Chapter ten

It was only morning but I was already feeling exhausted. I had neither the appetite nor patience for school today.

Maybe I could pretend to be sick with chickenpox or something?

Oh, how 'bout I tell mom I got food poisoning from yesterday...but that would be idiotic for two reasons.

It would be dumb of me to remind mother dearest of yesterday's how do you say, excursions? And also none of the food prepared was eaten by anyone in the first place.

Instead, it was used as throwing material and I highly enjoyed it.

I'd definitely do it again if I had the chance, no doubt. No regrets!

"Clover Fran Klein, you better get your ass up for school or I swear I'm gonna rip you apart!"

Oh, look at that. I suddenly have the urge to go to school now.

Fumbling out of bed my leg caught up in the blankets, causing me to fall hard on my forehead on the floor.

"C-coming!"

I called out grunting in pain.

Guess she's still upset over last night's events. It would be for the best to not get on her nerves today. We wouldn't want to give her a reason to punch me into next week now, would we?

Scrambling off the floor I made my way to the bathroom right across my door.

A quick shower later and I was out and back in my room. Not feeling too out there I decided on a pair of torn boyfriend jeans, and a black long-sleeved shirt with a brown short-sleeved shirt over it. I finished the look with a simple gold necklace and black vans.

Putting my hair into a messy bun, I looked over myself in the mirror and like usual gave the reflection an air kiss and wink.

Running down the stairs I saw my mother at the stove over next to her was Sylvia who now had shorter hair and was free of all the rainbow colours from the previous day.

She looks much better now. The look from yesterday had me thinking that she had fallen into a cauldron of pixie dust and unicorn hair mixed with a pinch of vomit.

Glancing at the table I noticed a plate stacked with an immeasurable amount of pancakes. I didn't know if mom was baking for us or an army....and I wasn't about to ask.

Sitting down next to Syl, I looked out to the yard to see the once grassy green bush filled with white, fluffy roses a now charcoal ball of blah.

Yeah, she was angry baking. Just hope the food tastes just as good as it looks.

"Morning Syl"

I greeted the small human. She looked up from the iPad sitting idly in her tiny hands and with a bright smile and wide eyes greeted me back.

"Morning sis!"

She happily chirped back a reply.

Taking a chance on my luck; which I'm sure we all know is almost nonexistent, I looked to my mother.

Her back was turned to me, shoulders suspiciously relaxed and a creepy humming was coming from her busy body.

"Uhm...morning mom?"

Crap, I wasn't supposed to say it like a question.

"Morning."

She said with a calm tone and went back to her humming.

Seconds later she placed the last pancake onto the already packed stack, turned off the stove, and placed the pan into the dishwasher.

She then proceeded to take out two plates from the cupboard, placed them before Syl and me, and dished out three pancakes for me while Syl got two.

As she was doing this I stood dead still in my seat, not moving an inch. Like prey being careful after spotting a nearby predator...or in this case, my mom.

Shocked and a little scared Syl and I looked at each other in panic. It's like we were hoping the other had an explanation for this, but it wasn't so.

None of us knew what was happening and we were too afraid to ask the one causing this momentary confusion. AKA momzilla.

"Alright you two, eat up. I'll call your father down for his portion."

She said as she wiped her hands off with the apron tied around her hips.

Walking off to the stairs to get the other member of the family, she left us at the table in a confused and highly cautious state.

As she rounded the corner, two breaths of relief were released. I looked at the tiny person sitting next to me only to find her already staring at me.

A few seconds later the silence that surrounded us was broken by the combination of our laughter.

"Wow, well that was stressful"

I said wiping a tear-off

"You're telling me"

The sassy princess in her came out. She dramatically rolled her eyes and I couldn't help but laugh at that sassy brod.

She was way too cute for a human being.

Turning my attention away from my overly dramatic sister to my pancakes, I took the fork laid out for me and violently stabbed into the sweet fluff.

Honey dripped down from the fluffy baked good landing on the plate in a swirl. My mouth watered at the sight and I took a large bite out of it.

Expecting it to be tasteless or saltier than sweet I was shocked at the taste. What I tasted both excited and slightly disappointed me.

Excited me because, damn was it good!

It was absolutely delicious. The flavour was just right. Not too sweet yet sweet enough. The spongy cake was fluffy and warm, crunchy yet soft.

A perfect combination.

Disappointed because now I didn't have anything to tease my mother with. I mean every time she failed at cooking I'd always have a reason to make fun of her without getting my butt whooped.

Guess those days are over now. Huh.

"This is so good!"

Sylvia said with a mouth full of pancake. Which made it hard for me to hear her. Instead, all I heard was gibberish.

And yet I still somehow understood what it was she was saying. How you ask, I have no idea.

Proceeding to stuff her face, she nearly choked on her third bite.

I laughed at that, to which she responded with a frown as she gulped down a glass of orange juice.

As karma would have it, because I was just laughing at my choking little sister I started to choke as well.

I felt the back of my throat clog up as air was prevented from passing through to my lungs. In a panic, I started hitting my chest like a madman.

It was now Syl's turn to laugh, and man was it painful.

The choking, not Sylvia laughing at my suffering. I mean why would I be hurt at my little sister, who I taught how to walk and talk, by the way, laughing at me?

Frowning at her, I stole her glass of juice and downed it all in one big gulp.

"Hey!"

Relief filled my lungs as air filled them once more.

"You snooze you lose son!"

Sticking her tongue out at me I did the same in return and watched her get back to her pancakes.

Her cheeks now puffed up in anger. Unable to resist, I pushed down on one cheek to let the air out.

The sound it made as the air came out sounded like a fart.

"Uh, Sylvia! Where are your manners?"

I said in a British accent gasping in shock.

"Hey! It wasn't me"

I gave her a look of doubt, my brow raised in question. She stared at me for a while, until she burst out into laughter and I joined her.

*****

"Bye dad, see you after school."

"Bye kiddo"

Slamming the door to the car shut I turned back to the school and trudged my way up the stairs of hell.

Walking through the hallways that were littered with students having loud conversations of their own, I made my way towards my locker a few kids bumped shoulders with me while others stayed at their lockers.

Just as I was about to celebrate arriving at my destination the victory was short-lived as familiar red hair came into my view.

It was her! The girl from the old creepy Chem lab.

What was she doing at my locker?

Was she there for me?

Did she want revenge for scaring her and basically keeping her hostage?!

It didn't seem like she had seen me yet so I could get outta there without being spotted. Seemingly looking for someone she kept her eyes on the crowd of students.

She hadn't seen me yet, but that didn't matter to me. With my bad luck, it was only a matter of time before she noticed me.

In a panic, I turned to the nearest door to me and without looking went inside.

Looking through the small window at the door, I didn't see her pass by. Meaning she didn't see me.

Releasing a breath of relief, I leaned on the door for support.

But now that I was relaxed, it was much easier for me to smell the ratchet smell of sweat and old meat.

Very unpleasant.

Where did I lock myself in, the gym?

Turning around to get a look at my surroundings so I could see where exactly it was I trapped myself in, my eyes widened in horror.

Oh. I was in the boy's locker room.

"Well shit."

Luckily for me, the place seemed empty. So no one saw me.

Turning to the door to get out, I stopped dead in my tracks.

It would have been weird if there were people in here, but it's just as weird seeing a girl walking out of the opposite gender's changing rooms.

Crap, what was I gonna do.

And just as I thought that it couldn't possibly get any worse...it got worse.

Loud voices of jocks and sports fanatics came from outside the door.

And of course, today just had to be the day they had morning practice. Meaning the room will soon be filled with teenage boys.

Hot, built, naked teenage boys...No, Clover pull yourself together!

This is not the time to be drooling all over the floor. If you're found in here not only will the principal and your parents kill you, but you'll also be labelled as a creepy pervert.

That would mark the end of your high school life...forever!

That can't happen. I've lived my entire life stalking in the shadows, never being found out. I couldn't let that be revealed.

Not now, not ever. We're taking all this shame with us to the grave!

As their footsteps got closer to the door I began to lose my composure. If I had any in the first place. Freaking out I scrambled for a way to get out or hide.

In a rush, I ran to the very back of the room. On one side were stalls lined up against the wall and on the other were showers with no doors.

Well, showers are out. Changing stall it is!

Locking myself in the very last one I awaited the arrival of the boys.

Voices and laughter of deep-voiced males soon filled the once-empty room.

Feeling myself shaking from fear of being discovered, I held a hand against my mouth.

The stall next to mine soon opened and closed as someone occupied it. That just added to my already built-up stress.

"Dude, I swear she wasn't a real blonde."

A voice near my hiding place spoke. The guy sounded like one of those macho dudes but would potentially disappoint you by being short.

"Wait what? I thought she said she was all-natural."

Another guy said. He sounded shocked that a girl dared to lie about her natural hair colour.

I mean, come on.

"Yeah, and her friend, Krissy what's-her-name, she was a total fake too. Complete brunette."

"What, no way?! I was totally aiming for her."

A new voice joined in on the conversation. I rolled my eyes at their stupidity. Simultaneously shaking my head.

Dismissing the pointless conversation of pea-brained boys, I looked around the small space for a way out

Noticing a small window perched just above the stool built into the wall I smiled at that small light of hope.

Maybe I could squeeze myself through. Taking the chance I stepped onto the stool, threw my bag out the window, and proceeded to hoist my body through the small space.

Halfway through I stopped moving altogether...I was stuck.

Jiggling around, trying to get myself through to the other side and back to freedom, I realized me and my big booty weren't going anywhere.

"Shit"

Saying that out loud was a mistake, cause the next thing I knew someone was banging on the door to the stall I was currently trapped in.

"Hey, is someone in there?"

Eyes wide in a panic I struggled harder to get out, but I was not going anywhere.

"Yo, I can hear you, you know? Open up!"

They banged harder. The knob jiggled a little more as well and my heart was beating ten times faster.

Someone, anyone, please help!

As if answered by the gods above, a girl with a bob cut and round stylish glasses was passing by the football field, which so happened to be in front of the locker room.

I was saved.

"Hey, hey you!"

I whisper-yelled at the girl. She stopped in her tracks, at first she was confused about where the sound was coming from but as soon as her eyes landed on mine, they widened in surprise.

"Hey there, Uhm....could you help me out?"

I asked in a friendly tone. As if I was asking a toddler to give me a taste of their ice cream.

"...Huh."

She looked confused, which was understandable given the circumstances.

"I'll, I'll give you a lolly?"

I tried to bribe her. I mean it always worked with my sister.

"What?"

Guess that was the wrong move.

Well damn.