Hidden

Do You See Me?

Chapter 03: Do You See Me?
Adeline

Running out my bathroom, I wrap my towel around my body, keeping it from slipping.

Looking around the room quickly, I stop at the window, making eye contact with Easton, who was already looking at me.

I groan, closing the curtains before continuing my routine.

"Adeline Fawn, not today. Breathe in, breathe out." I tell myself, something I do every morning.

And yet everyday it's the same bull.

Looking over my outfit one last time, I scoff, running out my room and downstairs.

An oversized shirt and some jeans never hurt me. It can't.

"Well finally, Adeline decided to show herself. Too bad all that running you do in the morning doesn't help." I hear him taunt as I make my way into the car.

My brother had his music blasting on the highest volume, oblivious to what just happened.

"Oh you're here." Kaleb laughs, turning the music down. "You can play something if you'd like."

"I like that song, too."

My brother backs out the driveway, nodding at his friend as he gets into his own car, driving behind us.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Kaleb was already gone by the time I walk out of the car, halfway through the school by now.

People stare at me as I walk into the building, keeping my head down.

"Easton!"

Three, two, one.

Counting in my head, I wait for the impact to take course, knocking me off my feet.

"Next time, get out the way." Easton laughs, walking away with his girlfriend.

I feel my face turn red in embarrassment as I stand to my feet, brushing my clothes off.

"That probably didn't hurt, the fat broke her fall!"

The group of kids in the hallway start laughing at me and I walk away, quickly.

"Fatty Addy,"

"Don't trip, Adeline."

They tease me like this everyday. It's funny how they don't want to be my friends, but they know my name so well.

My name but not me.

Adeline Fawn, why?

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

"Are you talking to me again?"

No.

"Adeline, look at me."

No.

"Adeline Fawn. What the hell is your problem?" Easton yells, making me flinch.

"What do you want from me, Easton?" I stress, crossing my arms.

"Talk to me."

"Okay. You're an ass. You're a bully. And I don't like you."

Easton runs a hand through his hair, muttering something to himself.

"You really think that?"

"Yes I think that. And I'm going to need you to think about the things you've said to me. Because you must have short term memory loss." I fume, the top of my lip raising in a scowl.

"It's always you." He replies, looking me dead in the eyes.

My heart tugs with a weird feeling, something that comes up whenever he looks at me that way.

"Always me, what?"

"Nothing." Easton coughs, looking away from me.

"How was your day?" I give him a fake smile that soon becomes real. No matter how hard I try, if people talked to me they'd see this is how I am.

I can't hide that.

"Could have been better." He shrugs, grinning. "You got your braces changed."

"You can see?" I ask, smiling even more against my will.

"Yeah. Blue looks nice on you."

"Thank you." I blush, looking away from him.

"Hey, Addy?" Easton calls again and I look up, trying my best to not show anymore happiness. I wasn't happy. "I'm really sorry. I hate that I do that but it just happens."

I shrug, ignoring his apology.

Easton is a night time friend. Someone who doesn't last. He doesn't care.

Looking back to him, I give him a tight smile.

"Don't worry about it, Easton. I'm used to it."

His smile drops as my words register in his head and I draw the curtains, leaving the window open.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

"Adeline."

"Adeline."

"Addy, wake the fuck up."

"I know you're not sleeping. You're sitting on the window ledge right now."

Running my hands across my face, I groan dramatically, opening the curtain.

Easton was already sitting at his window, his legs dangling outside.

"You're going to fall." I mutter, pulling the clip out of my hair.

"We have to talk." Easton states, ignoring what I just told him.

"You want to talk?" I correct him, pursing my lips. "I'm not awake right now."

"Please, Addy?"

"Yes, my Asian king?" I joke, sitting up straight.

"You're ugly." He chuckles, his tongue sticking out. "You're fat."

"Is there a reason why you're telling me this right now? This is getting interesting." I wave my book around, trying my best not to cry.

"Just making sure you remember your place. Good night, Adeline."

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Waking up, chills run through my body and I climb off my bed.

I left the window open again.

Sometimes, I really hate this window. It's the place where he sees me, where he can tell me every single flaw I already see.

Just because my public body is fake doesn't mean those words don't hurt me just as much.

"Adeline! I'm leaving in thirty!" My brother yells, banging on my door.

"I'm coming!"

"Okay. Well then hurry the fuck up before I pick your outfit out for you." Kaleb reply before I hear his footsteps get quieter, signaling that he left.

Another day in hell, Addy.

Let's get it over with.