I came out of the screening unit and walked down the stairs.. squinted my eyes searching for familiar faces, in the crowd.
"there they are", I muttered to myself
"Mallory", Jeniel screamed, her voice coarsing through the noisy hall way, I widened my eyes and looked around a little embarrassed.. "stop that", I whispered and scurried towards my friends, "oops" she giggled and pulls me into a hug, "we made it bestie", I laughed.. and whispered Hi to Tristan, Jeniel's twin brother.
"Ding". I felt a vibration coming from my purse. I slipped my hand in and fished out my phone.
A notification from my favorite author's page ..Christian Fredrick. I decided to check it out, and just as I'd guessed… a palinode. Christian's most recent book Golden age might be a flop if he doesn't recover from all this.
Poor Christian, I sighed.
"We need to finish up our registration, come on Mallory" Jeniel nudged my arm, I nodded.. "but what's next on the list?" I replied.
Jeniel clicked her tongue, "now that you've mentioned, I'm not sure where we're going next, Tristan.. do you know?
Tristan shakes his head and whispers a "no".
Jeniel winks at me and leans in to say, "how about you call Jayden.. mm", I felt my cheeks go red,
"Stop it, Jeniel, Tristan's watching", we giggled and Jeniel pulls her brother by the arm.. my phone rings, but this time, it's a call from Jayden..
Jeniel, smirks and whispers "go lover girl",
"no Jeniel, we're just..really good friends", I explained..
She rubs her forehead and whispers, "anything you say Mallory"
I swiped up to pick the call and moved a little distance away from them, then placed my phone on my ear
"Heyy Mal", Jayden's silky, rich voice came through, I smiled and was sure my ears were as red as tomatoes
"Hey", I replied, "where are you at?".. he asked
"Welllllll", I looked around, "not so sure, but I'm with Jeniel and Tristan".
"Hm, okay", .. "Jaydennn".. I drawled, "we're still not done with our registration"..
"What's lefts?".. Jayden replied, "that's the problem.. I sighed, "we don't know"
"Okay, y'all meet me at the school's cafeteria alright", I nodded as if he could see me and said yes.
I walked up to my little group "change of plans guys", told them we needed to meet Jayden at the school's cafeteria.
We took the school's mini map and found our way to the cafeteria..
"Jaydennnn", Jeniel screams and lunches at him, Tristan shakes his hand and I watched them quietly, "Mal" Jayden calls out.. I nod and he pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapped around me, my eyes widens in shock, I've never been these close to Jayden..
I felt a little embarrassed, heat crept up my neck as I struggled to breathe evenly
Jayden and I have been really good friends although he's in a higher level, but I've had a crush on him.. and I'm scared it'll ruin our friendship if he ever finds out..
All I could think of was his surprisingly rock hard chest and the cologne leaning on his shirt.
"Mallory", Jeniel's voice snapped me out of my delusions, I pulled away, hoping my blush wasn't too obvious.
"sure sure.." I stuttered, nervously moving some strands of hair behind my ears.
"Mal, this shouldn't take much time, please meet me at the cafeteria by three when you're done okay", I nodded.. "okay".
Jeniel grabbed my arm once more and we went in to complete our registration and get our rooms..
"Ohh Mallory" Jeniel sighed, "at least you'd be free from your step mum and her crazy ass children".. my eyes widened and I tapped Jeniel's shoulder.. signaling her to reduce her voice.. she rolls her eyes and mutters "whatever".
****
I walked in to the living room which was dark and tapped my hand carefully on the wall to switch on the lights..
My dad coughs dryly, It felt like I could feel the pain burning in his chest with every cough.
"Hey dad", I said and made to take the stairs "Mallory", my dad called, I bit my lower lip and sighed.. ignoring his call, I ran up the stairs to my room to avoid any encounter with his wife and children, then carefully closed the door, I breathed a deep sigh of relief when I got in, I picked up my note pad, scribbled a few things that I needed to do tomorrow.. went to take my bath, then carefully packed the little that I had for school. I picked up the tiny book that contained some of my mum's photos and my mind went back to the conversation I had with Jayden later in the day..
****
"Mal, why are you wearing a hoodie? I mean it's so hot today" I looked away and told him I was sick, he gripped my arm and carefully raised the sleeve of my hoodie, I tried not to wince in pain..
He picked up his cup of orange juice and poured it's content all over my forearm.. I tried to pull away, "what the hell do you think you're doing?" I shrieked, he took out some wipes and wiped my forearm with it, red blotches and bruises came to light..
He shut his eyes and clenched his jaw.. "where else?" He asked, "only my forearm" I muttered to both our hearing.
He sighed, took out a tube cream from his pocket and lightly applied it, "Mal, I told you that I could get you a room", I smiled lightly.. it'll be over soon.
****
Why mum? My breathe hitched in my throat.. why did you leave me? Why?, I gripped the book even tighter as I fought hard to keep the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks. I dropped it in my little box, gathered the money I had saved up from working in a cafe and rolled it all in my purse I had to leave as early as possible before they'll come at me.