HIS BULLIED SKINNY

HBS 2

Reading the last part of my current novel, I shut the book close and now I am back to this world.

Novels are like Dreamlands, for the hours you read them, you feel like you're in their world.

Knights in shiny armour are cliche stories to the real world.

"Open the door Cassandra, granny is here." Mrs Jones says knocking the door slightly.

"I am coming granny." I shout loud enough for her to hear because of her ears.

Opening the door for her she comes in with a bowl of ramen and take a sit on my small bed while I sit on the carpeted floor.

"Here, Cas. Eat up." She gives me a small bowl containing ramen.

"Thank you granny, you should have sold it with the rest. The ramen shop is all you have. I can't even assist you because I have three jobs." I say to her unable to eat.

"I don't just have a ramen shop, Cas. I also have you. You are like my daughter and grandchildren." She says her voice coming out high.

she tends to talk on top of her voice a lot as she thinks she has to hear herself too.

"Don't talk about them, it hurts granny." I stand up and sit beside her, I rest my head on her shoulder and she sighs.

"Death is inevitable." She says and tears rolls down my face.

"Don't cry, Cas."

"Thank you for accepting me." I whisper and when I remember she cannot hear me, I repeat myself in a higher pitch.

"No, thank you for being an adopted granddaughter."

"You pitied me after I lost my parents to an accident, you encouraged me to write the scholarship exam into CHS the school I can never pay for even with my three jobs."

"You agreed to be my granddaughter when I lost my daughter, her husband and my grandchildren to an accident." She replies.

"Granny, I'm too bullied to survive in this world." I whisper knowing she can't hear.

"Cas, stop crying. Eat your ramen. Ramens aren't good when they are cold."

"Yes granny." I stand up and take up the bowl using the chopsticks to eat.

*

"You need to take a break Cas." My boss says and I shake my head.

"No, Mrs. Hendrick, I'm okay." I counter as respectfully as possible.

"No, you're not. Drop the table cloth and get the apron off your body and see me in my office." She orders.

"Okay, Mrs. Hendrick." I respond and make a move to retreat.

Wiping off the small dirt left and picking up the empty cup of coffee drunk by a customer, I walk to my boss's office.

"I'm here, Mrs. Hendrick." I say shutting the door behind me and leaning on it to gather my strength.

I'm tired.

"Sit.” She finally speaks after taking in my void expression.

"Thank you Mrs. Hendrick." I reply.

"You've been working with me for a long time now and I have told you to stop calling me Mrs. Hendrick, but Kate." She corrects me for the umpteenth time since I have been working with her.

"I cannot call you by your name. I find it extremely rude. Please understand, Mrs. Henderick."

"I wasn't suppose to take you in for this job, but I did. A seventeen year old should just concentrate on getting herself into college, but it has not been easy with you." She pauses to look at my expression, "are you still bullied?" She asks and I nod.

"Yes." I reply after a brief contemplation on lying or not.

"Rest, it's Sunday tomorrow don't come to the coffee shop, I'll talk to Mr. James to give you a break from the pizza store tomorrow too. You will only be at the library tomorrow."

"Thank you so much." I stand up and bow slightly before walking out.

"Cas!" Karen shouts waving like the lively girl she is.

"Karen." I say excitedly and she hastens her steps to get close enough to give me a hug.

"Wanna hang out with me tomorrow? It's a party, it is gonna be lit, Cas. We are having our school and another." She says, clapping her hands as she smiles.

"No, I will just be an outcast there." I mumble, but I know she heard.

"Is it because you need a dress? I have new ones, we are same size. Please come with me, please you're my friend." She says clinging onto my left hand and blinking rapidly at me.

same size is not true. Karen, is curvier and has the flesh where they are needed, but with Karen trying to convince anyone; you can be the same size as her in a second.

"Okay, okay." I reply, knowing fully well that if I do not oblige I will be pestered.

"Yay!" She shrieks and I roll my eyes.

"Don't be too happy. I might disgrace you I have never been to a party. Your rich friends will look down on me." I tell her as we both sit.

"You may not be rich, but you're humble and I'll be watching you all night." She promises.

"No, Karen. You will have your throat stuck with a guy's tongue and we both know what's next after that." I say and she laughs.

"You just have to get laid once and you will be back asking for more." She winks and I shake my head while smiling.

unlike my best friend, I do not believe in getting laid before eighteen.

"Virgin Cas." She teases.

"Shanked Karen." I respond.

She laughs as we both walk out of the coffee shop.

"I will see you tomorrow evening or no let me drop you off at your granny's ramen shop." She says pointing to her Ferrari.

She sits at the driver's seat while I sit shotgun.

A loud blast of watcha say by Jason Durelo plays in the car with Karen humming to it while I rest my head back.