My Enemy and I

Chapter 1

The groan of my alarm clock was a physical ache this morning. First day back from Thanksgiving break. November's icy grip still clung to the window panes, but inside me, a colder dread settled. Every joint protested as I forced myself out of bed, a silent prayer escaping my lips that no one else was stirring. The bathroom mirror reflected a tired version of me, eyes a little too shadowed, a faint bruise barely visible on my collarbone — a souvenir from not finishing the dishes. I brushed my teeth mechanically, the mint not quite masking the metallic tang of anxiety.

Dressing was a silent operation, each movement calculated. No rustle of fabric, no click of a zipper. My worn sandals made barely a whisper on the carpet as I crept out of my room, bag clutched tight. Downstairs was the real minefield. Each creaking stair was a potential tripwire, a sound that could shatter the fragile peace of the morning. I held my breath, listening for the uneven snores from Mom and Dad's room, praying they wouldn't falter. Getting out of the house before anyone woke, especially him, was paramount. Fresh bruises were hard to explain away, and I was still wincing from the last batch.

The front door clicked shut with a soft finality, a small victory. My stomach gnawed, a familiar empty ache, but eating was never an option. Not when escape was the priority. I slid into my beat-up car, the cold seat a momentary jolt, and keyed the ignition. The engine coughed to life, a small roar in the quiet street, and I quickly eased out of the driveway, already headed for Nikki's, already searching for a sliver of normal. 

When I pulled up and honked my horn, she and Tina both walked out of the house. I couldn't stand Tina; she had a really bad rep, and everything about her grated on my nerves, but that's her business and not mine, so I tried to stay out of it. They both got in the car, and before I could even open my mouth, Nikki cut me off.

"Don't say anything," Nikki said, her gaze fixed straight ahead, almost a warning. "My mom told me to bring her."

I looked at her, then offered a genuine smile. "Okay. And by the way, you look really cute, as usual." My eyes then drifted to Tina, who was pulling herself into the backseat. "Umm... Tina, aren't you supposed to be wearing clothes?"

Nikki snorted, a sharp, amused sound.

Tina, already pulling out her phone, rolled her eyes with a theatrical sigh. "Haha, very funny, Alex. But I am." Her voice was flat, dripping with a sarcasm that was meant to sting.

"Well, excuse me, miss easy access." I couldn't help but grin, enjoying the jab. Nikki chuckled again, a bit louder this time.

"You know what, Alex? Just shut the hell up!" Tina's voice rose, a sharp edge of anger creeping in.

"Okay, I was just saying," I retorted, still laughing. The car filled with a tense quiet that Nikki quickly broke, turning on the radio.

I drove to Jenni's house, and when I got there, she was in the front yard playing catch with the twins. I honked the horn, and she dropped the ball, scrambling into the car. The moment she settled, she shot Nikki and me a furious "Why the fuck is Tina in the car?" look.

"Before you start a cussing spree," I said, pulling out of the driveway, "her mom made her come."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jenni exhaled dramatically, throwing her hands up. "Why couldn't she just walk? By the looks of it, she would've gotten picked up on the corner." She looked Tina up and down with such obvious disdain that Nikki and I just shook our heads, trying to stifle our laughter. One thing about Jenni is she loves to cuss, no matter what the occasion; she'd die cussing someone out.

We finally got to school. I parked my car in the junior/senior lot, grabbed my bag, and walked into the building with Nikki and Jenni while Tina, predictably, darted off to her own crowd. I swore, every time we walked past a group of guys, they'd whistle and hoot, treating us like slabs of meat at a butcher shop. It wasn't just annoying anymore; it was a low thrum of weary rage that added another layer to the weight already pressing down on me. I tightened my grip on my bag, my jaw aching, and just kept walking, forcing myself to ignore the crude calls behind us. This was just another gauntlet to run, another reminder of how little control I had over my own space.