breathing as my thoughts from last night led me to believe I was going to die. My expectations were stopped short, not that I'm not grateful. I remain curious on the matter of why I didn't die in the living room last night.

I tiptoe down the stairs, keeping most of my weight on the railings. Anxiety trails up my battered body as I fear my father could be awake.  The relief I feel as his sleeping body comes into view is unfathomable.

I sneak over to the front door, my eyes not leaving my sleeping father as he lays on the dirty couch. I open the front door, bringing my body halfway outside before turning back.

I find myself looking at his hands, glaring at his busted knuckles.

I hope he feels so much pain that he can bear it. I hope his knuckles hurt as my body does.

I close the door, immediately walking my regular path to school. today is already off to a wonderful start. I can't believe I'm on my way to school without getting beat beforehand. That's the first time I've gotten so lucky in a while.

There is only one thing I am nervous about. Alec. 

I don't know how he reacted to seeing that I was gone. Would he be happy? Upset? I don't understand him. 

No, I don't need to understand him. We aren't staying together anymore. I'll only see him at school.



I contemplate whether I should go into the giant building that taunts me. My classmates pass me, seeming to be as sluggish as zombies as they make their way inside the high school.

"Ew. It's you." Sabrina spat, trying to get today off with a shitty start.

It's seven in the morning, no way I'm dealing with this yet. My brief encounter with her is enough to give me the energy to walk into the school. I'm desperate to get away from the bitch. I only hope she gets lost inside the group of her preppy friends instead of following me inside.

"Ryan?" I call out to Ryan as he sits at our usual table. He smiles at me, running his hand through his silky brown hair. "Hey, Temp. I haven't seen you in a while." He studies my face, the horror building in his expression. "Are you ok?" He stands to his feet, coming around the table and lightly touching my face. I lean into his kind touch, looking up into his electric green eyes.

Suddenly my mind flicks to Alec and I bring myself to my senses. 

"Yeah. Hey, Uhm... where is Nicole?" I ask, stepping away from him. He looks at me and glares, "Tired of me, are you?"

"W-what no!" I gasp at his assumption. He laughs and shakes his head, "I'm kidding. Nicole is in the bathroom." He assures me. 

"Alright thank you! I will catch up with you next time." I wave goodbye at my childhood friend as I make my way toward the bathroom.

Almost immediately I spot her blond hair, and I walk straight toward it. "Nicole?"

She turns around and frowns at me. "What the hell was that?" She shoots daggers at me as she recalls the events from a few days ago.

I wish she was too dumb to ask me questions.

I glance under the stalls, making sure we are the only people here before I begin my web of lies.

"The guy in there. He is my dad's friend. I didn't want you to meet him because he is a really bad guy. He will get you wrapped into debt in an instant." I lie straight through my teeth. But this is what I have to do to protect myself. 

I know that if someone found out the truth, then I would be taken to a different family member's house while my dad is taken away.

Maybe that choice isn't so bad. There would be a chance that I never have a fist swung at me again. I know that choice would be ideal for everyone, it should be ideal for me.

The only reason it's not ideal is for the fact that everyone on my mom's side is across America. We have only a few people here that are related to us. My aunt and uncle would be eligible to take me. I know next to nothing about them.

Two things, they have two kids, and my uncle is my father's brother. If he turns out to be like my sperm donor I'm in big trouble. No use in getting out of this hell if it's possible I could go into another.

If I survive this torture I'll move out when I'm of legal age.

"That's suspicious." She eyes me in a way that causes my muscles to tense with discomfort. Does she not believe me?

I step back, afraid she can see into my soul. My mind ponders if she can see all my secrets through my eyes.

"It's the truth," I reassure her, mostly trying to reassure myself. "Can we just forgive and forget?" I ask her. Only an hour into the day and I'm already physically and emotionally. 

She nods. "Ever do something like that again, and I won't forgive you." She threatens. 

She studies my face, a nonchalant look never leaving her face, "What happened to your eye?" 

I curse her questions, my eyes darting around the bathroom pointlessly. Calm down and continue to spin your web of lies.
"L-last night, I was getting into the shower, and I slipped on some conditioner that was o-on the ground." As much as I don't want to talk. I have to. To keep her off my case. 

"You see. You seem to have a new bruise every time I see you."

I hold my breath. Did she catch on? Does she know?

I bite my lip, my mind growing tired of her nonstop questions.

I jump as the bell rings, signaling it is time for class. 

Saved by the bell.

I sigh with relief, immediately pushing the door open and hiding within the crowd of students.

I try to ease my thoughts of Nicole as I bring my mind to the other problem at hand, Alec.

He will no doubt be angry with me. I'm sure of it, and it doesn't help that my first class is with him.

I've been thinking about him and the guys and Emaline ever since I left. I can't get them out of my head, which is odd since they are strangers.

I sit down in my normal seat in the back of the class. Everyone files in, but the only person I don't see is Alec. 

I sigh as a strong fragrance of perfume burns the hair out of my nostrils. I look up and make eye contact with the witch herself. 

"Awe, poor baby has more bruises." She points out as the class turns around to face us. "Is the baby getting abused at home?" She speaks in a baby voice, her bottom lip curling under.

Why would that ever be ok to joke about?

She's never been more disgusting in my eyes until now. I glare at her. "I'm not getting abused. Don't make stupid assumptions like that. I don't understand why that would be something to joke about." I shoot back, imagining myself punching her ugly face.

She winks at me and smirks. "Awe, I'm sorry hun, didn't mean to hit a nerve." She bats her eyes at me. I'm surprised her fake eyelashes don't lift her off the ground and carry her away.

Everyone turns to the door—our teacher. 

When I look at the door. It isn't our teacher. It's Alec who stands at the door, his eyes landing on me.

"Move away from Temperance." He growls at Sabrina. The witch turned around and eyed him. 

"And why would you say that? She doesn't fucking matter." She snorts at him. He walks closer to her, looking into her eyes. They are so close their noses are almost touching.

"Back away from Temperance." 

Everyone knows not to challenge him. Everyone is scared of him, including Sabrina. 

"Why are you acting like that? You don't protect anyone like that. Did she fuck you or something? She's a fucking slut." Sabrina continues, snarling at Alec. 

Alec grabs her by the hair and whispers something in her ear, causing her to tear up. He releases her, and she immediately sprints out of the room. 

I smirk with satisfaction written all over my face

I feel Alec's hand gently wrap around my arm, I look at him, confused by his actions. He helps me out of my seat and drags me out of the classroom with everyone watching. 

The next thing I know, we are in the janitor's closet. Again. These janitors need to put a lock on these doors. It's effortless for students to end up here. I only wonder how many students have had sex here.

"The fuck is with the note! I don't think you're disgusting. You shouldn't have left." Anger is dripping from his deep voice.

"I had to go home at some point. I'm sorry. Do you hate me?" I bring my eyes to the ground, scared of his answer. 

"I don't hate you..." He looks like he is thinking, "I didn't expect you to leave so soon. It caught me off guard."

Before I can gather words to reply, his hand extends towards me, touching the new bruise on my face. 

"What happened?" He asks, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Tripped."

He looks at me, doubting my obvious lie. I can't help but jump when there was an announcement suddenly on the speaker. 

"Code red! I repeat code red. This is NOT a drill."