Act 1 | Chapter 14

I shivered as I stepped out of the warm car, and out into the freezing wind. The snowfall had gotten heavier, and the ground was now almost completely covered. Riley and I hurried on inside, trying to get out of the cold. We were both met by the warm blast of heat above the sliding glass doors as we walked in. The two of us stood under it for a moment and chuckled a bit before making our way over to the movie theater. For a Wednesday afternoon, it sure was slow at the mall. Hardly anyone was here. Just a few people walking around, and maybe a few kids from school here to hang out.

"So you excited?" Riley asked me.

"I guess, Don't know too much about this movie though."

"I'm sure you'll like it."

As I mindlessly walked towards the theater with Riley, I bumped into her outstretched hand. She pointed towards the ticket booth, where Maria and to of her friends were standing.

"Oh come on." I groaned.

"Just ignore them, Zoe," Riley said as the two of us walked up to the other booth. I tried my best to avoid looking at Maria and her friends, but I couldn't help it. It didn't take long for her to spot us either. Once she did see us, she walked over and crossed her arms.

"You better not be entering the contest, still." Maria threatened me. I let out a long sigh and looked her in the eyes.

"I already told you, I am."

"I'm warning you. Don't enter it, Zoey." She growled in a demanding voice. I couldn't help but gulp. She sounded rather angry.

"Why do you hate me so much?"

"Because your annoying and I don't like you!"

"Was that really the reasons? I hardly even talk to her." I thought quietly. Riley stepped in between us and glared at Maria.

"Hey, come on! Calm down!" She said, trying to resolve the argument. I took a step back and around Riley, to look Maria in the eyes again.

"I can say the same to you." I frowned, my voice cracking. There was a silent tension between the two of us. Before I knew it, I saw Maria lunge at me. The next thing I remember is being on the ground, a burning pain around my left eye. It was throbbing, and my own hand was pressing against it. I looked up and saw Riley above me, trying to push Maria away. She turned around and grabbed onto me. Riley pulled me to my feet while she yelled something at Maria, but I couldn't hear it. As she did, I felt pain around my right ankle. I didn't know if I had twisted it or not, but all I knew was that it was sore, and it hurt to walk on. The back of my head was sore, and all I could hear was a consistent ringing. From what I was able to make out from the scene, was that Riley's arm looked scratched up, and that mall security was heading over this way.

By the time I could hear anything again, I was a small distance away from the theater, and leaning up against the wall.

"W- What happened?" I asked in a weak voice. My head was spinning, and I honestly couldn't make sense of what was what.

"Hey, are you alright?" Riley asked, kneeling in front of me, and putting her hand on my shoulders.

"N- No." The pain in my eye suddenly got worse. As I was coming back to my senses I was becoming more and more aware of what was going on. The throbbing pain in my eye hurt too much, I couldn't take it. "Oh no." I suddenly realized. "If my face is at all bruised." I let out a groan.

"Hold still," Riley said, pulling my hand away slowly from my face. "Lemme check your eye."

I nodded, and let her look. She frowned and looked over to where Maria was talking to one of the mall security guards. I glanced over, and soon wish I didn't. It was hard to make out, but from the looks of it, my brother was there. He was walking out of the theater, and making his way over to Maria, and the officer.

"J- John?" My other eye opened a bit wider. "Is that...?" I whimpered a bit.

"Don't tell me she's..." Riley was cut off. From what I could make out, John leaned in to give Maria a quick kiss.

"She is, oh god." Riley groaned.

"Are you kidding me." I groaned, feeling a bit sicker now. I couldn't believe it. My piece of shit brother was dating Maria all this time.

"Let's get out of here," Riley said in a sickly sounding voice. She stood me up and helped walked me to the car before the mall security had a chance to catch up to us. Riley led me to the backseat of her car and laid me down across the two seats. I kept pressing my hand against my eye, and let out another groan of pain. My head wasn't thinking straight and everything was still a bit blurry.

I rolled around in the back seat, trying to ignore the pain in my eye. My body felt weak, and the back of my head was sore, most likely from hitting the floor hard.

"I'll order something for us back at my place," Riley said, looking back at me, as she started driving back to her apartment. All through the ride, the only thing I could think about was what I had seen. I hardly see my brother anymore, but I remember at least playing with him a little when I was younger, but even then he still hated me. John just ignores me completely now, and act like I'm not there unless he wants to mess with me. Now he's dating Maria, another person who just despises me and probably wishes I would just get hit by a speeding bus.

I soon realized another thing and it made me even sicker. I know John has been having sex with his girlfriend in our hour, but I have never seen it, aside from evidence left behind. Maria's been in my house, and not only that but was having sex with John. I groaned and felt like rolling over and puking, but I held in what little food I had in my stomach.

Riley soon arrived back at her place, and she helped me up to the stairs and to her couch. She brought me an ice pack and held it against my eye while I laid limp and motionless on the couch, keeping both eyes closed. I just wanted to sleep. For this day to be done. It had been going so good so far.

"I can't believe John's dating her." I eventually groaned as Riley stood from her spot to go call a place to order food.

"I can't believe Maria tried to kill you."

Slowly, I sat up from the couch, keeping the ice pack against my head. My vision still felt a bit blurry, but I tried to ignore it. One thing I could make out still where the bleeding scratch marks on Riley's arm.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be gone. I'm more worried about you."

"My mom's going to kill me." I frowned, laying back down

"You should stay here for the night, Zoey." She suggested and called a Chinese place not too far down the road. "That's a good idea." I thought, closing my eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep.