A Different Kind Of Forever

Chapter Twelve:

Lunch break dam what's taking him so long miles should of been here by now I looked up and down the corridor.

As I leaned against my locker, the familiar sound of laughter and chatter filled the hallway. I spotted Lacey approaching, flanked by her best friends, Amanda and Cleo. My heart sank; I knew what was coming. Lacey had that look in her eyes, the same one our mother sometimes wore when she wanted something and was about to turn on the charm. But today, there was no charm—only venom.

"You'll never look good, Taleigha," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Not even with all that makeup you pile on." Her words cut deeper than any knife, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I knew why she was saying this. She was jealous. Jealous of the way I danced, the way I sang, and how Miles seemed to pay attention to me all the time. Rumors swirled around her, whispers that she had tried to sleep with him and he had turned her down. I could see the jealousy boiling beneath her skin.

As she continued her tirade, I felt the weight of Stacey's laughter nearby, the familiar sound of her mocking my every move. She was always there, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce on my misfortunes. Lacey's voice grew louder, her words sharper, as she began to shout nasty things about how I was homeless and that our mother didn’t want me. The words echoed in my mind, each one a dagger aimed at my heart.

Suddenly, with a swift motion, Lacey slapped me across the face, her palm stinging against my skin. "You're a disgrace to this family!" she yelled, her eyes blazing with fury. The world around me blurred as tears filled my eyes. I had always looked up to her, admired her, loved her, and yet here she was, tearing me apart. I felt a rush of humiliation wash over me, and without thinking, I turned and ran.

I dashed into the nearest bathroom, locking the door behind me. My heart raced as I leaned against the cool metal, trying to catch my breath. I could still hear the laughter outside, the cruel voices of Lacey, Stacey, and their friends echoing in my ears. My secret was out, and the shame was suffocating. I slid down to the floor, feeling utterly defeated.

In that moment, I remembered how our mother had always wished I hadn’t been born, how Lacey had been jealous of me for stealing her thunder. But I never meant to overshadow her. I just wanted to be loved, to be accepted. I loved Lacey, despite everything. But as I sat there, locked away from the world, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever be enough for her—or for anyone.

MILES POV:

Just after me and Taleigha said our goodbyes to go to the next class I got the text from Mum, my heart raced. "Can you come home? I need you to help me make a surprise for Taleigha." I didn’t hesitate. I bolted home, excitement bubbling up inside me. Mum had been planning something special for Taleigha, and I was all in. As I entered the house, the familiar smell of Mum’s cooking wafted through the air, but I knew we had work to do.

Mum had transformed the toy room into a magical space. The walls were painted in soft pastels, and colorful decorations hung from the ceiling. It was perfect for Taleigha. “Miles, I need you to get the double bed from the attic,” Mum instructed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “And don’t forget the set of drawers I just brought from the car.”

I nodded, eager to help. Climbing up to the attic was a bit of a workout, but I managed to haul the bed down. With Mum’s guidance, we set it up in the spare room, making sure everything was just right. We placed the nightlight on the bedside table, its soft glow promising comfort for Taleigha. I found her favorite books and stacked them neatly, ready for bedtime stories. Lastly, we set up a stereo, knowing how much she loved her music.

As we finished, a sense of pride washed over me. Mum and I looked around at our handiwork, smiles spreading across our faces. “We did it, Miles! She’s going to love this,” Mum exclaimed. I felt a warmth in my chest, knowing we had created something special for her.

But then, reality hit me like a cold splash of water. I glanced at the clock and realized I was half an hour late. “Mum, I have to meet up with Taleigha. I’ll see you after school thank you for doing this she's going to love it when she comes home I love you mom,” I said, grabbing my bag in a hurry. I quickly texted her, “I’m on my way! Whereabouts are you? I’m sorry x.”

At school, the atmosphere was charged with whispers and rumors. I could hear snippets of conversations as I rushed through the corridors, my mind racing with worry. What happened with Taleigha and Lacey? I needed to find her. I called her five times, but there was no answer. I asked a few students if they had seen her, but no one had a clue.

Panic began to creep in as I made my way to our fountain, the usual meeting spot. I scanned the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of her familiar smile, but there was nothing. My heart pounded in my chest as I texted her again, this time in all caps: “WHERE THE f**k ARE YOU? I’M WORRIED! TEXT ME BACK!”

I felt helpless, standing there alone. The laughter and chatter of my classmates faded away, replaced by the deafening sound of my own thoughts. What could have happened? I needed to find Taleigha, and fast

I bumped into Kyle and Levi. I asked, "Bro, you seen Tales?" Kyle responded, "Haven't seen Tales since Lacey blew her up in front of the whole school. What happened to her last night? Do you know?" I shut him down. "Bro, I ain't got time for that. It's none of our business. Where's Taleigha now?" I snapped. Levi said, "She ran off after Stacey and the girls were laughing when Lacey slapped her." I punched the locker. Assholes. Pacing up and down, f**k, where did she go? Guilt rushed through me. I told her I would protect her. I told her I'll be there for her. I failed her.