Untamed

Los Angeles

Being different is seen as a crime and being weird is a felony. I’ve been found guilty and prosecuted by both.

My mother left when I was six years old without any explanation and I haven’t seen or heard from her since.

I was a misunderstood kid because the other kids thought there was something wrong with me because of having a broken family and it consequently turned me into an outcast. As a kid, you find it hard to understand the reasons but growing up it progresses into anger, rage and hate.

My mother’s abundance left a deep emotional scar. One that subconsciously developed and created a wall around my heart to protect it from future hurt and disappoints. Trust became limited and love was nowhere written in the stars. How can I even begin to express love when the person who designed to love me, just left?

I hated the reflection of the person looking back at me in the mirror and no matter what I did or how many times I coloured my hair or pierced my skin. I still got left with the reflection of a person who didn’t love or care about me. I started sharing my rage and opinions quite vividly with the world and I became the kid parents warned their kids not to hang out with.

I didn’t care about failing school or taking my future into consideration. I met the wrong people and got mixed with the wrong crowds. We shared the same hurt and disappointments. We were outcasts but instead of being there for each other. They let me drown in my own sorrows of rejection. I basically hit rock bottom a lot quicker and harder than I anticipated. I not only let myself down but my father as well because of one selfish act.

I woke up to an empty, lonely room with no one there besides my father and a doctor telling my how lucky I was to have survived. My father could have walked away and left me to drown further in my hate but he didn’t. He continued to be there for me even when he was forced to play both roles of a father and a mother.

His perseverance inspired me to regain control of my life. I went back to school and graduated with a GPA of 3.75 which opened doors to a future. I stopped letting my past consume my chances at College and I grasp the opportunity of a second chance by applying for college.

I packed my bags. Left home. Got on a plane to Los Angeles and here I am four hours later.

A bag in each hand with a heart beating rapidly fast in my chest while taking in the chaotic scene in front of me and around me while looking for the dormitory.

Students were everywhere in the streets pushing and pulling their luggage. Some were lucky enough to be dropped off by their parents which made my heart ached a bit and I started missing home, my dad and friends. Wishing that they were here.

I continued to make my way towards the dormitory where I will be living even if I was a bit cynical about sharing a room with two other girls. Not because I was being arrogant but I didn’t know what to expect. I have a mouth that has a mind of its own and I say things as they are.

Not everyone approved of my bluntness or sarcasm.

I walked up to the front desk once it was my chance. “Jaylin Anderson.” I gave the woman behind the desk my name after greeting her.

Her eyes held nothing but judgement when her narrowed eyes sized me up. She took in my shoulder-length, jet black hair with a shade of natural red highlights. She gave my choice of clothes a once over and her eyes zoomed in on the skateboard that was tucked in under my arm.

She was probably wondering what a girl like me is even doing here. “Can I see some ID?” She asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Sure.” I nodded and handed her my student ID. I watched her eyes scanning through my details before she accepted that it was me. She handed it back with a pair of keys. “Room 120, third floor.”

I accepted the dorm keys and gave her a tight grin. I grabbed my bags and decided to use the stairs to get to my room when the elevators were overcrowded with students who were just as eager as me to get to their rooms.

A few friendly faces greeted me when I reached the third floor and pushed my way through the crowded and chaotic hallway to get to my room. As I neared the room, I started to hear two loud female voices and by the sound of it, they were arguing.

“There is no way in hell that I am sharing a room with you” I heard a girl say.

“If you don’t like it then take up with reception.” Another voice replied.

“I don’t want to live with you not after what you did to me.”

“Ruby, I have already apologized to you every chance I got. What more do you possibly want from me?”

They were having a heated conversation in the middle of the room and was at each other’s throats that they didn’t realize I was in the room. I leaned against the doorpost watching them argue and waiting for either of them to notice me.

“For you to leave me the hell alone.”

“Don’t you think that you are overreacting? It was high school.” The other person told the other girl.

“Doesn’t instinctively correct what you’ve done.” The other girls snapped. “Why come here of all places?” I tried not to eavesdrop or tried to look like I was snooping but they were currently arguing in our room and do kind of life here now.

“I transferred here because they actually teach the subjects, I am truly interested in.” The other person told. 

The short blonde was the first to notice me and it made the other girl turn around when she stopped talking. “Every single person can hear you two bickering from all the way down the hallway.” I enlightened them.

The short blonde girl with glasses gave me a friendly and sincere smile while the other girl gave me a once over. She has long strawberry-blonde hair. Or as Camille likes to call them. Gingers in denial.

“You should really mind your own business.” The undercover redhead told me in a not-so-friendly way. Her emerald-green eyes narrowed.

I just gave her a blank stare as I pushed myself up from the doorway. I just got here and I already have to deal with this. “I am going to ignore that remark because this is also my room and you might want to tune down on all of that attitude. It’s unattractive.” Her narrowed eyes widened.

“Should I come back later or should I just look for another room?” I asked pointing my thumb over my shoulder.

Both looked dumbfounded. “I am Jaylin and according to downstairs. I am assigned to room 120.” I took a step back to see if I was in the right room and was definitely room 120. “Which is this room,” I added.

The blonde was the first to introduce herself after giving the other girl a dirty look. “Hi, I am Ruby and that is Janelle.”

“I can always come back later on if you two want to finish whatever that was.” I offered. Thinking about switching rooms or even if I must. Request to move to another dorm.

“Don’t be silly. We just had a disagreement.” Ruby said and then welcomed me inside while Janelle just looked at me.

“So, do you two know each other from high school?” I asked. Placing my bags on the top bunk when I noticed that Janelle already claimed the bottom bed.

They looked at each other before either one of them answered. “Yeah.” Ruby drawled.

“Not on friendly terms?” I then asked. Janelle gave me a questioning look. “As I said. You two were quite loud and everyone could hear you arguing.” I informed them.

“No,” Ruby answered curtly.

“She can’t let things go,” Janelle answered at the same time.

Ruby scoffed at her response. “You can’t seriously believe that an apology can fix what you’ve done to me,” Ruby exclaimed.

“You need to let it go, Ruby,” Janelle responded.

Ruby just glared at her.

“Okay,” I said raising my hands in the air. “I think I am going to take a walk. While you two sort out whatever is going on.”

I grabbed my skateboard and I stuffed the dorm keys into my pockets before leaving the room in a hurry.

When I got outside, I dropped my board placed one foot on it and pushed with the other until I had enough speed to rest both feet on the board. I made my way down the sidewalk until I reached the beach. I kept skating down the sidewalk making sure to avoid pedestrians while taking in the waves and noticing a few surfers in the water that I missed a volleyball flying directly towards me.

It knocked into my head throwing me off my board. My skateboard rolled out from under me as I lost control. My body hit the ground quite hard that even my brain had to strap in and not get knocked around in my head.

“s**t! Are you okay?” A deep voice asked out of nowhere. In my peripheral vision, I caught some guy jogging over to me but I didn’t really pay attention. My brain was still scrambling around in my head while I was still figuring out what the heck just happened?