Chapter 2

The sheer disgust dripping off of Madison's tone is enough to shatter my new found confidence into shards. 

A cold sheen layers her dark blue eyes, making them appear even more cunning and disapproving than ever before. The kindness that I once sawn in them is now nothing but a vivid memory of the faraway past.

"I'm s-so–" But before I can finish my sentence James Witherdale, mind you the most handsome guy in school, cuts me off mid speech.

"Like the new look. It suits you." James says while passing by. His voice is deep, but smooth as butter. 

"Thank you James. It's probably the summer glow still shining through." Madison replies. 

Looking back over his shoulder he says, "Not you, your sister." With that said he turns the corner of the hallway, leaving me behind with a fuming Madison.

"He did not just say that." Madison growls out in a low tone. The fact that my locker is located at the entrance of school doesn't help my situation, because that means most of the students have seen the show that just went down. 

"I'm pretty sure he just complimented Alyssa." Dylan chimes in, just agitating the bear with the sore paw even further. Her smug smile just added fuel to the already burning fire. 

"Alyssa, just take your friend and get out of my sight." Madison demands. 

"This is my locker." I say, baffled about where the urge to talk back at Madison suddenly came from.  

"Did you just talk back to me?" Madison inquired. Her eyes narrowed to slits and her arms folded across her chest. 

"Madi, you can't keep treating me like crap and think it is okay. I'm a grown woman. A woman that has the same rights as you to dress as she pleases. So stop all this bitching you have going for you, because I won't back down anymore," I say. It feels so good speaking my mind for once, to not let the fear take over my being and telling Madison off for once. "and remember I'm your sister, not your puppet." With that said I slam shut my locker door and walk away from a fuming Madison with a shocked Dylan in tow.

"Alyssa! I'm so not done with you." Madison screams from behind me.

"Well I am!" I yell back, turning the hallway corner. Only to meet eyes with Chloe Valentine, none other than Madison's best friend since middle school.

Her vibrant smile lit up the hallway. Sometimes I wonder how such a nice girl ended up being friends with my cold tyrant of a sister. 

"Alyssa, you look great." Chloe compliments, giving me a bright smile that puts her pearly whites on display for all to witness.

"Thank you, Chloe." I say, thanking her with a pleased smile resting on my lips as well. 

"Where is your sister?" She asks to scan the area around me in order to find Madison. Which is pointless, because Madison would not be caught dead being seen with me, other than the event that took place this morning, she would rather not let on to know me. All which I can label under, misfortune.

"She was last at my locker." I say before walking away. 

"Thank you." Chloe says, before walking off in the opposite direction. 

The stares of the people are starting to burn holes into my neck and speeding up my walk doesn't seem to help either. It feels that I'm being held under a microscope for all to analyse and then write down comments on their own opinion. 

Just by luck I reached my homeroom. The door to the class is unlocked as I push it to open. The class is still empty, that is until Dylan speaks.

"Alyssa, what the hell, I'm so proud of you." Dylan says as we take a seat in the front row near the windows. 

"That was just some once off boldness." I play it off.

"So not true. You for once stood your ground and looked Madison straight in the eye, while telling her off. That took guts and I am proud of you for that." Dylan says as she takes out her purple notebook and her pencil bag. 

"Thank you Dylan," I say smiling at the one person who's always told me to take a stand against Madison, for years now." to be honest, it felt great telling Madison off infront of all those students." 

"I know she's your sister and all that, but that girl really needed a reality check. If you were to leave her be today, I would have totally given her a piece of my mind." Dylan says as she starts to scribble down something in the secretive notebook of hers.

She keeps that thing so close to her at all times, never out of sight. I wonder what she's up to? It's been months of me nagging her to let me in on her secret, but all I get is a 'not yet'. So I just stopped asking.

"I'm glad I have you as my best friend then." I say smiling.

"Well, Madison tried to steal the spotlight for a second, but James Witherdale thinks you're hot." Dylan gushes as she flips shut her notebook.

"He said he likes my new look, that's all." I say as my cheeks heat up at the thought of James spending enough time looking at me to even notice when I've gone through a wardrobe change.

"Oh please, you and I both know that James doesn't give a second glance to anybody in this school, but he spoke to you and not to even mention complimented on your new look. That is like him asking you on a date, already." Dylan says. 

"I know that, but he's just being nice. Other than the other scholars just staring at me, he actually said something out of decency and besides he's on the swim team. We pretty much practice together, so of course he's noticed the difference in my usual attire and the outfit I'm dressed in today." I say, playing it off cool, atleats as nonchalant as I can. 

"Alyssa, now you are just being modest." Dylan says, rolling her eyes at me. 

"Didn't we talk about you not rolling your eyes at me anymore?" I ask. 

"We have and you should not feel belittled by it. This is a cultural thing and after what you said, an eye roll is well deserved." Dylan states in a matter of fact. 

"You're really something else." I say staring at Dylan for a while, in pure welcomed silence.

"That's my specialty." She nods her head in acknowledgement as her silky brown hair falls forward over her shoulder blades. 

She really has the prettiest hair with the best cheekbones.

"Earth to Alyssa!" Dylan voices as she waves her hand in front of my face. 

I give my head a small shake, to rid myself the sudden haze that I was trapped in.

"Sorry. I don't know why that keeps happening." I say apologetically to Dylan.

"Girl, you zone out like 10 times a day. You should get that checked out. Besides, your mother and her good weed can be contributing. Don't get me wrong I love that woman as family, but inhaling all those fumes for years can be damaging to the brain." Dylan says sitting up straight.

"I know. I've talked to dad about it. He said he'll get me an appointment booked, but something just keeps popping up and now that he's moved out. I don't think he'll be getting me to see someone soon." I say as a sigh escapes my lips. 

"I'm so sorry about your dad. You and your mom must be devastated." Dylan enquiries.

"Lately I don't know what to feel anymore, Dylan. It's like my life is being turned upside down, but the thing is I don't think it was ever right-side up in the first place." I confess.

R I N G

The teacher walks in, Ms Miller, while students start to pile in. Indicating the start of school, cutting me and Dylan's conversation short. 

"Good morning, students." Ms Miller greats.