• Chapter One

    I’ve always been alone, so alone. No one can feel this pain, but me. I’m always alone.
    My eyes slowly opened and I looked around the dark room. Nope no one else was here only me though I could of sworn I heard voices, or was is just one voice? Anyway this is the story of my sad, misunderstood, put down, and tormented life. My name is Mia and this is my story.

    I heard the thunk of the morning mail on the welcome mat at the front door. Yet another letter for my mother, and she couldn’t care less. My mother is lazy and there is nothing anybody can do about it. I don’t have a father, well I do but all he does is abuse me and my mother so I managed to get him locked up, well our lawyer did anyway. So know I live with my mother and my younger sister Anne. I have to look after Anne by myself because mum’s drunk half the time and the other half she doesn’t seem to care. I got out of bed and threw on my school uniform: blue cross-stitched skirt, a blue button up top and plain black shoes with a strap over my foot. Next I went to Anne’s room and opened up the curtains so that the sunlight streamed in. She pulled the blankets over her head in an attempt to hide from the light but I pulled the covers off the bed and dumped them on the floor in the corner of her room. She looked at me with sleep-filled eyes and I went over and pulled her off the bed. She stood for a second them collapsed again on the bed.
    “For God’s sake Anne get your lazy butt off the bed and get ready breakfast is in ten!” I shouted at her leaving the room. I knew she would get up now she never misses a meal. I walked down the stairs trying to keep quite because I knew mum was still sleeping off last night when she drank about a dozen drinks. Poor thing her body just can’t handle it like it used to. I make it too the kitchen and start getting out bowls, spoons, and the cornflakes. I poured cornflakes into a bowl and got the milk from the fridge. I poured it in and began to eat slowly savouring every bite. I threw the empty bowl into the sink and poured water over it. I walked out of the room and almost floored a now dressed Anne. I muttered “sorry” and walked on. I walked into the bathroom and almost felt like crying. I washed my face a stared into the mirror. I was pale compared to most people. My hair was a light brown fell just below my shoulders. I had vivid blue eyes that most people said were scary. I wasn’t fat but I wasn’t really skinny either, I was average. An average fourteen-year-old. I packed my bag. My phone buzzed from my bedside table. I grabbed it and checked the caller. It was from Kate, my bestie. It read
    Hey Mia! Hope Ur coming 2day. If you r meet you out the front as per usual. K? Ttyl!
    I sighed and texted back
    Okay, I’ll see you there.
    I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed my IPod, stuffed the earphones in my ears and put it in my pocket. I shouted at Anne to grab her stuff because it was time to go. She came scooting down the hallway and landed in front of me. I opened the door and walked out with Anne by my side. We lived only a block away from Anne’s primary school (She’s in grade 5). While I had to catch a bus which would leave without me if I didn’t hurry up.
    “Bye Anne I’ll see you tonight!” I called hurrying to catch the bus. I leapt onto to step and said a hurried hello to the driver. I walked down the bus isle to a spare seat about half way down the bus. No one seemed to notice me but I’m used to it, being treated like I’m invisible. The ride seemed to take forever. As we came to the final pick-up spot I noticed that there was one extra person. He was wearing the same uniform as me (minus the skirt). I looked back out the window; it was none of my business.
    “Hey is this seat taken?” asked a slightly accented voice. I looked around. It was the boy.
    “Uh, no” I replied moving my bag off the seat so he could sit. I was confused. He could have sat by himself in the seat in front of me. Maybe he just wanted to sit by someone from his school. He turned to look at me and said
    “Hi my names Harry” He said holding out his hand. I didn’t take it but rather stared. He lowered his hand as I said
    “My names Mia” I said tucking my hair behind my ear.
    “Nice to meet you Mia” said Harry smiling.
    “Nice to meet you too” I said smiling slightly. I turned back to the window.
    “You go to West central?” Harry asked. I wondered if he was trying to keep the conversation going or what.
    “Yeah”
    “Cool I’m a newbie; I’m transferring into class 8H because the school has hired my dad as the science teacher”
    “Oh, I forgot Mr Bango retired last semester” then I realised what class he had said “What! Class 8h! That’s my class”
    “That’s fantastic! I’m barely-” he paused and looked at his watch “6 minutes 32 seconds into starting a new school and I already know a class mate who catches my bus!” He sounded so excited. I had a feeling that he was the cleaver, happy-go-lucky kind of person. He might even become my friend. This was a chance to make a new friend. I paused my music and stuffed it in my bag as we went around a familiar bend to our school. West Central or as I called it ‘Hell hole'