Chapter 13: Chapter 13

I was back at the tree house, the one dad built right behind the house, my 'safe spot' he called it. Away from mom when she got into one of those moods. He built it whenever I went to school, and made sure I never went to the back yard for anything so I wouldn't see his half work and ruin the surprise. The day he finished it, he put his rough big hands over my tiny face to hide it from my view. I remember chuckling excitedly, I wondered what it was going to be. I imagined a swimming pool, everyone in my class had one in their homes, I wanted one. When he finally released me he exclaimed excitedly,

"Ta-da!!" With both hands flung towards it in excitement. My heart fell, I couldn't even hide my disappointment. I looked at the tree house, it was beautiful, but still not a swimming pool.

He noticed my disappointment, and squatted to my level.

"What's wrong, sport? You don't like it?" He asked. Looking directly inside my eyes. I saw the sadness in his eyes and i immediately brightened up. And nodded vigorously.

He brightened up too,

"Here is where you can play and do anything you want." He told me while tucking my little hand in his. That piqued my interest.

"Anything?" I asked to be sure.

"Anything, Sport. Wait till you see the inside!" He exclaimed while carrying me on his back and running inside.

"Hey!! Wake up!!" Lucy's voice woke me up.

I awoke with a start, the environment was unfamiliar. The sun was streaming in through the window, something mom never allowed. I almost panicked till I remembered where we were, I rested back down.

"You are going to be late for school! Move your ass up!" Lucy said walking to and fro.

I shot up that instant.

"Am I supposed to go today? Can't I start tomorrow?" I whined.

"I already told the Principal, I'm sorry but you are going with me." She announced in her 'final' tone.

I grumbled and got up. Looking at the house in the day time was a different thing entirely. The house was beautiful. Plain white walls, and very interesting tiling for the floors. There was a spiral staircase that ran to the last floor. I realized it was a storey building. I was awed by the house, I knew I was gaping.

"Keep standing there with your mouth open, and you'll go to school in your yesterday's clothes." Lucy's voice rang from the.. kitchen? I finally turned to look at her for the first time that morning. She was already dressed. Surprise? No.

"This is a very expensive house isn't it?" I asked.

"Cost me my life savings." She said turning on the microwave.

"Bathroom's upstairs, when we pick our rooms, we'll pick out the bathrooms. For now, please just hurry!" She said cutting me off.

I nodded and dashed upstairs. It was even more beautiful. I was so excited, I have never been to a house this expensive. Wish dad were here.

The dream I had earlier flashed in front of my eyes as I turned on the shower - an actual shower, with hot water!

Mom had destroyed the tree house dad built. After he left...

"So what do you want for breakfast? Eggs or eggs?" Lucy asked when I came downstairs. I rolled my eyes and sat down at the table to eat. I looked around for mom, she was snoring on of the couches. Typical.

"Gray is really not a nice outfit for the first day of school." Lucy pointed out while sitting down to eat opposite me.

"Talking to you on the first day of school isn't healthy for me, but it's still happening." I tell her before stuffing my mouth with food.

"Well, try getting to school without me then." She said right before dashing into her car, I just stared mouth wide open.

"Better be in school!!" She shouted before driving out.

I cursed under my breath, she knew I didn't know the place. And she pulled this stunt on me. My phone lit up with notification. I picked it up, it was direction to the school, sent from her. I sighed deeply, this was going to be a long day.

After debating whether to leave mom there or not, because she had to lock the door after I left. Deciding to lock her in, and place a key where she could easily find it, right next to her phone.

When I finally got to the school, after so many wasted minutes on the road, because the road was confusing as hell, students were already piling inside, I felt nervous. It wasn't often I felt nervous. But how could I not be? The kids here were obviously rich kids, I saw their cars, and the kinds of clothes they wore. In that moment I felt under dressed. I wanted to turn back around. But I spotted Pea, as tiny as it was, parked in a spot, sticking out like a sore thumb. I guess Lucy must have been feeling like me too. So I just swallowed it and walked really fast, not wanting any attention.

I knew I had to look for the Principal's office, get my time table and stuff, so that's where I headed. If I knew where I was headed that is. I turned to the nearest set of students close to me, to ask for directions. I noticed something, they all wore a bit of pink on them. I looked around, everyone did that, I face palmed. Was this their uniform, I didn't even ask Lucy.

"Excuse me, please where is the Principal's office?" I asked finally.

They all stared. I felt awkward. For Nineteen seconds, they stared. I counted.

"That way." One pointed finally.

I nodded my thanks and walked away really fast.

When I got there, I knocked on the door. I heard a grunt before stepping in.

"Good morning sir." I greet.

Even the Principal wore pink, I closed my eyes for two seconds. Because who the hell wears pink! Of all colors!.

"Good morning, are you the new student?" He asked gesturing for me to take a seat.

I sit on the edge, and nod.

"Welcome to Brook High School, here is the time table. I hope you enjoy your stay here. I'll send the student body president to give you a tour of the school. And if you have any complains or anything like that, please come to me, do have a nice day." The Principal said the robotic welcome speech with a smile. I take the time table from him and leave. Everyone here was weird.

I noticed the classes were marked with numbers, that was what I used to identify them. When I sight the class from far, I thank God because I was tired of walking, and everyone was staring, making me really nervous. Three girls were walking in front of me, really slowly. I pushed passed them in irritation.

I head straight to the back seat, to avoid the eyes of people on me, but it was as if I stood out, yup I did, I wasn't wearing pink. I heard whisperings. Something I hated so I glared, at all of them. Before the teacher entered. Finally, some peace. I said to myself.

"We have a new student amongst us, could you please come up here and introduce yourself?" The man asked. I totally forgot about the new student ritual. More eyes on me, just great.

I stand up.

"Hi, my name is Joseph Wilson, you can call me Joe." I grumbled. I didn't like the attention.

"Can you tell us where you transferred from, hottie?" A girl asked. I glared at her for a full minute before sitting back down. She looked away.

"Welcome to Brook High School Joseph." The teacher said before he continued his teaching.

I zone out, I didn't like history.

Immediately I hear the bell ring, I almost run, away from the class, looking for Lucy's office. She said she was the journalism club head. I head to her office. They just started the club so, it was a new building. I find it easily though.

"Hey Luce." I greet.

She jumps,

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I'm tired and sleepy. I came to rest." I tell her before collapsing on the couch.

She looked like she was going to say something, but she just keeps arranging the place.

"Hey Luce?" I ask as I remembered the uniforms. I was bordering the edge of sleep.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell me they wore uniforms here? And pink? Ew" I say.

"Oh that. It's not the uniform, the student body president has her birthday today." She explains.

I looked at her in confusion.

"And so?"

"She is quite loved around here, people actually put in effort to make her happy. They wore it because it is her favorite color." She explains.

And I burst into laughter. What the hell?