Day 0 part 1

The night was never frightening to me as a kid. Now I fear it. More than anything - I fear it. Daylight is my only refuge. But even then. I fear. The night is coming…

Day 0

“8pm, my place - wear something nice.” The stench of entitlement in her voice pierces my ears.

“I’m alright.” My eyes stay locked on the pen I’ve been fiddling with for the past several minutes, a pen that ran out of ink a week ago. It’s more.. Decorative.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re excused…” A tired sigh escapes me.. It’s too early in the morning for this…

“I’m inviting you to my birthday you asshole!” The assertive thud of her hand on my desk sends my beloved unused eraser flying off into the abyss.. I can’t be bothered to look for it so... Goodbye, you will be missed.

“Look at me when I’m talking!” She demands.

“I’m declining your invitation, dumbass.” We finally lock eyes. Her blond, shoulder-length hair frames her face perfectly, her nose is the kind people pay for and even then it doesn’t turn out as pretty… Full red lips and big, upturned round eyes the color of the sky at its bluest and brightest.. Beautiful. But repulsive.

“What the hell does my place even mean? I don’t even know your name.” I finish.

Her face turns red, her brows furrow - she isn’t too happy about that.

“Everyone knows my name, TonTon” She takes a small step back and glances to the side. “Ugh, I still can’t believe your parents actually fucking named you Tonton..”

“You and every other moron in this class.” My eyes drift off to the grey curtains, gently swaying in the wind that’s slowly filling up the classroom with fresh morning air.

“What?!” She hisses and her hand is back on my poor desk…

“Leave Tony alone, Lenn. I’m sure he has far more important business than to bring the stench of poverty into your home.”

And here he is.. My favourite classmate.

“Besides.. I’m sure he’d feel like a fish on dry land without his people.” He continues with this fake pity tone that I so love. It’s the best.

“Oh I know!” Finger extended, he takes a step forward. Something really stupid is coming.

“Perhaps if he had his peasant parents with him!” His smirk is subtle. My desire to kill him is not.

“Oh right.. They died..” His head tilts to the side, lips purse in theatrical pity.

I glare. Eyes glued on his. He doesn’t deserve to live. If they didn’t, why should he…

“That was too far!” A quick smack lands on his shoulder. “Apologize now!” Hm.. Didn’t expect that from her. Well, I don’t know what to expect since I pay no attention to them. They are mostly one and the same. Rich kids…

“But of course! How mean of me!” A ridiculous performative bow follows. “My sincerest apologies, Tony.” He turns to her.

“I’m merely pointing out that a person of his social and financial standing isn’t fit for the birthday party of the daughter of one of the richest and most esteemed men in the country.” He glares at me and says. “Why do you want him there anyway?” He’s as confused as I am. For a moment I actually consider going just to spite him. Nah.. Not worth it.

“Because I want to give him a chance to make friends!.” She blurts.

“Oh, how gracious is your generosity, my princess!” I bow with my hand on my chest. “Fret not! Your humble peasant is more than well!”

“All you do..” She pauses. Jaw tight, fingers gripping the edges of my desk. “Is sit in your loner corner and brood all day! I mean.. Do you even have friends?! Any?! At all?!”

“Do you?” I shoot her a stare.

“You seriously don’t know who I am?!” Now both hands are planted.

“What are you still doing here..” Macena looms over me, eyes full of disdain. He hates me as I hate him. Only I have a reason to.

“I ask myself that everyday. “ I feel myself growing weaker, heart beating faster and louder.

“Listen, I don’t know how you got this scholarship but this establishment isn’t for you, Tony. And perhaps with these recent.. Tragic events - the universe is telling you to piss off.”

“Say Tony one more time and neither mommy nor daddy will be able to save you.” I feel the veins on my forehead fill with blood, hot blood pumped from my raging heart. My hands begin to shake subtly. I’m losing it.

“How scary..” Macena is trying to appear unaffected but I can smell the fear. It’s potent.

“It should be. Do you think I give a shit about going to prison? I promise you, one more word about my parents and-”

“And what??” He takes a small step forward.

“I think you know..”

“Just!” She interrupts. “Come to my god damn birthday party will you?! You can even bring anyone you want!” Her voice is shaky, carrying a mix of desperation and frustration.

I’ve had enough..

“In how many different ways do you want me to say No before it finally stops bouncing around in that empty head of yours and lands in what little brain you have so you can fucking process that I’d rather die!” I nearly run out of breath towards the end.

Shit.. Not good.. I’m really losing it..

My heart is pounding in my head. My breath is ragged. I glance at Macena. His brows are furrowed, his hand rests on Lenn’s arm in an attempt to console her. I glance at her. Her eyes are subtly twitching, glistening like she’s about to tear up. Her lips are trembling.

“What the hell is wrong with you!” Her yell is piercing. “Can’t you see I’m trying to do you a favour?!” A pool of tears is just barely held back by her twitching lower eyelids.

“All I can see is a pathetic, spoiled rich kid that can’t have it her way.”

“You!.. Everyone in this class HATES you! I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself, maybe, god forbid, even have some proper fun!?” She leans over my desk, getting awfully close to my face. “How long are you gonna cry about your parents!? Life goes on if you haven’t noticed and YOU are falling behind!”

I explode off my chair.

“Redeem myself?! You are nothing more than a waste of oxygen. A herd of deluded morons who fake friendship, loyalty and kindness for their own gain. If you weren’t so stupid you’d realise – you’re all alone. Poor Lenn. My parents may be dead but at least they loved me, spent time with me instead of tossing me aside like another piece of pricey furniture to decorate their lifeless home!”

What was a pool is now a river streaming down her soft, flushed cheeks. Lips slightly apart, eyes wide and glistening with tears. She recoils with her arms defensively hugging her chest. My heart is loud. Louder than the crowd gathered around us. Louder than Macena’s yelling. It’s all in slow motion. It feels as if a million images, a million faces are flashing in front of my eyes. And despite all my intense observation my eyes miss a figure moving through the crowd.

SLAP

Suddenly my face is facing the wall, my cheek is burning, throbbing with pain. What the hell?! My eyes quickly find the culprit.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!” I yell at the black-haired girl that stood in front of me, her arm still extended, breath ragged.

“I’M SORRY!” She yells back.

“WHAT?!”

“I SAID I’M SORRY!”

“YOU SLAPPED ME YOU BITCH!”

“I KNOW!”

“HUH?!”

“I SHOULDN’T HAVE SLAPPED YOU!”

“ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?!”

“ARE YOU?!”

“WHAAT?!?!”

“YOU MADE HER CRY!”

“Oh yes but of course, SO YOU FUCKING SLAP ME?!”

“YES!”

“WHAT THE FUCK!”

“What the hell is going on here!?!” I recognize that voice all too well. Mrs. Bellmor - our teacher. Her eyes quickly take in all the information and. “You two!” She points. “Detention!!”

“Oh my god..” My hand finds itself on my forehead as my eyes shut instinctively. How did this happen.. Again..

“N-no! B-but!” Her face pales, lips trembling, brows knitting in frustration. She quickly regrets slapping me.

Lenn’s eyes are glued on the girl. Through the shaking of her breath, she even tries to defend her – only for the teacher to coldly cut her off. They must be close because this is the first time I’ve seen a person from this class show this level of compassion.

“I don’t want to hear it! Acting like animals, do you even remember where you are?!” Mrs. Bellmor is outraged.

“But Miss! He-” Lenn’s friend keeps going. I swear I feel like she’s about to cry. Unbelievable…

“I’m disappointed. I can’t believe YOU of ALL people would do something so barbaric..” She turns to me. “And you, Tonton. Stop being at the center of trouble, you really can’t afford it.” It’s true. But you know what.. I don’t care.

“Lenn, you’re a strong woman. Get seated and calm down.” Lenn keeps sobbing, buried in her hands out of shame. “Everyone! To your seats! Now!” She yells and then walks to the teacher’s desk as everyone obeys.

Time passed with me fake-paying attention to the lessons. Something I’m a master of. I occasionally glance at her. Rena. The queen of this hell hole. The most beloved, straight-A rich kid. Also the most desired girl in our school. So calm and collected all the time and now look at her.

And before I know it.

DING DONG.

The school day is over. Well. For everyone except me. And Rena.

I see Lenn walk up to her, perhaps she feels bad she got her friend into detention. Again. Not a dying pain. I don’t get why it's such a big deal… She leaves, I could feel how hard she was trying not to look at me. Perhaps she’s ashamed of her actions.. Or just.. Hurt.. Should I be ashamed of my actions? I do feel strangely guilty.. No.. No time for this now. It doesn’t matter…

Like a thread of idiots.. Which they are. One by one my beloved classmates leave, the last one to pass my “loner corner” is Macena who glares at me with a subtle frown of disdain. Yeah. Go fuck yourself Macena.

And just like that. It’s just me and the so-called queen.

“You know it’s my duty as a teacher to record what happens and in your case – that will result in the deduction of points from your score..”

“Yeah..” Her voice is weak.

The teacher takes a deep breath. “And with this – you unfortunately are tied for the number one spot with the previous number two.”

Oh.. She was fighting for the prize money!? Seriously?!

“Just don’t let it happen again.” The teacher finishes.

“Yes..” Rena softly replies.

“And as for you Tonton.. A few more of these and all your efforts to get this scholarship will have been for nothing. Seriously kid. You’ve got a brilliant head on your shoulders - don’t let life crush you.” She says and then continues typing on her laptop.

“It’s okay Teach – who needs good grades when you're balling with cash, am I right?”

“Tonton… Take it seriously. I mean it.” She replies, taking a short pause to just stare at me before she resumes typing on her brand new laptop that probably costs more than my house.. Okay that’s an exaggeration. But damn would I love to have one of those..

I glance at Rena again and this time her head hangs low, her shoulders are trembling and tears are streaming down her face.

“Is she seriously crying?!” The words escape me.

“I’M NOT!” She yells. I catch the swift motion of her sleeve wiping at her tears.

“Calm down you two!” Mrs. Bellmor intervenes.

“Wow… The queen of Coinmorr got one point deducted and now she’s crying.. I’ve got a million by now..”

“That’s no bragging matter..” Our teacher sharply replies.

“Just shut the fuck up!” Rena hisses at me.

“Language!”

“Unbelievable…” I scoff, gaze drifting as I rest my head on one hand and twirl my trusty pen with the other. The perfect distraction.

The passage of time is marked by the incessant ticking of the big old clock above the black board. We kept occasionally and rather secretively throwing each other glances.

I could practically cut the tension in the classroom. But not before long. It’s over.

“You’re free to go. Get home safely and let this be the last time we’re gathered in this room for such reasons.”

I nod, grab my backpack, swing it onto my back and swiftly leave the classroom. I disappear into the dim light of the medieval-style hallways of Coinmorr.

I walk. My ears pick up on the rather creepy creaking sounds that echo through the corridors of the building. Footsteps. Not just mine. Must be Rena. I turn. There she is.

Not long after - we leave the school and walk the lamp-lit barren streets. The school was built on a hill located in the area where the rich people lived. It goes without saying that I do not live here. Instead I take a sharp turn and descend into streets that progressively become poorer and poorer. This is where me and today’s annoyance part ways. Except.. We don’t.

I turn and she’s still there. Some seconds later, after another corner - I turn and she’s still walking behind me.

“You gonna kill me or what?!” I yell out.

“Shut up! I’m visiting a friend!” She replies.

“So the queen has a peasant friend?! But isn’t that forbidden?!” I mock.

Her hands and shoulders go stiff with frustration. “ You are so stupid!!”

“No! No you are! You are stupid!” I’ve had a horrible day. I'm so sick of her.

“FUCK YOU!” She yells.

“FUCKK YOUUU!” I reply kindly.

Finally, the moment comes and we part ways. What is she really doing here? Nah.. Don’t wanna think about it.. I’m exhausted..