Estrea: Thank you~ That's still a nice review coming from your phone. ^.^ We shall see what happens in the future with everything else.
mochi.rini: Thank you. *salute* On the high school I go. Yaaaaaaaaay....
rndmnwierd: Is it Gaki in the first chapter? I'll never say
And by the way.... there is actually eye black called "Warrior" if you actually want to see it. And that's all I'm saying. Thanks for reading guys.
Chapter 3“So, you’ll finally be home more?” Yossy asks, and we both send the man sitting at the head of the table a hopeful stare.
Our dad works for a construction company and his job keeps him away a lot. When he first brought me here, he was around all the time. But, about two weeks after I got settled in, he went back to work; I became Yossy’s responsibility. He’s a really sweet man though, even if he looks like he could be in the yakuza.
He looks away and scratches his bald head, “I’m sorry to say this, but…”
I eat a spoonful of cereal to hide the disappointment I know I’m going to have in the next few seconds.
“You’ll have to deal with me more often!” he exclaims, pushing out his chair, as he jumps up and holds his arms out to us.
“Really? Alright, dad!” Yossy cheers, tackling our dad into a bear hug. I follow suite and jump on his back.
“Dad’s gonna be home!” I screeched, squeezing his neck as hard as my body would allow.
“Hey, if you cut off the circulation in my head, you’ll make it so my luxurious curly hair can’t grow anymore!” he jokingly complains, trying as hard as he can to wiggle out of our grasp.
Family. Loving. Fun.
But never forever.
Nothing ever is.
--------------
“Do I have to go?” I whined, jerking away from Yossy’s hand angrily when she tries to mess with my pigtails.
“Is it really that bad in there for you? Do I need to go talk to the teacher?” Yossy asks, and the concern in her voice makes me feel sick.
“No, I just think it’s stupid I have to go on the last day of school! Can’t I just stay home?”
“You want to ditch on the last day of 6th grade?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re not. I know it’s hard—school children are probably the meanest thing out there. Just stick it out till lunch and we’ll talk, alright?” Yossy offers, giving me a final hug before leaving me in front of my class door. Ah, my mistake. She leaves me standing outside the gate to hell.
-------------
“‘X’ equals ten.” I mumble, tapping my pencil idly on my paper. About a dozen kids are still working out the problem I just finished. Normally, I wouldn’t have let everyone know I was done, but I would get in trouble with the Yuko-sensei if I didn’t.
The kid behind me hits my chair leg. It isn’t an accident.
“Ah, Gaki-san, you’re already done? Very good!” Yuko-sensei exclaims, yanking the paper from my desk, as she skims over my work.
I blush a little and shrink into my seat. Kill me now. You would think some teachers would get the hint that you don’t want to be gushed over. I just want to be a shadow right now. I want to be small and insignificant. I must have been that way when I was younger, since my parents left me alone.
I frown and clench my fists. Why did they leave me alone? In that house… in that nice house I loved. We were happy right?
The classroom door slides open.
“Yuko-sensei, the principal needs you for a moment.” One of the senior students says, and leaves the moment Yuko looks at him.
“Now, I trust all of you to be good, but I’m leaving Gaki-san in charge.” Sensei sighs, disappearing out of the classroom in a flash.
Everyone stays silent.
I gulp and bite my quivering lip.
“Damn you! Always showing off!”
“Yeah, why can’t you let us get some attention sometime, huh?”
The girl sitting beside me tosses my pencil across the classroom. I flinch when another kid lunges at me.
“Stupid!”
“Your last name should be ‘Niigeeki’ instead of ‘Niigaki’!”
“Haha! What’s up, Geeki-san?”
Someone slaps my shoulder a little bit too hard to be friendly.
I just want it to stop.
“Geeki!”
“Geeki!”
Please stop. I don’t like this. Why are you doing this?
“Geeki, Geeki, what a weakling!”
They crowd in a circle around me.
“Look at her braces!”
“Stop staring at her mouth and look at those ugly things she calls pigtails!”
BriiiiiingI hear something inside me snap. Before I know it, there’s the boy that started calling me “Geeki” on the ground, and all I see is the wood panels flying under my feet.
I’m not sure where I’m going, but at the same time, I do.
I’m not really aware of anything right now. I’m just running. Everything is numb.
---------------------
My shoe collides with the bathroom cabinets and falls to a clatter on the floor. Man, that hurt.
“Sorry.” Yossy mutters, dabbing more peroxide on my knee.
“S’okay.” I mumble back.
A rainbow colored band-aid decorates my skin and I smile. “How’d you know?”
Yossy grins and shrugs her shoulders; she tosses away the wrapper. She starts checking my legs for any other cuts or brusies.
“Man, you sure can run…” she mumbles in admiration, making my chest swell in pride, “You ran at least a mile or two away from the school-- Are there any sports you want to do?”
“I ran that far away?” I ask in surprise. I don’t really remember any of that. I just ran away from that place…. It felt so good.
Yossy grunts in reply.
“I kind of wanna do track, but just running seems boring.” I say, wincing as she finds another cut on the back of my leg. I wriggle the toes on my sock clad foot as a distraction.
“You could try football-“
“ARE YOU SERIOUS!? I WOULD GET TURNED INTO A PANCAKE!” I squeal, visibly cringing at the thought of being on the field with guys five times my size.
“Calm down, it isn’t that-“
“ARE YOU SERIOUS!?”
“GAKI!”
My cheeks are suddenly smooshed together and I can’t speak. I take a deep breath and give Yossy a shy grin. She lets go of me. “Sorry.” I mumble sheepishly.
“You and your reactions kid.. Well, I’m playing in high school. You can come to my games and watch I doubt I’ll be anything more than wide receiver.” Yossy explains, securing another rainbow colored Band-Aid on my leg.
“What’s a wide receiver?”
“I catch the football and use my awesome moves to confuse everyone else.” Yossy says, tossing the box of Band-Aids into the air while spinning around.
“Psh. Awesome moves….loser.” I tease, kicking the box out of her hands before she can catch it.
“H-hey!” Yossy shouts, stunned as I dash forward and snatch the box of Band-Aids before she can react.
Smooth woods tiles disappear under my feet till I’m not running anymore. I’m flying.
I’m laughing my cares away.
Yossy scrapes her nails against my jacket, but I twist out of her reach and swerve around the banister.
“Come back here, Squirt!” Yossy calls, and she’s laughing too.
“Never!” I giggle, taking two stairs at a time.
“Why does it sound like there’s a herd of ele-“
“TOUCHDOWN!” I shout, leaping into dad’s arms, and barely catching the sight of Yossy tumbling down the steps.
Dad easily catches me, makes a face at Yossy and nudges her head. “You alive…?”
“She’s
quick.” Yossy mumbles, rubbing the back of her head.
“Hi daddy!” I grin, wrapping myself around him, as he nuzzles my cheek.
“How’s my princess today? I heard you had a rough day.” he asks, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
“Better now. Yossy is a good distraction.”
“I
better be a good distraction.” Yossy shouts, struggling to her feet.
“Instead of naming you for your eyes I should have named you for your big mouth…” dad says with utmost seriousness, while he pokes a finger in his ear.
“
Dad!”
“I was just kidding!”
-----------------
“Momma?”
My bare feet tiptoe across bleach white linoleum. My squeaky voice echoes against the kitchen cabinets that tower over my head.
“Poppa!” I yell, peeking my head around the corner of the living room.
Where could they be? Momma shouldn’t have work. Daddy shouldn’t have military duty either.
“Is this a test to see if Risa is big enough to take care of herself?” I ask the family portrait on the wall.
Our happy expressions stare back at me.
“Challenge accepted!” I laugh, scrambling to the front door to lock it. It’s already locked, and I don’t think much of it as I scamper back to bed for a nap.-----------------
“Gaki!”
What…
“Gaki! You were whimpering and twisting all over the place up there. Are you alright?” Yossy whispers, stroking my hair. I drop my face into her chest and lay there for a minute.
“Where’s mom?” I ask, surprising myself with how innocent I sound.
“Mom? She’s in heaven. So is our little brother she was carrying. That’s why dad brought you home.”
“Not that one.”
She tenses up and holds her breath. “Did you have another nightmare about that?”
“Mhm.”
“Did it get to….?”
“It stopped when I went for a nap.” I whisper back, forcing back tears.
“Can you sleep?”
I’m shaking all over. I can’t…thoughts…jumbled…
My mouth opens and closes several times.
“Hey, come on. Stay focused. We’re going for a walk, okay?” Yossy says, firmly shaking my shoulders.
I nod.
Yossy crawls down the ladder of our bunk beds and quietly opens the door.
I count her steps-- 7.
“
Dad…”
“
Hmmm?”
“
Gaki had a bad dream. I’m gonna take her for a walk in a bit.”
“
Okay~ Just don’t get eaten by polar bears.”
“…
Good night, dad.”
------------------
“I don’t like my pigtails anymore, Yossy.” I blurt out, staring at my reflection in the soapy water.
Yossy slathers some soap on my shoulders and works it around.
We’ve had this routine for a while now. I have a bad dream; Yossy takes a warm bath with me. It’s a little embarrassing that an eleven year old still does things like this, but it helps.
”We can cut your hair sometime.” Yossy suggests, dumping warm water on my back.
“Hair cut…?” I trail off, twisting so I can see Yossy better.
“Mhm. We can cut it like mine, but bangs on the opposite side.”
“Can I get it light brown?”
“Any color you want, Squirt.” Yossy smiles.
I crash myself against her bare, warm body for a slightly painful hug. “Thank you.” I gasp, hot tears streaming down my face.
“Anytime.”
------------------
It’s a chilly summer morning. The stars are still shining above in a purple sky. I wish I could see this more often…
Yossy is wearing a black long sleeve under armour shirt and a pair of basketball shorts. We match all the way to the bandana wrapped around our heads. The only difference is our shoes—soccer cleats and regular tennis shoes. Take a guess at who’s wearing what.
“We aren’t just walking are we?” I ask, stating the obvious, as I watch the brown, oblong shaped ball spinning in her hands.
“I figured this would be a better for you.” Yossy states, stopping to look both ways down the street, “Come on.”
After a few minutes of walking, we stop at a vacant building. I’ve never seen this part of town before.
“What’s this building?” I yawn, rubbing my eyes.
“It’s an old school. They stopped using it for some reason, but a lot of people come up here for the field over there.” Yossy yawns, jabbing her thumb in the direction behind us, as she ties her cleats again.
I turn around and glance around the school, “USO! Those lights are bright!”
“The lights are on, huh? It’s probably a good thing I brought eye black.”
“Huh?” I say, scrunching my face up at the new term.
“I’ll show you when we get on the field.”
----------------
“Hold still.” Yossy instructs, pressing two stickers under my eyes, and she does the same to herself.
“Well, don’t you look cute!”
“Shush.” I reply, looking at my reflection in Yossy’s phone. “I look mean.”
“You look like a warrior! Now let’s see what I can teach you...” Yossy trails off, tossing the ball in the air.
I try and swipe at it, but she’s too fast. She twists and I collide with her shoulder and fall onto the grass.
“Payback~” Yossy sings, tucking the football under her arm, as she beckons for me to get up.
I puff my cheeks out in return and stomp over to her.
“This is a football-“
“Duhhh?”
“Be quiet. This is a football. Now, you don’t want anyone to take this from you, do you?”
“No. They could take it and score.”
“Exactly. So when you’re running with it, you want a nice grip on it. Give me your arm.”
I stick out my left arm.
“Other one.”
I sigh and stick the other one out instead.
She places the ball against my forearm and stares me dead in the eye.
I nod and watch, no feel, how everything should be.
She presses it against the dip under my breast.
I nod and keep a firm grip.
Yossy doesn’t break eye contact with me once. She forces my elbow into my side.
She backs away and stands back for a minute—judging me. Carefully, she swipes down on the football.
It doesn’t move.
She chuckles and nods in approval. I smile and stand a little taller. This is good.
Another swipe.
Thwonk.Another.
Thwonk.Faster than my mind can grasp, Yossy digs her fingers into my shoulder, and presses our foreheads together.
I don’t breathe.
I don’t understand.. I’m afraid.
There’s a fire burning deep in those eyes.
“This ball, think of it as the thing you hold most precious to you.”
I nod and my hearts running marathons.
“Do you want anyone to take it from you?”
“No.”
“LOUDER.”
“NO.”
Yossy shoves me and frowns. I furrow my eyebrows and tighten my grip on the ball. What’s going on..?
“LOUDER! I CAN’T HEAR YOU GAKI!”
“NO! I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO TAKE IT FROM ME!” I shout.
Everything is quiet for a minute.
Crickets start chirping.
“Why don’t you want anyone to take it from you?” Yossy asks calmly, taking deep breathes to settle herself.
I lick my dry, cracked lips.
“Because it’s mine and it’s precious to me.” I say in a low voice.
“Run down that field and don’t stop until you’ve reached the end zone.” Yossy says, voice lower than me.
I stand rooted to my spot. She can’t mean all the way down there can she?
“MOVE IT!” Yossy barks and I’m gone.
But I’m not fast enough.
Yossy tackles me.
I groan and close my eyes. My side and back hurts.
I spit out a mouthful of mud and grass. I gag and reach up to pick some out of my braces.
“Get up.” I hear Yossy growl. Her soccer cleats stalk around me.
“Now.”
I grunt and heave myself upward on shaky limbs.
“Go back where we started.”
My body pulses in protest, but I shove it in the back of my mind.
Yossy walks behind me and pushes me down into a sprinter’s starting position.
“As soon as I say ‘Go’. Run. And don’t you stop for anything. Give 1000-percent. I better not be able to catch you.” Yossy whispers, voice low and serious.
“You ready?”
I lick my lips and focus on the goal zone. There. This ball’s home is there.
“Are you?” I growl back.
I’m going to take it there.
“GO!”
My arms are pumping and the ball is a secure little lump on my side.
I’m tasting the wind; Rejoicing in the whirlwind around me.
I’m not even trying.
It’s silent, but if I close my eyes…
Stands upon stands are filled with people cheering and screaming my name.
Cameras flashing…
And in the touch down zone there’s something waiting for me.
What is it? I can’t see it…
“You did it! That was fantastic! I don’t—I don’t even know how fast that was! Less than 10 seconds I bet! Great job! GREAT job! I’m so proud!” Yossy shouts, her voice echoing across the empty field, as she crushes me into a hug.
Sweat drips down my forehead, mixing with her’s before plopping onto our shirts.
She spins me around several times.
“Yossy….” I whisper, staring at our feet.
“Un, yeah! What is it, Gaki? ….Squirt?”
Hot tears cascade down my face.
“I don’t think I have anything precious to me, besides family.” I choke out in a sob.
My vision blurs until all I see is green and black.
“Gaki… look at me.” She whispers softly, tilting my chin up.
I sniffle, but can’t stop my tears.
I have no friends. I don’t even have a friendship like Yossy does with Rika!
What’s wrong with me? Did I do something? There must be something wrong. That’s why mom and dad left me when I was
younger…
Because I’m weird. I’m different. Nobody wants me because I’m a loser.
“Gaki. You’re going to find something precious to you one day. Maybe when you’re making a run down the field, you’ll look at the end zone and you’ll see it. And you’ll know. There’s nothing wrong with you, alright? I already know you’re thinking that. You’re one heck of a little kid and someday you’re going to make someone happy. Then you’ll have your own little family to love, and you’ll forget about us little people.” Yossy laughs, and I punch her in the shoulder.
“Me and you, at least, we’ll stick together?” I ask, rubbing my reddening eyes.
“I’ll take care of you until you’re strong enough to stand on your own.”
“Thank you.” I say, trying not to cry again. Man, I’m a reaction queen.
“Come on, let’s go home.” Yossy smiles, holding her hand out for mine.
We link hands and walk home.
We’re sisters.
No matter what, we’ll be there for each other.
Topic: Relapse & Recovery (Read 9755 times)