Chapter 315
Arabella Rivera
“Arabella!” A piercing feminine voice booms through the door and wreathes through the four walls of my room. I groan, twisting and turning as I tried to kick off the tangled bedsheet wrapped around my ankles.
A loud bang on the door has me wincing. I had the desire to curse out whoever was at my door trying to wake me up. But my brain worked quickly before my mouth could open, letting me know the feminine voice belonged to Gertrude before it was too late.
I rolled on my back, stretching my arms out and let out a loud yawn. “Hurry up Arabella it’s late!”
My tired eyes opened swiftly, being forced to adjust to the light in seconds. What does she mean it was late?
“It’s already seven forty.”
Seven forty!
I got off the bed with the tangled sheets wrapped around my ankles seeing that I had failed miserably in untangling them. I nearly tripped as I raced to the door.
“Fuck.” I said lowly, fighting off the sheet until I had finally won the battle.
Kicking it aside I eventually got a hold of the door, unlocked it and swung it open. Gertrude’s face is a mixture of frustration. and urgency. “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?” I asked in one breath.
My heart was pounding, unwilling to calm down as an image of Mr. Boyd’s red angry face flashes in my mind. Gertrude’s pinched face gives me a look of disapproval. ” I only arrived five minutes ago and had been knocking on your door ever since. Did you not go to bed early?”
Disregarding her question I asked her one of my own. “Where are my parents?”
I was in no mood to tell Gertrude that I had only fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning. If I did, she’d question me and I didn’t want to have to tell her that my parent’s yelling had only grown instead of subsiding. I didn’t want to tell her that I was afraid.
Tossing and turning was now somehow an added addition to my routine at night.
Gertrude’s face sketches into one I dreaded. The one where she looked at me like I was a homeless kitten on someone’s porch. She felt sorry for me. “They already left. The keys were under the mat when I got there.”
I nodded, burying down the feeling of self–pity. I shouldn’t feel such emotion, not when they didn’t even care. “Well, I’ll just go get ready quickly Every emotion left my voice. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had just become an empty vessel.
Gertrude nods with a small smile to ease me. I turned around. “Arabella?” She calls out softly. As though trying to not scare a frightened little kitten.
I whirled around to face her. Her eyes scan my features. “Your parents love you, you know that?”
I tense and let my eyes stray to the empty hallway behind her. So empty, so dull. “I know.” I murmur faintly and closed the door when she smiles and makes her way downstairs.
I walked to my bedside table and picked up my phone. I opened the text I got from Gwen, nearly screaming in frustration
when I read it.
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10:19 pm
Chapter 315
Cheer practice is early today so I won’t be able to pick you up. Sorry🙁
:
-23
Fuck this is not happening to me right now. I was extremely late, not only that but I had an inkling that Gwen was just trying to avoid me. Great, second day of school is going just fantastic.
I tossed the phone on my unmade bed and walked over to my bathroom that was already jarred open. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and cringe at the tangled mess of my hair. I picked up a lock of messy brown matted hair, rubbing it between my fingers. “What should I do with you?”
I skipped two steps at a time as I bounded down the stairs and made a bee–line for the kitchen. I wouldn’t have time to get my favorite salad on the way so I had to settle for something quick and less work to chew. A nature valley bar shall do.
“Oh, you look cute today.” Gertrude complimented me when I entered the cooking area. I touched the two braids I had weave messily in a hurry. “Thanks. “I answered with a quick flash of a smile.
My eyes dart towards the clock on the wall and wince when my eyes zeroed on the hands pointing at seven forty–six. I had taken approximately two minutes to shower. I knew so because I had been literally counting down the seconds I had been under the rain shower head.
The rest of the minutes were me struggling to braid my slightly damp hair whilst putting on my panty and bra. It was a hassle and I was pretty sure I had put my panty the wrong way.
“Will Gwen be picking you up?” Her eyes shift to the clock mounted on the wall and she squints. “You should hurry.”
I took out the nature valley bar from the spotless glass container on the countertop and started chewing. “No, she’s already at the school.” I grumble, chewing a little harsher than necessary. I held onto the bag strap in a deathly grip picturing it to be the frustrations I had bottled up inside me.
“Don’t speak while eating, it’s unladylike.” Gertrude scowled.
I rolled my eyes, taking another bite to fill my grumbling stomach. “Then how am I suppose to answer you?”
Gertrude let out a breath, completely tossing my question aside and asking one of her own.” How will you get to school?”
I looked at the clock, my anxiety rising a notch higher. I needed to think and I needed to think fast and now. Gertrude didn’t own a car, her boyfriend usually drops her off. Gwen was at school and both my parents were most likely at work. I on the other hand can’t drive to save my life.
I was stranded.
My heart skips a beat when the universe sent me a sign. A sign I dreaded. “The school bus usually pass around-
A horn blares stopping me mid–sentence.
Gertrude looks out of the window and her mouth parts. “Oh, there it goes-
I peeked over her shoulder and my heart drops when I notice the distinct yellow school bus nearing my house rapidly. Quickly gripping the strap of my school bag I started racing towards the front door while yelling bye to Gertrude.
“Wait!”
“Wait!” I yelled as I sprint towards the road. The yellow bus was already disappearing around the corner. I caught sight of the laughing jocks at the back, mocking me as they disappeared along with my ride.
“Mother fucker!” I bellowed, with frustration curling in my belly. I let my bag drop from my shoulder, still holding one strap
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10:19 pm A
Chapter 315
to not have it touch the ground and kicked it. “Shit!” I groaned lifting my head to look at the cloudless sky.
Please universe, give me another sign.
“Such foul language for such a pretty mouth.”
1 froze, my head quickly snapping to, him. His eyes are lighter today, warmer. Perhaps because there were not many people around, he didn’t feel the need to show his usual coldness.
His lips quirk up in a rare amused smile as he nudges his head towards his pickup truck.
“Get in.” Haiden utters while opening the door to the driver’s side.
