TRAPPED

21

Celine

I stay in my room for the majority of the day, and people—thankfully—take the hint and leave me alone. But when seven o'clock rolls around, Julien walks into my room.

     "Dinner's ready."

     "No thanks."

     "You haven't eaten all day." He says. "Come on."

     "I'm not hungry."

     "Do I have to carry you downstairs, Celine?" He questions.

     I roll my eyes. "Get out."

     "You need food. Let's go."

     "You need to leave me alone." I mutter.

     He arches an eyebrow. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

     I scowl. His eyes flicker with amusement.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sure you woke up on the correct side of your mattress." He says. "But it's dinner time, and you're not Jesus, so let's get you some food."

He drags the covers off of me, and I frown. "Now I'm cold!"

"You'll survive, sweetheart." He says. "Let's go."

     I grumble under my breath as I climb out of bed, and he looks amused again. I glare at him as I stomp out of the room, chest squeezing with an ache again. They've been getting more frequent today, and it's making the entirety of my upper body hurt.

     I follow him downstairs and into the dining room. My dad smiles from where he sits at the head of the table. "Hi, baby." He says softly. We haven't talked since this morning, when I stupidly agreed to go to school. And to having to read with him, which I'm sure will be humiliating.

     Léo and Camilo are sitting on the other side of me—and Julien, who drops into the chair beside me. They both smile at me, and I glance away, wrapping my arms around myself. I look at the food in front of me and begin to feel a bit sick. Not because of the food (it looks wonderful) but because I'm starting to feel dizzy.

     "How's your head, Celine?" My dad asks me.

     "Fine." I mutter. Maybe that's why I feel so.. utterly wrong. As if in confirmation, my head pulses with an ache.

     Everyone starts eating, conversing among themselves, until the topic is brought to school.

     "Where's your report book from the week?" My dad asks Camilo.

     He shrugs.

     "I'm supposed to sign it." He says.

     "Let me just pull it out my ass." Camilo mutters, rolling his eyes.

     Julien snorts a laugh.

     My dad sighs. "At least tell Celine how good the school is. She's going to start on Monday."

Léo furrows his eyebrows as he turns to look at me. "Really?"

I nod.

"It's such a good school." Camilo says, voice monotone and bored.

"Camilo." My dad says, sounding exasperated.

He returns his attention to his food, and I frown at the sudden tension. I must've caused situations like these loads of times. I didn't realise how uncomfortable it would've made everybody.