Her savior

Chapter 1

Maelynn POV

I woke up to my alarm clock going off. I groaned softly and reached over to hit the snooze button. I didn't remember I moved it and ended up falling out of bed. "Owe," I moaned. I got up and turned the alarm off. Well I'm awake now. Might as well get ready for today.

I went into the small bathroom and ran the water. I waited a few minutes and the water didn't warm up. I sighed and got in to take another cold shower. It was rare we had hot water. Even when the water was freezing cold I tried to thoroughly wash my body. I got out after a few short minutes and got the small tattered towel. I dried myself off and put on my old robe and went back to my room.

My room was small. Much like a majority of the apartment. Most of my clothes consisted of the same thing. Sweats, t-shirts, and old sneakers. I barely have jeans mainly because I grow out of them too quickly. At least with sweats it doesn't matter if I gain or lost weight. Nine times out of ten I would gain weight.

I grabbed a pair of really big sweat pants and an over-sized shirt that was at least two sizes too big. They were both faded and draped over me. I grabbed the old Jordan's I've had for at least three years. My feet are pretty squished but I can't afford other shoes and my dad's shoes are too big on me. I got a scrunchy and put my hair in a high ponytail.

Nothing I have fits me properly. Either it's too big or too small and I don't have the body to wear anything small. As you can see, I'm fat. When I was younger I was always bigger than other kids but my parents always tried to make me feel good about myself. Until things changed.

One day my mom just left. Gave us no warning or anything. Even now I look back and try to figure what I did wrong. What I could've done to prevent her from walking out that door. Ever since me and my dad haven't been the same. We don't have that close father and daughter bond anymore. In fact, we don't even live together. You see we used to live in our family home with mom. Dad said we couldn't afford it anymore since there was only one paycheck coming into the house. We couldn't afford a two bedroom apartment so dad said he'd pay the bills in my apartment until he gets a better job and we can afford to stay together.

So every month he sends me a check to cover the rent and extra for any bills I accumulate. In recent months the money has been getting shorter. Like it still covers a majority of my rent but I have to keep coughing up more and more cash just to live here and having less and less money for other necessities. Such as food, hygiene products, clothes. I know I should be more grateful to him for helping and staying by me unlike my mother but I honestly hate this arrangement. I want to be with my dad. I want to be with someone who loves me. Someone who will wake up everyday to see me smile. I want to be loved.

I shuffled across the short walkway into the kitchen. I had very little dishes. A few forks, knives and spoons. I could only afford the really cheap cheap paper plates. There was one or two cups, a bowl, and a few old pots and pans a neighbor gave me. I looked in the refrigerator for something to eat. I was running extra low on food. Only reason I had some now is because there's a shelter place that gives out food every couple of weeks. I had butter, some bacon, government cheese, ketchup and hot sauce for some unknown reason, and a little less than half a gallon of milk. I looked in the cabinets and saw even less. A single small bag of grits, a bit of great value brand cereal, sugar, some bread that you can tell is getting old, and peanut butter. I had some canned food and rice which is good. At least this check won't be too focused on getting food.

I grabbed the bread and decided to make a breakfast sandwich. I have to use this bread somehow. I got my frying pan, eggs, bacon and butter. Once it was finished I got some milk and sat in the living room since I don't have a dining room. I watched tv as I munched on my breakfast. It wasn't much but hopefully enough to hold me over for the majority of the day. Once I was finished I cleaned up and made sure everything was turned off. I grabbed my very old and tattered book bag that was on the verge of breaking.

I climbed down the smelly stairs of my apartment building. Once I made it to the bottom I quickly left and moved quickly down the street. I avoided eye contact with any and everyone. I got to the bus stop and waited. After ten minutes the bus pulled up. It was at least a thirty minute ride to the school. I would still be about forty minutes early for class. Why? Because then I could avoid everyone.

To pass the time I read on Wattpad. I loved this app. I could read hundreds of thousands of books at my whim and beck. I especially loved some of the urban love stories. People finding love against all odds. A guy coming to the girl's rescue. Just someone taking all the hurt away. I know it's mostly cliche things that don't happen but I always find happiness when someone else is happy. Reading is a good escape from your reality. At least to me it is.

I read until it was time for me to get off the bus. I still had a few blocks to walk to get the school. I looked up at the sky and noticed it was a little cloudy. I hope it doesn't rain. I have my hoodie but I don't think my shoes will suffice in bad weather. I walked quickly down the pavement and towards the school. Of course there's a specific reason I'm trying to be extra early. I'm trying to avoid DJ.

DJ is the most popular guy in school. He has a lot of money and only dates 'bad bitches'. Like he's dating Angel. She's the most popular girl in the school. Like any high school cliche they had to date. Now they're the power couple. Everyone wants to be them. I want to avoid them. They excessively bully me every chance they get. I don't know why. I try to be nice to them. But everything I do ends up with me getting hurt somehow. My best bet is to try and avoid them as much as I can.

I got to the stone steps of North Jefferson and looked at the door. No one but the teachers and staff was here just this moment but I was still nervous and paranoid. Thinking someone was going to pop out and do something bad to me. I let out a shaky breath. Just calm down. No one's gonna hurt you because no one is here. I took a deep breath in and took the first step. Then the other and the other. Finally I was at the door. I lifted my trembling hand and hesitated.

What if he's there? What if he has some sinister plan to get me as soon as I open the door? Is this what my life has become? Am I so afraid and paranoid that I can't even open a simple door? A door that leads to a deserted hallway because really, who shows up an hour before school starts?

Most teachers don't even show up until right before homeroom. But my paranoia has my brain going in all directions. Nothing makes sense and yet everything does. So many possibilities with the same outcome. Some way, somehow, he finds me and hurts me. I closed my eyes as my heart raced. It was pounding so loudly I can feel and hear the vibrations in my ears. You can do this, I mentally told myself. My hand connected with the cold handle of the school's doors and I tugged them open. It creaked from being disturbed. I peaked my head inside. Everything was empty. I sighed in relief and walked inside.

My foot steps echoed in the halls. This is what I like. Quiet so I know I'm the only one there. I went to my locker and put the combination in. I got the things I would need for my first three classes of the day to minimize my need to come to my locker. My first three classes are my core classes. English, Pre-calculus, and AP Chemistry/lab. Those classes are safe. I did get picked on occasionally but it's something I can easily overcome.

My last four classes consist of Civics/economics, Culinary arts, gym and student volunteer. Basically for that hour I'm assigned a place where I'll help either a staff member, teacher, etc. I have fourth lunch which is right after Civics. I normally grab a snack and just hide out in the library during that time. In civics I have Angel in my class. Her and her friends gossip about me constantly, making me very paranoid. What's worse is that DJ meets her after class and they'll double team me before lunch. DJ is in my culinary arts and gym class. Perfect time for him to pick at my weight, burn me with hot food, and then pelt me with some type of sport related equipment. Giving me plenty of fresh bruises before I'm momentarily free from them for an hour. They'll end up circling around by the end of the day to get me one last time before the day is over.

I walked in my English class and sat in the very back. My teacher wasn't even here yet. I pulled out my phone and began reading some more. I was really interested in the book I was reading. It was about a girl who too was being mistreated by her peers. I sympathized with her a lot. I had just got to a part introducing a new character named Jake. I knew I liked him when I first saw his name. He was new and was nice to the girl Lilith who needed a friend. That's when the bell rang and I noticed people filing into the class. I put my phone up and waited for class to start.