Chapter 2: I took a sip from the devils cup

“What's Barbie doing?” I asked as I stepped inside mine and Cora's bedroom, peering over at her in the corner, playing with our few Barbies and a doll house.

“She's crying.” Cora replied innocently, setting the doll down on the dollhouses' plastic bed.

“Why is Barbie crying?” I asked quizzically.

“Because Ken is screwing a w***e. A goddamn w***e.” She explained, holding up Ken for me to see.

“Cora, that's not a nice word.” I felt tears welling up in my eyes, blurring my vision and sticking to my eyelashes.

“Which one?” Cora asked, gazing up at me with a steady gaze of worry as if she'd done something terribly wrong. I kneeled down in front of her.

“All of it. Mommy didn't mean those things she said. She didn't know anyone was listening. And you should just forget it all.” I suggested calmly, squeezing her hand gently.

“Okay.” She replied, picking up her Barbie without protest. The Barbie was no longer crying, and Ken was back to a sweet man who gave the little Kelly dolls piggybacks when he got home from his job as the president of the world. Now, why couldn't there be a little girl controlling our life? Stringing us along, and her big sister would come in and tell her to stop causing us misery, and to let us be happy together.

I kept peeking into the Claire's bag, where there was one round plastic ball, rainbow, that would soon be in my bellybutton. Jenna was clicking like crazy, texting to one of her many friends. With every key she pressed, a beep sounded, and it was getting irritating. I closed the Claire's bag for the fifth time just on that street, and tried to stop my teeth from chattering in excitement.

“Ugh, China is all pissed that we didn't invite her to the mall. Like, whatever. She stalks me, I'm not gonna lie to you.” She emphasized, tucking her sidebangs behind her ears.

“Oh. Yeah, she does seem to never want Quinn and I to spend time with you.” I mumbled.

“Yeah, and like, I like you and Quinn better. If she backed off I'd actually hang with her.” She rolled her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder with poise and elegance.

“Oh my god, ew. My freaky neighbour is outside. Like, I swear to god, she sits in that tree twenty four seven! She must not bathe. Disgusting.” She glared over at the big tree seperating their yards.

“Mmhm.” I murmured. The girl had long brown hair, with loose braids. She wore shorts and sneakers with a soccer jersey.

“Hi Jenna! Hi Peyton!” She exclaimed. I was taken back. I had no idea how this strange but intriguing girl knew my name, but it felt good. Maybe everyone knew my name, because of how much time I spent with Jenna.

“Hello Maureen.” Jenna rolled her eyes, never meeting Maureen's friendly gaze.

“It's such a nice day, eh?” Maureen grinned. She looked free and at one with the nature up in that tree, and in ways I envied her. That was how I used to be. I used to crouch under my staircase and jump out when my brothers passed. I used to chase cars down the street to see if I could go faster then them.

“Really.” I agreed.

“What's with the jersey?” Jenna sneered. She had a way of making people feel uncomfortable with her stare.

“I just got back from soccer. I really should change.” Maureen explained, gazing down at her orange jersey with a big 'M' for McDonalds in the middle of it. The whole idea of a greasy fast food chain sponsoring the soccer team made her even easier to mock.

“You really should.” Jenna agreed. I blinked with shame. It felt so wrong to not defend Maureen.

“Okay. See you guys at school tomorrow.” Maureen shared the same smile as before, not too wide but not too small.

“Bye.” I made firm eye contact with Maureen, making sure that she saw that I, in fact, was not a b***h like Jenna. Yes, my master, Jenna, the girl I worshipped, was a b***h. Jenna led me inside her house. It was small from the outside but inside there were different shades of beige all around the living room, with antiques decorating the walls and end tables. And up the spiraling staircase was a bright other floor with a sunlight shining through the hall. And inside Jenna's room it was pink and green, with a queen-sized bed with a pink glittery canopy and everything was in it's little colour co-ordinated bin.

“She's my weird neighbour. She has no friends.” Jenna explained, sitting down on her bed with a sigh. I felt a pang of sympathy, gazing out her window at Maureen, all alone in the tall tree with long branches.

“And her mom is like a hippie. She wears jesus sandals and no bra. Like, seriously. And her hair's a rat's nest. She's disgusting.” Jenna scowled. Shut up, Jenna. I cursed in my mind. Just shut up.

“Anyways, China's acting like a real b***h. Will you talk to her about it?” She asked sweetly.

“Um, it's not really my business. Couldn't you do it?” I bit my chapped lip nervously.

“Don't you want China to stop? She won't listen if I tell her.” She gave me a nasty glare.

“Okay.” I backed down, sitting down at her desk awkwardly.

Found dead and naked, beaten to death... alone.

I remember when things were simpler. And I always said it was Jenna who changed me. Who stole my childhood, turned me into a teenager. And I'd like to believe that she took my innocence, but it really wasn't her. It was my father.

I'd been pleasantly surprised when I found two pairs of big baggy sweat pants while rummaging through Jenna's closet for the shirt she'd borrowed from me. She, of all people, had messy clothes!
“Sweatpants? Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, these are the secrets that need to be told.” I taunted. We'd gotten to the stage in our friendship where I felt a bit less powerless and felt comfortable teasing her without worrying that she would ditch me in a split second.

“Oh, it's not what you think. You see, they're to wear when I go shopping.” She explained.

“Um... okay.” I arched my eyebrows, confused.

“Haha. I go to this store downtown, it has gorgeous stuff. And there aren't any of those clamp-y things, just tags to remove.” She explained.

“Still not getting it.” I replied, placing my hands on my hips.

“You can wear their clothes out of the store. Like, you can fit a pair of skinnies under the sweats and no one will see. And I have big sweaters, for shirts.” She explained.

“Wait, what? I don't get this.” I shook my head.

“Stealing. My whole wardrobe is from that boutique, and I didn't have to pay a cent.” She grinned.

“Doesn't your mom notice?” I asked. I knew very well that Jenna's father wasn't around, and not to mention him.

“That hoe? She's always out with her boyfriend Scott, or dancing with her friends. It's gross.” She laughed. I was shocked. To call your own mother a hoe? That was low.

“My mom would notice.” I replied.

“You want to test that theory?” She asked coyly, batting her eyelashes. She stood up, grabbed the smaller pair of sweatpants and handed them to me.

It was a long walk downtown, and Jenna kept me hanging every time I asked what the hell we were doing. We stopped in front of a small boutique along a strip of many other boutiques, with the words POM POM in vibrant pink on the sign. The mannequins in the window had real wigs on and very detailed faces. She grabbed my hand and took me inside. Right off the bat, I saw jewelry, makeup and clothes. It was more then enough to survive middle school, and all free? It was too good to be true, but there was a rumbling building in my stomach.

“Pick out anything you want.” She gestured to the racks and racks of clothes. Jenna looked just as pretty in a huge over-sized Dalhousie sweater and big roomy track pants. Her eyelashes were perfectly black and curled, and her lips were glossy and plump. She'd shown me that if you bite your lips and lick them, they look pouty and glossy instantly. And if you pinched your cheeks real hard, they get this natural summery glow. I grabbed a pink tank top off a hanger. It had sequins around the neckline, and spaghetti straps. Against dress-code, but I could wear a hoodie. Or a shrug. Or a cardigan! Ideas flooded into my head and I grabbed all kinds of things off the hooks. When I closed the door to my changing room, I stared into the mirror. I sighed. Unlike Jenna, I looked awful in baggy clothes. You could barely see me underneath it all and my blemished face was poking out the top of the sweatshirt with my hair in a boring straight ponytail. I slipped out of my baggy clothes, and pulled on a pair of blue skinny jeans and a yellow babydoll top. It looked awesome, and went completely with the flip flops I was wearing. It was like love at first sight, and I was hooked. How could it get any better? Cute stuff, free! I pulled my sweatshirt and sweatpants over the un-paid for items, and stepped out. Jenna shot me a sly smirk and led me over to the jewelry and makeup casually. There was only one girl in the shop, a ditzy asian girl who was busy gabbing on the phone as we examined the earrings. Jenna yanked a pair of turquoise dangly earrings off the rack and slipped into her purse. It was a big, navy blue across the shoulder bag, something that Jenna would never carry in public. But she'd explained that it was good for stealing. You could fit shoes, makeup, necklaces, basically anything inside it.

“This is pretty.” I smiled, running my fingers gently along the pearl necklace. I glanced at the price tag and looked away. She carefully took it off the rack and placed it in her bag, winking at me. I felt bad, but at the same time I felt so grateful for Jenna. She was such a great friend. She reached over and took my hand in hers gently, smiling over at me. Then she knocked two green tubes of GrowLuscious mascara into her purse and two sparkly pink lip gloss tubes. Then she walked straight over to the counter in the back, and grabbed a pack of gum off the shelf next to it.

“What can I do for you, sweetie?” The asian girl smacked her gum loudly, holding the phone away from her.

“Just this.” Jenna smiled, placing the gum on the counter. Jenna handed her a toonie and strode out confidently, popping an icy piece of gum in her mouth.

“Why'd you buy that?” I asked quizzically.

“It's too suspicious if you come in, try on a million things, look at tons of makeup and then just leave empty handed. I usually just grab the cheapest thing around.” She explained. I nodded.

“Here, we can go inside the MacDonald's bathroom, and change out of this stuff.” She nudged me inside the MacDonald's a few stores down from POM POM and we bolted to the women's bathroom. She stripped out of her sweatshirt and sweatpants, stuffing them inside her bag. I was amazed at how much could fit inside there. I took mine off and she managed to fit the sweatshirt in but I had to carry the pants. We ran back out and around the corner. We had done it.

“Peyton... I love you.” His warm breath on my neck, I throw my head back, counting to five. 1. He licks his lips and bares his fangs at me like I'm a piece of meat. A grizzly smile lasts a moment, and then he's back to me. His lips molding with mine, his tongue drilling down my burning throat. My stomach rumbling in disgust, I'm going to throw up. 2.

“Come on...” He urged, holding me tighter to get me to enjoy it. Tears in my eyes, I kiss him back. He unzips my sweater, ripping it off of me quickly. He breathes quickly, as if to be unwrapping a christmas gift. I feel bare in a too-big tank top over my bra, and I hug myself uncomfortably. He delicately lifts my spaghetti straps off my bony shoulders, and I shiver at his touch. 3. He reaches down my shirt, and I feel his dirty hands squeezing my average chest. He's not disappointed as I expected, he fondles my chest agressively. 4. He reaches around behind me and squeezes my butt, and I jump as his nails dig into me.

“That hurts...” I whisper softly, and he silences me with another revolting kiss. He un-buttons the top button to my jeans. 5. Using all my force I shove him off of me, tears rolling down my cheeks and landing on the hardwood floor like bombs. I look up and the moonlight shines in his face. Revealed, he has nowhere to run.

“Why, daddy?”

I jolt up from my slumber, sweat dripping down my back. I strip out of my baggy Nova Scotia sweatshirt that Jenna had given me, pulling the tank top away from my skin. I curl up tightly, breathing shakily. I gaze up from my pillow.

“Peyton, are you okay?” In my doorway is my father, a silhouette, a shadow. I shiver and sink under my covers as he steps into my bedroom, making his way over to my bed.

“You have school tomorrow. Go to sleep.” He whispers, and leans over.

He plants a kiss on my forehead, and whispers in my ear.

“I love you.”

Reviews

[Calypso]

Cora reminds me of my four year old sister who says the worst stuff. This is very, very good!

[J.A.N]

Whoa.
This story just gets more interesting.
Next chapter soon? I hope.
I'm glad your taking your time though, it's detailed.
Keep up the good work.