The Girl Who Cried Wolf

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Following the conversation with my mother, we ate breakfast and I cleaned up. I don't have much to do at the moment since I'm taking a gap year. I just graduated from high school and decided I would travel for a year or two before I get an extended education. I don't know what I want to do. I want to figure myself out, find out what I really want to do, and I'll go from there. I have plenty of time to get an education; I'm not dead yet. 

I'm still saving up my money so that I can pay for university in full rather than get loans. Student debt can kiss my ass. In the meantime, I get ready to go to the library. At the end of the day, all of my favorite characters never judge me. They help me guide through life in the laughter and the pain. It is my place of vulnerability and safety. My own hidden worlds are a haven for me. 

As my thoughts take another turn, I lay out my outfit for the day. A white t-shirt, black skinny jeans with holes at the knees, a black belt, a black leather jacket, and my favorite black leather booties with four belts over it. 

I put my abnormal purple hair into a messy bun and do my makeup. This includes applying mascara on my eyelashes to make my half blue and half amber eyes brighter, red lipstick, filling in my eyebrows, and applying the 'cat eye' style to my upper lids with black eyeliner. I then put on deodorant and spray pineapple-kiwi perfume on my neck and inner wrists. I go downstairs and grab my keys, small backpack, phone, headphones, and helmet. 

I never liked cars so I got a motorcycle instead. My mother didn't like it, but she said if I wanted it, I had to work for it. I did. I paid for my motorcycle with money I earned including car insurance, gas money, and my helmet.

Thankfully, the library isn't that far. If I was going on the highway, I'd wear the rest of my proper motorcycle gear. One of my favorite things about this line of work is that the librarian doesn't care what I wear, drive, etc. She just cares that the tasks gets done and that I give good customer service when it calls for it. I couldn't ask for a better and more rewarding occupation. Sure, I'm not rich. On the bright side, I get what I need and put the rest of it into savings. My parents pay for the house and groceries. The rest of us kids pay for whatever we want or need. That's all our parents ask. Now, if I had to pay housing plus groceries, I'd be broke. 

As I'm driving to the parking lot, I notice that there are more cars than usual. There are about ten of them. Usually there are one or two not including staff. If there is this many people, I'm going to need to prepare myself for confrontation. I don't mind it; I just can't say all of the words I want to say to their face. Since, you know, if I'm 'unkind' I'd be fired without question. 

I park my motorcycle in my usual spot and take off my helmet. I proceed to put my keys and jacket inside my backpack whilst leaving my helmet on my bike. I shrug on my backpack and let my hair out of its messy bun. As I do this, I'm making sure not to trip on the way into the library. What an entrance that would be. 

It's okay Rhyna. Just breathe. Any wrong word, and you will be fired. That means finding a new job. Which takes away time used to make money. That also means less money for your savings. So, at all costs, be a good dog and do not rip their heads off. Yes, I'm talking to myself. Pep talks are a thing you know. 

As I head to section Z, a group of girls and guys approach me. They are all snickering and as per usual, staring at me. Mind you, I have my headphones in and I'm putting books back where they belong. Without a word, I'm leaning against the bookshelf with my legs crossed and raise an eyebrow in question. These are the same kids that have the same insults from when we were five. It's quite repetitive. What I don't understand is how it's so amusing almost thirteen years later. 

"Hey eggplant! Are you getting any smarter by putting those books away," asks Dean Bottoms. I give him a blank stare in return. I lower my eyebrow and continue to maintain the same position I've been in. Dean Bottoms is a jock. Brown hair, brown eyes, fake smile, tan skin, and a body built with the muscle of a fifteen year old. No, he wasn't the quarterback or the wide receiver. However, he somehow still had a spot on the team. I only say somehow because he truly is dumb. Also, he's living completely off of his parents' inherited money. Total shocker there. 

Savannah Tremonte, says snappily, "You reply when he is talking to you." I glance sideways at the chihuahua. She is actually very beautiful. Dark dreadlocks, dark skin, fit body, and clothes I would wear if it weren't for my love of leather. She isn't filthy rich, but she is one of my few ex-best friends. It used to hurt to look at her. Heck, I used to hate her with my mind, body, and soul. Now, it's just one of my many scars. 

Instead of replying, I smile and give her a I-really-don't-care wave. Basically, I'm very sarcastic with my body language. She stomps right up to me and goes to grab my throat when Jessie Guylind points out, "Sav, if you do that, that would be physical assault. You would be thrown in jail and this one walks free. Except, she is actually innocent and you're not." 

Savannah whips her head towards Jessie and gives him a murderous glare. Of course, she still wraps her hand around my neck. Even though she is crushing my windpipes, I don't make a sound. Instead, to infuriate her further, I grin like the Cheshire cat and wink mockingly. She squeezes tighter in response. Unfortunately, her grip is solid. However, I grab a book from behind me and wack her on the head with it. She lets go instantly and the others back away. I roll my eyes at their inability to think with their heads. Well whoop-dee-doo, that makes Savannah the Psycho more irritated. Yes, I just poked the sleeping bear. Do I care? Nope. 

"You freak!" I look at my nails and then glance up at her. If she were a cartoon character she would have steam coming out of her ears. After getting a good look at the ticking time bomb, I  wave goodbye and walk away to put more books away. 

Ah, but I couldn't get away too easily. Psycho Girl decides to yank my arm, turn me around, and then push me to the ground. Instead of quivering in fear like she expects, I look up at her from the ground and wave as if to say 'hi'. Not a smart move on my part. She gets on her knees and pummels me with punches anywhere she can hit.

 I decide this moment to be a nincompoop and not block my face. In fact, I'm not protecting anything. I'm letting her beat the crap out of me. The even more idiotic part? Me not fighting back only seems to anger her more. I'm half-way convinced it's my existence. 

In the midst of her using me as her punching bag, policemen came and took her away. Jessie was talking to them and explaining the situation. The other part of her posse looked kind of freaked out and had blankets around them. Why in the world do they have blankets? Did they just get used as a dummy martial arts doll for fun by? No, but they're managing to play the victim card. I couldn't physically get up so they had to put me on a stretcher. I think I am the first person to ever get assaulted in the library. Yay me! 

"Rhyna, I know none of this was your fault. However, I still can't have you working at my library anymore," says my boss. Instead of showing her how annoyed I actually am, I just smile as much as I can with my beat up face and give her an awkward thumbs up. 

"Rhyna, is there anyone you would like to call," asks one of the paramedics. I nod my head and call Ulisies. "Hey Ulisies, guess what? I just got beat up at the library." 

At first there's silence and then I'm met with, "Are you serious?" 

I reply, "I couldn't be more serious. Pretty sure I have a few cracked ribs, at least one broken arm, and it hurts to talk because she did the most damage to my face." 

"Why the hell didn't you fight back Rhyna?" 

I sigh, "I get that you're mad at me. Also, that I didn't fight back. And the fact that I'm inconveniencing you-" 

Ulisies interrupts, "You aren't inconveniencing me I'm just concerned is all. Now, answer the question Rhyna." 

I huff, "If you would've let me finish I would've answered your question." 

Ulisies chuckles and I say, "You see, I'm the anomaly. Always have been. Don't try to convince me other wise. I'm certifiably weird. So when Savannah attacked me, even though she was warned not to by an outside party, I did not fight back. Why? Because if I had, the cops would have found a reason to blame me even though I was the victim. It wouldn't have mattered that it was self-defense. Not to mention, if I punched her once, her lights would've gone out."

Ulisies replies, "So you would've just let her kill you?"

I say thoughtfully, "I don't know. But, could you pick me up from the hospital? I have to get some stitches among other things."

Ulisies sighs, "Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can."

I smile, "Okay Clark Kent." Ulisies laughs and hangs up. By the time I look up from my phone call, I have half a dozen people staring at me. Oh yeah, I talked. They haven't heard my voice since I was a kid. Sure, it was a personal choice. However, if it weren't for them, I more than likely would've kept talking around them and to them. It's too late for that now. Time to go to the hospital. 

Even though I was not in the wrong at all, my boss fired me. Looks like I'm going to that camp thing after all. Well Mom, you got your wish.