Chapter eight: "T. A. L. K. Talk."

FLASHBACK:

I laughed at the joke that Camryn had made.

"So you're telling me. That... That she was so shocked by what you said that she... She walked into dog crap on the floor and... And slipped on it." I said in between laughs struggling to contain myself.

"I swear!" Camryn threw his head back laughing as well.

Camryn is the only person that I could truly call my friend. He was always there to help me, to listen to me, and to defend me. No matter what it was he was always there but he, as well as everyone else, didn't know about what John did to me on a literal daily basis.

We had great times together. No. We were JUST friends. But others in the school thought there was more to our relationship than there really was. We were together 24/7. We've been friends since Year 6.

Since he was equally as scary as me no one dared to mess with us. But as always good things have to come to an end.

One day after school just as I was leaving the school to walk home I heard shouts from behind me calling my name.

I turned around to see Camryn but something seemed very off with him but I couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"Avery!" he called running after me. I came to a stop and faced him.

"Yes?" I say raising an eyebrow slowing down to match his pace.

"Tonight do you wanna meet up?" He asked fidgeting around.

"Sure. You could've just texted me and what time?" I asked scrunching my nose at how weird he was acting.

"Maybe at around seven pm and I can't my phone is broken." He said. While he talked to me I could see him looking around every so often.

"Okay. See you later" I turned and began walked home.

But he surprised me with a sudden hug from behind. "Goodbye." He whispers into my hair and I pat his arm that encircled me wondering why he was acting so strange.

It's been two hours I've been waiting for him at our usual spot. Two fudging hours and he's not here yet. I sigh angrily and stomp home not even caring if John was there or not, not knowing that his hug would mean a lot to me at that moment.

The next day at school I was ready to give him a piece of my mind because he stood me up. Unfortunately, I didn't see him that day.

Or the day after that.

Or the week after.

Soon those weeks turned into months and those months into years. Not even one text, a phone call, or even coming and knocking at my house.

END OF FLASHBACK:

"Wake up!" A hand shook me awake and on reflex, I socked the person in the jaw.

Sitting up I see Damon on the floor clutching where I hit him. I didn't even say sorry as I watched him stand up.

Honestly, I'm not sorry I've been wanting to punch him for ages and now I finally have.

"What the hell!" He shouted at me and I flinched at how loud he was. Damon glared at me before leaving my room and I shrugged my shoulders not caring. Though that hit is bound to leave a bruise.

Getting out of bed I went to do my morning routine. It's not much just brushing my teeth, washing my face then putting on my clothes.

Since it was windy today I decided to wear something warm. Walking into my oversized walk-in wardrobe that was filled with too many clothes that I was probably and most likely not gonna wear I chose an outfit. I wore straight brown camo pants with a grey jumper and a white shirt underneath. I then put on black and white vans, a necklace, and a black bucket hat.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder and putting my phone in my pocket I went downstairs.

Everyone was already downstairs eating. Well except Mike and Sheila since they were at work.

I muttered a quiet hello to them and took an apple not feeling that hungry.

"OK so you are going to drive with Eli and Damon and I'll go with the twins," Will said.

Of course, I nodded my head not saying anything. I looked at the others that were just eating the food and I almost smiled when I could see the hint of a bruise forming on Damon's cheek.

Almost.

"You know. If you wanna actually have friends you're gonna have to talk. Or at least make a facial expression." Eli said to me after putting down his glass of orange juice.

He was right. After all, I did say I wanted a new start and a new me. So I really have to try and talk and maybe smile. But trust me that it's way easier said than done.

"I'll try," I said and I took my phone out of my pocket. Looking into the black screen of my phone I could see my reflection. Trying to smile I lifted the corners of my mouth in an attempt to do so.

It looked more like a grimace than an actual smile.

"She doesn't know how to smile." Damon laughed banging on the counter with a wide grin on his face.

"And you don't have manners," Jesse said coming into the kitchen in his police attire ceasing Damon's laughter. Damon just rolled his eyes and finished off his food.

"Let's go. Don't wanna be late for the first day at school do you?" Eli said taking a key from the key box.

I shake my head and he fixes me with a stare. "Talk."

"No," I say blankly. Eli sighs and leaves the kitchen and I follow after him with the rest.

At least he's being nice enough to help. Unfortunately for him, it might take a while for me to fully be able to. I lost the ability to smile a long, long time ago, as dramatic as it sounds.

We take the blue LeFerrari and I don't bother to try and join in their conversation and just look out the window.

Soon a large building comes into view and there are many cars and people come into view. Weirdly as soon as our car goes into the school gates students begin separating like the red sea. No seriously though, even people who weren't near the car at all move and sigh hoping the Dalys weren't the stuck up rich kids that everyone at school hated. I doubt it though since they didn't seem scary at all, well the twins didn't but Eli and Damon were probably intimidating to others.

We park the car and come out. I look up at the school which is surprisingly big, like way bigger than my old one. The name of the school was Millview High School.

As we walk into the school people begin whispering and pointing. Well, now my thoughts are, unfortunately, confirmed. My 'brothers' are popular. Though their parents own one of the most famous clothing brands in the world so it's only normal for them to be. Let's hope I don't have to deal with other stuck up brats like Cleona and Bridget.

Damon slings his arm over my shoulder nonchalantly. I stiffen up and elbow him in the ribs and he just laughs. Personally, I think that not only does he hate me but he's also trying to make it his life's mission to annoy me.

"You're gonna have to go to the main office to get your schedule. The twins will come with you." Damon says nodding over to Alex and Benji that were coming over.

I nod my head.

"Child. You're gonna have to talk. T. A. L. K. Talk." Damon says spelling it out for me, letter by letter.

I roll my eyes. "OK."

He sighs again and walks away and I stand at the entrance of the school waiting for the twins.

"Let's go to the main office," Alex says.

"Sure," I say and a look of shock takes over the faces of Benji and Alex.

"You should speak more often. Your voice is nice." Benji says and I almost smile. Almost.

Out of both the twins I've come to realize that Benji was more the silly one out of them and could be serious and nice at times whereas Alex was the more mature and fully nicer one.

When we reach the main office I get my schedule. The twins compare their schedule to mine and we realize that we have most of the same classes. That's good I guess.

"Our first class is history with Ms. Arnold's. But let's go to your locker first." Alex says.

Students are already rushing into their class when I'm done putting away books I don't need.

"We're gonna be late. Hurry up." Benji says impatiently tapping his foot on the floor.

"OK," I said slamming my locker shut. As soon as I close my locker he grabs my arm and Alex's and pulls us down the corridor to the class.

Benji let's go of our arms as he opens the door and I try to calm my heart from the sudden contact by taking deep breaths and sigh in relief when my heartbeat goes back to normal.

About twenty pairs of eyes were fixated on us as we came in. I avoided their gazes by pulling my cap down so that they couldn't see my eyes.

"A minute later and you would've been late to class." the teacher I'm presuming to be Ms. Arnold's said.

We nod our heads. "This is my sister she's new to the school." Alex suddenly says.

Ms. Arnold's gaze shifts to me and she claps her hands together.

"Oh yes. We have a new student." She begins. Benji and Alex go sit down and I'm left at the top of the classroom.

"Please introduce yourself." Ms. Arnold's says and I take a deep breath before beginning.