Chapter Three

The day passed in a blur, one hour bleeding right into the next, another teachers voice getting lost among the thousand other thoughts occupying my mind. Aiden's words played over and over on repeat. Would we be okay? Was that even an option now or had the damage became too much to repair? Mother would be so heartbroken to see how much distance had found its way into our home. Maybe we'll never be the same as before and maybe we'll never recover from what's been done, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I'd like to think that one day our hearts will hold the same warmth she held for us when she was here.

"Ms. Rainns."

My eyes snapped to the front of the class to see Mr. Sullivan looking at me with narrowed eyes. My skin crawled with dread. What was he talking about again? History never was a favorite of mine.

"Would you mind answering the question for me?" He asked tauntingly.

Mr. Sullivan's brown eyes stared back at me for a moment. His bushy gray eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. He was a round old man with a receding brownish, gray hair line and a knack for catching people off guard. My cheeks burned as every head turned to look in my direction. My open text book glared back at me, giving no hint as to if it even held the right page. I tried to think if I'd heard anything he had been speaking of, but frankly I hadn't been paying the slightest bit of attention.

"Can you repeat the question please?"

God just kill me now.

"Can anyone help Ms. Rainns out?" His nostrils flared as he exhaled deeply. Turning on his heels he waddled to the other side of the room, scanning the class for his next victim. He reminded me of a wild boar with glasses. Only difference is the boar might have more compassion and possibly a soul compared to Mr. Sullivan.

The room was silent, aside from a few snickers I could care less about paying attention too. The notebook that was bare of the notes it was supposed to hold became a battle ground of doodles and poems. I was useless to the class without knowing the question anyways. Hearts and stars graced the page in no time along with a name I couldn't remember writing. Vladimir Lenin. Something told me it was exactly what he was looking for, but where did it come from? Was I losing my mind? I wouldn't doubt it at this point.

"It was Vladimir Lenin." I said hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt.

Mr. Sullivan nodded his approval to the answer.

"Yes, that is correct. Vladimir Lenin led the USSR from 1917 to 1922. It was during this time that...."

The edges of my lips curled up at the relief of the answer not being wrong. My memory is the worst especially when it comes to names and dates. I can't say how that name got there or what part of my mind remembered, but whatever the case I'm glad something's looking out for me. My fingers traced the letters, feeling the indentation of the ink, and hoped it was a sign that things were finally looking up.

The bell rang loudly, signaling to my stomach that it was finally time for lunch. Shoving my things in my bag, I headed straight for the door not bothering to acknowledge the stares of those around me. Stopping by my locker I replaced the books I didn't need for the ones that I'd need to finish the day off. While zipping the bag a familiar body appeared out of the corner of my eye.

"I could hear your stomach from down the hall, are you not feeding that thing?" She said with a bright laugh.

I turned, rolling my eyes dramatically for her to see. Abby was one of my best friends, actually one of the only two I had in the school. No matter what was going on or how hard I pushed, she always stuck to me like glue. She was the kindest and honest person I knew. I'm not sure I would have made it through the school year without her.

Abby was one of the first friends I made when we moved here six years ago. I was lost as I wondered the halls trying to find my next class. The rooms all looking the same, with the exception of a poster or lecture on the chalk board here and there. The schedule in my hands not being much help, as it only gave the name of the class and the teacher. Suddenly a hand tapped my shoulder and I turned to meet a pair of bright blue eyes and an even brighter smile. Her hair was red and pulled back into a tight ponytail with a blue ribbon that complimented her eyes beautifully. Faint freckles dotted her nose and cheeks like a constellation all of its own. Her body was slim and fitted with a short green dress that dipped in a slight V at the neck. Her eyes held so much compassion as she looked at me clenching the useless piece of paper in my hand.

"Hey! Are you lost?" She had asked as her eyes searched the people around me.

I nodded.

She beamed, her pearly white teeth coming into full view. She linked her arm in mine as she took the schedule from my hands. Taking charge, she pulled me along down the hallway her white sneakers leaving squeaky foot prints behind us.

"Don't worry, stick with me and you'll know the ins and outs of this place in no time!"

And from then on, that's exactly what I did. The last six years proving time and time again her friendship was the best decision I could have made that day.

I blinked as a hand whizzed back and forth in front of my face to bring me back to the here and now. Abby's red lips were pursed and her eyes were narrowed playfully.

"Hello, is anyone in there?" She mocked as she tapped the side of my head.

My chest became warm and I couldn't help but smile at those bright blue eyes that haven't changed one bit since I've known her. Her cheeriness was just so darn contagious that at times I was surprised she had so much more to give with each turn of the day.

"I'm not sure, why don't you knock a little harder?" I asked, shutting the locker door with a thud and swinging the bag over my shoulder. "Let's go before my stomach revolts and eats me out of starvation."

The cafeteria was a warzone of excited chatter and overcrowded lunch lines. For such a large school, you would think they would be more accommodating and add more lines. I groaned; annoyed at the fact that I wouldn't be making it through the line to eat today. Abby and I made our way through the maze of tables and cliques; the smell of chicken and gravy taunting my nose with each tray we passed. I really needed to start getting here earlier. I don't think my stomach is happy at the lack of love it's been getting the last few weeks. It deserved an all you can eat buffet, that's for sure.

The table in the back corner was always empty. One of the legs was shorter than the others which caused it to wobbled, but propping it with a notebook made it good as new if you were patient enough to get it sitting just right. Throwing my bag in a chair I went to work doing just that as Abby sat in the seat across from me.

"You would think after the first year of doing this, we would have just moved tables. " Abby moaned as she watched me fidget with the leg.

Before I could respond a couple of trays were plopped onto the table above my head. Getting the table leg settled just right on the notebook I stood up to find Mariah glaring at me with her hands on her hips.

"Are you not eating again?" she narrowed her brown eyes. " You better be glad my aunt loves me enough to allow me to take two trays at one time for your butt."

Mariah shook her head roughly, her short, wavy black hair swishing back and forth with each turn. She pushed her round glasses up higher on her nose and gave a huff as she took the seat next to me. I eyed her as she pushed one lunch tray in front of me and kept the other for herself. Her eye brows hung low in a frown; her pink lips sitting in a straight line as she rested her head on her hand. Always the worrier. She assumed the worse when it came to me; always scared that one day I would just vanish or starve to death right in front of her.

"I'm gladder you love me enough to think about grabbing me one to begin with."

Mariah smiled with a sigh and turned her head to look at me. Her tan skin glowing in the sun shining through the windows. She opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by a loud wailing gasp.

"Am I not loved enough to be served as well?" Abby asked feigning offence.

Picking up a chicken strip I presented it to her as a peasant would offer an offering to their queen. I bowed my head with a slight smile and said, "Oh my apologies, your highness, please accept this offering as we have offended you so."

Mariah laughed at the presentation Abby gave of being a royal. She stuck her nose in the air and placed a hand on her chest as she turned her head away in a show of disgust. Shrugging my shoulders, I brought the chicken strip to my lips and took a big bite sounding my enjoyment with a moan. Abby dropped her jaw in disbelief before reaching over and quickly grabbing one of her own. She stuck her tongue out at me before shoving the strip in her mouth. Such a drama queen.

"What are you guys doing after school? Do you guys wanna catch a movie or something?" Mariah asked.

Abby shook her head and dipped her half-eaten chicken strip in our shared mashed potatoes and gravy. Shoving it in her mouth, she turned to Mariah while wiping her hands on her jeans. " I'm game if you can help me with my calculus homework first. "

"Ugh, deal." Her eyes were bright as they moved on to me. Internally I groaned, knowing I was about to be the one to snuff them out. " Olivia?"

"Not tonight, there's a few things I need to do around the house." I replied, rubbing the back of my neck and turning away so she couldn't meet my eyes. " Maybe another night."

I hated turning them down. I often wondered if they thought I didn't want to hang out with them anymore, which wasn't the case. Money was just so tight. We couldn't even afford fresh milk, let alone a night out at the movies; and asking one of them to pay my part of the bill was way out of the question. They already offered me more than I could ever ask for.

Mariah threw her arm over my shoulders in a side hug and placed her head against mine. Giving me a slight squeeze, she sighed before pulling her head back to look me in the eye.

"You know whatever you need we're here for you right?" Her eyes searched mine as if to confirm that I understood what she was saying. "You don't have to do this all alone, Olivia. Whatever the problem, it could never be too big for us to handle together."

I nodded my head and gave her a smile. I didn't have the words to tell her how much those words meant to me. How much she and Abby made my life all that much easier. Mariah nodded in understanding and turned to discuss the evening plans with Abby. My eyes closed softly as their conversation played around me. Their bickering and laughs bringing me a sense of calm. This is exactly what was needed today, a little bit of normal and a whole lot of love.