Barbara/ Michelle
1654 Words
Ava
Barbara St. Marcus, the great bully of the St. Marcus's orphanage is Mr Lewis's wife to be! What have I done to my creator to deserve such torture from him or her?
What would she say to me? I reasoned.
"Ava..." Eden called, pushing me slightly with two fingers.
"Oh... Ed... Sorry... Ehmm..." I stuttered, trying to put my words together.
"Ava?" Barbara calls me in her usual sarcastic manner. "You've really worked on yourself, I almost couldn't recognize you, since you've grown..." She used her eyes to scan my body from head to toe. "Slim, you know you used to be chubby." She remarked.
"Yeah, thanks." I managed to say.
What is wrong with you Ava, you already promised that you won't let her bully you again. Now put yourself together and talk to her like your age mate.
"Long time no see Bar..."
"It's Michelle. My name is Michelle." She smirked. "Don't assume you know me."
"Michelle, do you guys know each other?" Eden asked happily.
"Yes!" I replied.
"No!" She barked. We answered in unison.
Barbara just said she doesn't know me, then let's pretend we don't know each other.
"Sorry Eden, I mistook her for someone else."
Actually Barbara and I were brought to the St. Marcus orphanage same week. She's about seven months older than me in real life, but I was three days older in the St. Marcus orphanage.
Over the years, Barbara bullied me for anything and everything. Why must I be chubby, what made me feel I would be a good singer? Why did I join the basketball team? Why am I taller than her?
We were brought in as infants according to what our mother Mrs Madelyn Scott told us. Growing up, Barbara was taller soon I grew taller than her, not that I knew how or why, but I suffered for being the tallest girl during our time.
Someone suddenly jumped in front of me, folding her hands on her chest. I looked up in shock.
"I've finally stopped you from getting lost in thoughts Ava." Eden claps at my face.
I rolled my eyeballs and smiled, using my hand to ruffle her hair.
What were you saying ma'am?" I bent a little lower to equal my height with her's.
"Michelle just called your name barely five minutes ago and you guys are telling me it's a mere coincidence." Eden mimicked us, making a funny face.
"You called my name earlier, maybe she heard it. Ma'am."
"Stop calling me ma'am. How did she know you used to be chubby? Even I don't know." She asked, nodding like she won.
I thought for a split second and turned to her.
"She's right beside you, if you need an answers to your questions." I smirked. "And if you want me to stop calling you ma'am, please stop asking me questions like you're my boss."
I turned to leave when my eyes and Barbara's eyes met. She sent fire and brimstone through her eyes.
"Eden, you know you're digressing right?" I cleared my throat. "Let's focus on praying for your brother."
She nodded and embraced me. "Ava, you know what I'm doing right? I know you know me, I'm doing this to get my mind off everything." She whispered in my ears, as a drop of tear fell on my shoulder.
I didn't mean to make her cry, but I had to do or say something to get her off my neck and save myself further bantering with Barbara.
I started patting her back when we suddenly heard.
"Abel, you're here, I never knew you'd come?" One of Eden's friends said.
The same Abel?
Eden quickly disengaged from the hug, sniffing and using the back of her hands to wipe her face.
"Abel..."
Immediately I saw Abel, I knew why Eden was almost running mad over him. He looked cool, too cool for his age. I almost started crushing on him, if not for maturity.
He's about 1.80 meters tall, has oblong shaped face, and my favorite features! He has Adam's Apple and he's hairy.
Oh God! Ava don't tell me you're drooling over a little boy? An eighteen years old? Eden's dream? Come off it.
I slowly walked to a nearby chair and sat down. I meet Barbara already sitting on one of the chairs staring daggers at me. I almost convulsed when my eyes meet hers, I quickly looked away.
I turn around to see Eden already sitting with her friends. Abel's hand is across her neck, her head on his shoulder.
The joy I felt seeing her happy surprised me. Eden's dream had come true, I just hope it lasts.
"Ava, why must I see you everytime?" Barbara asked, startling me.
I turned to her.
"You know, you're such a bad luck, you're no good, a time bomb waiting to explode, an evil about to unveil. Ava..."
"You're the devil herself." I completed her statement, cutting her short. "What is wrong with you Barbara, why are you calling me names?" I fired.
"Point of correction." She lowers her voice it's Michelle, Michelle not Barbara. I don't want to repeat myself." She warned me, like a child.
"So..."
"Shhh..." She placed her index finger on her lips. "I'm still taking, I'm not done, just keep quiet."
"What?"
She closed her eyes and ran her left hand across her face. She usually does that whenever she's angry.
This girl is unbelievable, does she think I'm still scared of her? Those days are gone.
"Look Barb..." I start to speak but she cuts me.
"It's Michelle..."
"Whatever."
"Not whatever, Michelle."
"Who cares?" I flung my hands.
"You don't now, but you will soon." She giggled. "Just pray nothing happens to my baby."
I got up to leave. I just wanted to avoid our conversation, I don't want to attract crowd, besides we had more important problems at hand.
"You know, it's your fault." Barbara whispered.
I paused. My heart sank. What is she trying to do? This b!tch sure knows my weakness.
"If you hadn't come to the Peterson's family, nothing like this would have happened." She consciously threw those words at me.
I froze, feeling my temperature rising, my body shaking. I managed to sit back, trying very hard to stop myself from crying.
"I've been with them for the past four years, nothing like this happened. You came barely a year ago and you think you can talk me down?" I said looking straight in her eyes.
"Disaster waiting to happen, time bomb. What do you understand by those terms? You were obviously waiting for something good to happen, so you could destroy it. Ava you are no good." She said, giving me a silly grin.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
"Cheer up baby." She patted my shoulder. "Just leave quietly."
She sure knows how to get me.
"Not before telling them who you are." I smirked.
"Okay then, let's see who wins." She scratched the side of her hair. "Mmmm, let's see... The problem of the Peterson's family right now is that their sons fiance is a liar." She laughed heartily. "Loser."
She's sounding triumphant and it scared the hell outta my ass. I can't afford to show her she's winning.
"Wait and see Barbara." I said walking away as fast as I could, so I won't hear another heart rending word from her.
I entered the bathroom and stood by the mirror looking at my worn out image. I just hoped Barbara didn't see my fears.
'AVee you're growing up.' I said to my image in the mirror and smiled
I could feel my heartbeat calming down. I didn't realize my heart had been beating fast.
Soon, I heard a scream, outside, it's of no doubt Dr. Gerald's voice.
'What could be wrong?' I asked myself rushing out of the rest room. immediately I came out, the first person I saw was Eden, she was shaking while her friends were trying to console her.
'Dear God, please don't let it be what I'm thinking, don't let Mr Lewis die.' I prayed silently and hurriedly went out to see what had gone wrong.
I went out to meet Mr Peterson and Dr. Gerald soon coming out of the doctor's office looking like the whole world just collapsed on them.
"What have you done Ava?" Dr Gerald asked with tears streaming down her eyes.
' She's walking towards me, I'm scared, what have I done? Barbara has won. She will definitely laugh at me when I'm behind bars.' I told myself.
She soon walked up to me and dragged the neck of my shirt. My precious necklace cut and fell off, making noise as it hits the ground.
"What have you done Ava?" She cried.
I never knew she had an emotional part. I never thought she could cry.
"I... I... I..." What do I want to say?
"It's okay sweetheart, it's not her fault. She did it with a good intention." Mr Peterson says, carefully removing his wife's hands from my shirt.
"Good intentions indeed." She fired.
"If not for her timely intervention, our son would have died." He said, hugging her from behind. "I trust my son, he's a fighter, he would be fine." He assured her.
She turned around to properly hug him, sniffing loudly.
Barbara, Eden and Eden's friends were just standing there watching us.
"Sir, I'm sorry..." I wanted to apologise when my boss stopped me.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault, besides you saved our son's life. You deserve something special, which we would talk about later." Mr Peterson says.
I heaved a sigh of relief and bent down to get my necklace.
"But there is a very big problem, I just hope Lewis won't consider suicide when he wakes up." Dr Gerald said.
I immediately looked up and the necklace fell off my hand.
- Writer
