The Waiting One

Checking her reflection in the floor-length mirror in her bedroom, Alayria Turretto looks over herself critically just as she does every morning, but today is the start of her Senior Year at Northom High School, so she takes a bit longer to check herself over. She starts from her shoulder length jet black hair, to her round forehead, her thin black eyebrows, her long sooty eyelashes, her light golden brown eyes, high cheekbones, aquiline nose, bow shaped lips, soft round jaw and chin, and her light cinnamon complexion. She is 5'6 in height with an athletic and curvaceous body. She tries hard to keep herself in shape, and she stays completely away from alcohol and smoking since she is one of the top girls on her High School Track Team. Though it doesn't help her a whole lot in her home life, which is why today she is wearing a blue pull-over sweat shirt with long sleeves, with a pair of dark fit blue jeans, white ankle socks, and a pair of blue and gray tennis shoes. There is a very good reason for her to need to be this covered up, and it's to hide the fresh bruises she is sporting along both of her arms, her side, and her legs that she received from her Stepfather Thomas Frank in yet another of his drunken outbursts. Which has become a daily occurrence in this house of hell. Alayria's only saving grace for a long while had been her stepbrother Brandon....when he was alive, that is. Brandon had been 2 years older than her, and he'd treated her like she was really his little sister, always protecting her and always there when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Brandon could always make her laugh, even when she would let it known that she wasn't in the mood he would purposely do stupid things just to make her laugh. Brandon also constantly protected her from bullies at school. Although she is on the track team, she would still be picked on because she is so quiet and an introvert. But mainly he'd kept her safe from Thomas' drunken rages, and especially any chance Thomas might think he could try to make s****l advances on her. Some thought Brandon had less than brotherly reasons for how he was with her, but it was far from true, since Brandon was....gay. And, her only protector, Brandon, had been taken away from her 3 years ago when he'd been murdered in cold blood by some guys in a street gang all because Brandon wouldn't give them his wallet and car. Alayria had been 14 years old then, and Brandon had been 16 years old. She still cries herself to sleep at night thinking about how scared he had to have been, but thankfully the three gang members that committed the murder were all sent away to jail. Feeling tears slide down her cheeks, she quickly wipes them away, then forces her thoughts away from all of that pain. Crying isn't going to bring Brandon, who was just not her brother but also her best friend, back, something she knows to be all too true. Picking up her bookbag from where it is placed by her bedroom door, Alayria walks out of her bedroom in a hurry, then she quietly tiptoes down the stairs, and slips out the front door all before Thomas can see her. She walks with quick steps to the end of the driveway, and she taps one foot nervously as she waits for her two best friends, Bryenna Mason, and Chanday Diego to pick her up to go to school. Alayria shifts nervously from foot to foot casting quick wary glances back over her shoulder as she waits then finally she spots Bryenna's car as she pulls up in front of her, and Alayria climbs into the back seat. 'Damn it, Alayria, it happened again, didn't it?' Bryenna demands angrily while Alayria settles herself in the middle of the backseat of Bryenna's car while Chanday sighs with irritation, then Chanday says, 'You need to tell someone, Ary.' 'Who would I tell?' Alayria asks timidly. 'A teacher? The Police? You both know it will get back to him and things will only get worse.' 'If Brandon was....' Bryenna starts saying, then jumps with surprise just as Chanday does, as Alayria snaps in fury. 'Well he's not, is he! Now drop it, and just take us to school.' Bryenna gives Alayria a look of concern before finally pulling away from the driveway while Chanday remains quiet and plays with the radio, and Alayria sulks in the backseat in guilt and trying as hard as she can not to cry again over the mention of her Stepbrother. It's not as though she doesn't wish he'd just given those gang members what they'd wanted that night, but even if Brandon had whose to say those hoodlums still wouldn't have killed him. After Bryenna parks her car and turns it off in the Northom High School parking lot, and Alayria still feeling the dark mood from Bryenna almost making a statement she knows better than to make, Alayria gets out of the car and walks away from her two best friends without saying a word to either of them, and she walks inside the school. She keeps her head down as she passes the groups of cliques; the Popular Girls, the Jocks, the Goth Kids, and the Nerds; ignoring their open whispers and giggling. Alayria reaches her locker and instead of opening it right away, she rests her forehead against the cool medal of the locker, trying to control her breathing, and bottle up her emotions. This is a skill she's had to rely on in order to cope with Brandon's death, and to keep herself sane while her life has become a neverending endless hell. She knows her friends mean well, and are very worried about her. They're even frightened for her over the constant abuse she deals with from Thomas. But the only upside to it all is that Thomas hasn't tried to molest her, or worse force himself on her sexually....yet. Finally getting herself together, she opens her locker after putting her combination to the lock of her locker, and she puts a few of her newly bought notebooks and a couple of packs of pens and pencils into her locker and then she starts to close the locker door again when she feels the hair at the nape of her neck prickle, and stand on end as a sense of uneasiness rides up and down along her spine causing her to shiver as though cold. She slides her gaze to the right of her, seeing nothing, then she slides her gaze to the left of her again, seeing nothing....no one is even looking in her direction, but she can still feel and sense as though she is being watched. And this feeling has her stomach in knots. The kind she feels only when it's that cycle of the month, but only this time it seems worse to the point that she feels nauseated because she can sense a dark maliciousness behind whoever is watching her. She glances around warily again then hooks the strap of her bookbag over her right shoulder, pushing the dread inside of her to the back of her mind, putting it off as plain paranoia, then heads off to her first period class of the day. When lunch time comes, Alayria enters the huge boisterous cafeteria though she doesn't have much of an appetite, even though the cramps in her stomach have begun to ease up, she doubts she'll be able to actually eat. Then she hears someone loudly calling her name. She turns her head to see who it is calling to her and she sees it's her best friend Chanday waving her to come to the table where Chanday, Bryenna, Janelle, Christian, Anthony, Jermaine, Philip, Bryan, and some guy she doesn't know are all sitting at. The unknown guy is definitely gaining a lot of attention from the girls in the cafeteria, and Alayria is no exception. She doesn't move from the spot where she is standing close to the cafeteria exit as she studies the guy from a distance. The first thing she notices is that he looks a little older than all of the students that go to this school....so, why is he even here? She can't really decipher how tall this guy is with him sitting in the hard-backed cafeteria chair, but his physical appearance is enough to keep any girl that sees him wanting to burn every detail about him into their memory....including Alayria, which concerns her greatly considering she's never shown any sort of interest in any of the guys that go to this school before. So, why all of the sudden is she just gawking at this guy like he is some sort of God that has come from the heavens? He has short shaven jet black hair cut close to his scalp, a broad forehead, cinnamon-toned complexion, thin jet black eyebrows, long sooty eyelashes, high cheekbones, a round nose that looks to have been broken more than once, smirking much too attractively sensual lips, and an authoritative strong steel squared jawline and chin. He's wearing a white short sleeved t-shirt that stretches over his broad shoulders and a wide broad muscular chest that clearly shows off his large long muscular tattooed arms, with a pair of blue jeans that look to be below his ass and clearly shows the top of his black boxers though he does have a belt buckled to keep his pants up, she guesses. Then she notices his long strong legs. When she finally lifts her gaze, she finds her gaze caught by his and she sees that his eyes are so dark brown that they can be considered onyx black and her breath rushes out of her. As she stares into his dark, anger-filled eyes she feels a nagging disturbing sense of recognition come over her suddenly so fast it causes her ears to ring, and a buzzing to take over her mind that she doesn't even hear herself, as she screams at the top of her lungs. 'YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!' Alayria hisses and groans as she opens her eyes only to be blinded by a bright light that has her slapping a palm over her eyes after closing them again, and she hears a girl's voice say in relief. ' Oh thank goodness, we thought you'd stay unconscious forever.' 'Stop being so dramatic.' Alayria groans, as she lowers her hand from her eyes, then blinks and looks at the sincerely concerned expressions on the faces of her two best friends. Then she slowly looks around the room she woke up in, and she asks, frowning at them. 'Why am I in the Nurse's Office?' 'You don't remember?' Bryenna asks even more concerned now. Alayria shakes her head slowly as she looks between Bryenna and Chanday in questionable confusion, and Chanday says worriedly. 'You made an explosive accusation in front of most of the school at lunch.' Alayria frowns slightly, and Bryenna goes on to explain. 'You screamed, "You killed my Brother" at the top of your lungs at the new guy who just transferred here for his Senior Year.' Alayria just stares at Bryenna then she slowly looks at Chanday who nods her head confirming what Bryenna says, and Alayria whispers in shock. 'Oh God.' Bryenna takes one of Alayria's hands between both of her own to comfort her, and Bryenna says soothingly. 'I am sure it is only because of everything you have been going through, Ary. It was just the shock of seeing someone unfamiliar, and new sitting with us at the table today.' Chanday tries to give Alayria a reassuring smile, but Alayria isn't fooled by it. She pulls her hand free slowly from Bryenna's slack hold, then Alayria says hoarsely. 'I think I should just go home.' "NO!" Chanday and Bryenna exclaim loudly in unison, causing Alayria to jump and flinch reflexively to them raising their voices at her with such angry conviction. Alayria stares at her two best friends with wide startled eyes while they both immediately show remorse for causing this instantaneous reaction from her, and she asks slowly. 'So where do the two of you think I should go then, huh?' Chanday lets out a hard sigh spreading her arms wide before dropping both arms back to her sides again in defeat, then her eyes light up as though a thought hads just come to her, and Chanday says firmly. 'I can talk to my Grandma, Ary, you know she adores you.' Alayria honestly doesn't want to become a burden on Chanday and her Grandma, but before Alayria can even attempt to put up an argument the door to the Nurse's Office slams open and Thomas walks in glaring furiously at her, and she immediately shrinks back in fear while Bryenna and Chanday take up position to block his view of her like some human shield of protection. All Alayria can really do is stare at the back of their heads like they have both lost their minds while Thomas now looks even angrier that they are showing such bravado. Alayria begins to open her mouth to speak only to close her mouth again when the Nurse's Office door opens yet again interrupting her as she watches apprehensively as a Policeman, and Policewoman walks into the Nurse's Office, and the Policewoman says with quiet authority. 'We need for the three of you to leave this room so we can speak with Miss Turretto privately.' Alayria's eyes widen with surprise and nervousness, and Thomas glares harder as he demands angrily. 'I want to know what this is about. I'm her Legal Guardian and have a right to be involved in any questioning she goes through.' Alayria notices that the Policeman begins to place his hand very close to his taser gun while watching Thomas carefully, and Thomas notices this as well before he shoots Alayria a dangerous warning look, and then he stomps from the room with both Chanday and Bryenna following behind him. 'W-why do you need to talk to me?' Alayria asks the Policewoman timidly. The Policewoman pulls up a chair close to the small bed Alayria is resting in then the woman sits in the chair facing Alayria while the Policeman stands guard by the door, and the Policewoman says kindly. 'I will start off by letting you know that you are not in any sort of trouble....' Alayria nods her head though she finds it odd that sshe starts off this way, and the Policewoman says with a soft smile. 'We received a call from the school Nurse, Mrs. Verone, reporting allegations of some physical abuse concerning you.' Alayria is scared speechless as she stares at the kind Policewoman then she swallows really hard a few times, and she asks nervously. 'W-why w-would she say that?' The Policewoman slaides a look to her partner as he frowns at Alayria, then he asks. 'Are you saying the allegations are false, Miss Turretto?' (This is my chance! I can tell them everything, and they can help me!) Alayria thinks to herself hopefully as she glances back and forth between the Policewoman and Policeman, then she answers softly. 'No, I am not saying they're false, they're all true...b-but please don't tell him I confirmed any of this....d-don't tell him that I told.' The Policewoman places a comforting hand onto Alayria's jean clad knee, and she asks. 'Would you mind if I take some pictures of your bruises then speak with you privately about something a bit more....private?' Alayria lowers her brows with misunderstanding for a moment then notices the look that passes between the two Police Officer's and then the Policeman nods and leaves the Nurse's Office. Alayria shifts nervously in the bed she lying on, then she aks. 'Are you going to ask me embarrassing questions?' The Policewoman watches her with observant eyes and seems to get a partial answer to whatever question she is about to ask when she notices the deep red blush that mars Alayria's cheeks, and the Policewoman smiles. 'You are still a Virgin, then. So the abuse has not been anything s****l just all physical and mental.' Alayria nods her head confirming this, then she adds. 'And verbal.' The Policewoman writes this down in her notebook while Alayria begins to feel a bit more comfortable now then she gets off the bed slowly, and strips down to her bra and panties while the Policewoman pulls out her phone then begins to snap pictures of all the old and new bruises all over Alayria's body. Once she finishes up Alayria gets dressed again, then she asks worriedly. 'Now what happens? Do I have to go back home with....him?' The Policewoman gives Alayria a soft look, and she says. 'No, you will not be returning home with Mr. Frank. I will now inform my partner that Mr. Frank is to be arrested for Assault and Battery, and you, Miss Turretto, will need to come down to the Station to make a full report and file charges.' The Policewoman pauses and looks at Alayria, then the woman asks. 'Do you have any family you can stay with?' Alayria swaalows extremely hard a couple of times then slowly licks her lips as she fights back the tears that are threatening to build at this question, and she says. 'No, I don't. My Mom passed away 4 years ago, and my Stepbrother passed away 3 years ago. I only have my two best friends.' The Policewoman nods her head while she glances at the door again. It's after this that everything just happens as though it is all happening to someone else, and not Alayria herself, and for a majority of it all Alayria seems zoned out. Which is why she has no memory of leaving the Police Station with Chanday and Chanday's Grandmother, or how she has even found herself at Chanday's house sitting at the kitchen table with Chanday and her Grandma. 'You need to eat, los querida.' Grandma Marie Diego says tenderly. Alayria looks up from her messy plate that she has been just pushing her food around instead of even trying to eat any of it, and she says quietly. 'I am sorry, I just don't have much of an appetite.' Chanday sets her glass of strawberry milk down onto the table watching Alayria in concern, and Chanday says with concern. 'You haven't eaten a thing since breakfast.' 'I, uh, didn't actually eat breakfast today.' Alayria admits sheepishly. Chanday gives Alayria a look of disbelieving concern, and Grandma marie says firmly. "You must eat then. We don't want you getting sick.' Alayria honestly does understand their concern, but if she takes even a small bite of the delicious smelling food she'll throw it all back up again, and to her this is the biggest insult than not eating. And she rubs her temples softly with her fingertips as her head throbs so badly it brings tears to her eyes. She has so much tension built up in her shoulders they ache, and Chanday says softly. 'I think it's because of all of the stress of today. I think she needs to go lie down, and try to get some long needed rest.' Grandma Marie looks at Chanday for a long moment before turning her wise concerned gaze on Alayria, then Grandma Marie nods her head agreeably and Alayria gives a small smile of relief then excuses herself from the table, and slowly walks to the guest room she is going to stay in for tonight. Chanday is right, of course, Alayria is feeling very stressed out and exhausted but it is not just from the events of today....it's due to everything she has been going through ever since Brandon had been murdered and taken from her.