Buer

CHAPTER 2 - AUGUST

Life couldn’t get any more f****d for her.

She was alone, cold and severely under prepared for Biology test. Which is about to take place after two hours. Last night, she reached home by one after her late night shift. Then there was some homework to complete. That took another hour, then cleaned the house for some time. It was almost three when she went to bed.

By seven, she had to wake up. School started at eight thirty and she couldn’t afford to be late. At least a high school graduate. That was her goal.

By eight, she was dressed in her usual clothes. Dark jeans, some random sweater, sneakers. Her brown hair left open, their length a bit longer than a bob cut. She had spectacles but that was mostly just for reading. So, it was only in lectures that she wore them. Not during her job.

School was just a kilometer away from her house. So that gave her plenty of time to have breakfast. Any protein bar available in Walmart. That and a glass of boiled milk she had before leaving. It also gave her time to prepare for her Biology test.

The test was only of one chapter. But Biology and her don’t really get along. So she just said a small prayer, hoping that Jesus was listening.

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Of course Jesus wasn’t listening. Like always. She didn’t even have an idea what half of the words were.

“1-a, 2-c, 3-d.” A voice spoke up beside her.

She looked to see Justin looking at her with a smirk. She silently thanked him before marking the answers. Trusting Justin wasn’t that of a good decision. Since, she was blank and had no idea, she hoped that at least one of the would be right. That would help her pass.

One step closer to graduating.

“Didn’t sleep last night, eh?” Justin walked beside her to the cafeteria. When she didn’t bother answering, he pulled her closer. “Hot date?”

She rolled her to such an extent that only the whites in her eyes were visible for some time. “Really?” As if someone would date this cursed girl. Anyone in their right mind would run the other way.

Except for her gang. They are the ones that kept her going.

Justin was a part of that gang. Her oldest friend. A total douche, but a good person to selective people.

“Marcy just broke up. So she’s all hormonal and shit.” Her informed her. That wasn’t really news. Marcy had called her last night during her shift, crying loudly. Thankfully, the club songs blocked her voice. She loved her Marcy, but Marcy post breakups could be painful.

“She just met him last week.”

“You should know how hormonal girls can get.” She punched Justin’s arm. That was mean and sexist. “You know it’s true August.” That earned him another punch.

“Maybe you don’t know seeing you punch like a guy.”

That led to another series of playful banter.

“I hate him.” Marcy’s sobs could be heard from across the room. That was also the first thing she heard as she entered the cafeteria. That was followed by a few sniffles and consoling statements.

“He was a douche anyway.” Julia added causing Julie and Kevin to nod as well.

“Yeah. Besides, you’re sobs are hammering.” That statement earned Justin few used tissues on his face.

“You need to stop Marcy. All you’re doing is giving him the satisfaction that he was successful in hurting you.” August tried to be the voice of reason, hoping that would shut her up.

So mean!

“I love him. He was my world.”

Well, a world that changes that every week. You probably have a new solar system every month and a galaxy by now.

Those were the thoughts in her mind. Saying that aloud would be very rude and true. August lacked guts. Besides, one Justin in the group was more than enough.

“Move on. You’ll find someone new.” Julie said….or was that Julia? Three years since she’s known the blonde-blue haired identical twins. Yet she wasn’t sure who was who.

“Yeah, he wasn’t that hot anyway.” Those were definitely Julia’s words.

“Can we get some food. I’m starving.” Kevin moaned.

Things a.k.a. Marcy returned back to normal. We were all back to being the happy family. Her only family.

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“How about we go somewhere tonight?” Marcy asked while copying down the assignment from the board. It’s friday and last day of September so there will be offers in stores.

August hummed back in return. Friday along with the weekends were her day offs. She spent most of it sleeping and some time studying. Making sure that she has enough credits to pass high school.

“Say something August or I’ll strangle you.” She hadn’t realised that she had zoned out for that long. Something she did that. Going off into her dreamland where everything was fine.

“I’m in.”

She complied. Not due to lack of clothes but more due to fear.

Marcy was tiny girl. Five feet four inches, just like her. Her personality made up for her lack of height. She, too was blonde but with green eyes. Wavy hair upto shoulder with a medium build. Marcy reminded her of Bernadette from Big Bang Theory. Pretty and deadly.

“Tell the twins too.”

That’s how she found herself in Victoria’s secret helping Kevin purchase lingerie for his girlfriend.

The twins were somewhere in the changing rooms and Justin and Marcy were outside, getting a drink.

“You think this will look good?” Kevin was holding up a piece of cloth which barely covered anything. Adding to that, it was orange in colour. It looked rather funny on his skin tone.

Kevin was african-american and beautiful. A lot of people avoided him as he was tall, dark and scary looking. To her, he was her teddy bear. Her teddy bear was holding a teddy.

“Put it down. You look funny holding it.” Then again, fluorescent orange made everyone look bad. Unless you’re Cameron Diaz. She makes everything look sexy.

“How about this?” August held up a pair of violet lace panties with a matching bra. That would really suit his secret girlfriend whom none of have met. Apparently, they’re taking it slow. So slow that he was gifting the girl lingerie. Slow my ass!

Marcy and Justin were already eating at the food court. She said she was too depressed to enter Victoria’s Secret and Justin didn’t have anyone to gift lingerie to.

“I need to go home. Nana is coming over.”

Since August lived alone, her grandmother visited her often. It was her way of repaying for her mother’s mistakes. She didn’t mind that. Living in that house alone was boring enough.

All of them wished her goodbye. Justin insisted on accompanying her home. He was a nice guy that way.

“You need to bring those cookies on Monday.”

August nodded. Her nana’s choco-chip and blueberry cookies was a rage among her friends.

She nodded in reply.

“There’s just History homework right, for Monday?”

“History and French.”

An involuntary curse left her mouth. She was barely managing to pass English. French was just out of her league.

“Damn it. Totally forgot about that.”

She thanked Justin with a punch to his arm, which was normal. “See you around doofus.”

“See ya babe.”

When August entered the house, the kitchen lights were on. Nana was already here.

She stood on the kitchen door, watching her sixty five year old grandmother shimmy to a famous sixties pop song. The scent of blueberries was already spread around the house.

“Should you be dancing at such an age?”

“What age?” Her Nana turned back and smiled.

“The age about which you lie. A lot!” August hugged her Nana as tight as she could. Which was not that much. Considering her delicate figure.

“A lady never tells her age.” Knowing that there is no winning her grandmother in any sort of debate, she resorts to enjoying the freshly baked cookies.

“You don’t have work today?” August and Nana had dinner which was some veg sandwiches that she made and her Nana’s cookies.

Nana’s behaviour changed as a whole as she spoke about her work. Her workplace was a favourite topic of argument between her and her family. They hated the workplace and the working hours. She didn’t like it either. The late shift hours, however, kept her sane. They kept her away from her night terrors. Besides, the pay was awesome so that was just added bonus.

“No, I’ve asked for weekend and friday off.” Her sweet boss was happy to oblige. Another bonus of her workplace.

Nana was silent. She counted backwards from ten. The old woman took the plates and went to the kitchen. As soon as the countdown reaches zero, all the bickering and cribbing could be heard. The same old as always.

Ah, life was good!