Living In The Shadows

Chapter 26

The song attached is 'She's Kinda Hot' by 5 Seconds Of Summer, I chose it because I like the message that people say things about us, we need to accept that. It won't go away. We cannot let others change how we see ourselves.

I arrive at Michael's house at about 4:30.

"Brinn, I haven't seen you in ages!" His mother greats me.

"Brinn!" Quinn, his little sister yells, the last time I saw he she was 7, now she's 10, and taller than me.

In my defense she is about 3 inches taller than the average 10 year old girl. Okay, the average 10 year old is taller than me.

It's not my fault I'm 4' 2".

"Hello, Quinn how are you?" I ask her, I used to have to bend down to speak to her, now I don't.

"I'm good, look, I'm taller as you!" She exclaims, way to rub it in my face.

"Quinn, go play in your room." He mother instructs her. She nods before running off to her room.

"Brinn, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"What happened to your brother?" She asks. She has known Brandon, from what she had seen he was always nice.

"I'm not sure. He started to change, now he's a completely different person."

"Do your parents at least care now?"

I shake my head. "They care even less now."

"I didn't know it was possible."

"I guess it is."

Mrs. Smith, or Vivian, as she instructed me call her years ago, was never fond of my parents, she had always disagreed with their ways of parenting, and she didn't bother hiding it.

"Well it's nice to hear that you have finally gotten away from them." She says. "Why don't you kids explore the neighborhood or something?" She asks. "And take Quinn." She tells Michael.

"Really mom?" He asks.

"Yes, take your sister."

We go to to Quinn's room to get her before we leave the house.

As the 4 of us walk walk down the street Quinn goes on about how she started gymnastics 3 years ago when she moved here.

Now I know how people feel when I'm around.

Quinn insisted we go to her favorite park, I go to parks way too much.

When we arrive she sees a friend from school and runs off with her.

I run to the near-empty swing set. There are about 10 swings, only 1 is already in use.

"Brinn, you could easily be mistaken for a young child, and not just because of your height." Michael says.

"Must you make fun of my height at every given chance?! It isn't my fault I'm incredibly short!"

"I still don't get how you are so short, I didn't know it was possible."

"I'm a short person! I'm aware, can we move on from that?!" Honestly, I'm tired of all the jokes involving my height, I'm short, I can't do anything about that.

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I pull up my hair, that now has blue, green, and purple streaks in it. I look down at my black gymnastics t-shirt and jeans, it seems to be all I wear.