The purpose of love

Julia Roberts The ticking of the clock sounds like my death time is nearing as I gather my things, gulping down the lump I try to find my shoe. I fall on knees to check under my bed, thankfully I find my black shoe under the bed. Letting out a sigh I quickly pull the shoe out, putting it now. My side rib hurts because of the quick moments, I try to regulate my breath before opening my bedroom door, as I walk downstairs I hear mom's voice. I closed my eyes sending a quick prayer to my angels to save me. "Good morning mom," I greet her placing my bag on the sofa before walking towards the breakfast table. She gave me a curt node as she is on the phone. I gave a tight smile sitting beside my brother Chad, he has earphones plugged in. I made my plate, started eating in silence, mom ended the call and placed her spoon down. "Julia, how many times I have told you to wake up early on school days. You know the distance between our home to your school, if you don't wake up early you will be late to school." "Sorry mom, I will wake up early tomorrow," I reply as I stopped eating knowing I will be having a serious conversation. "I have spoken to Mr Quesnel, you will be joining the athletics, you haven't lost a pound. The whole dieting isn't enough." I tried hard not to show my emotions on my face. "Mom, she needs to go to the gym. Personal training will help her lose fat, Kat joined the gym and it helped her," Chad spoke removing the earphones.  "I'm already paying your gym membership and fee, I have many bills to pay and I don't trust Julia. It would be a waste of money if I send her to the gym. She will skip the gym for sure," Mom replied looking at Chad. Chad sighed shrugging his shoulders, he stood up leaving his plate on the table. "Whatever, I'm leaving. I have a community meeting after college hours. Bye, mom." He hugged mum and went away. "I expect you to walk, see you in the evening," Mum said standing up taking her and Chad's plate. She is looking beautiful as ever in her pencil skirt and buttoned shirt which she tugged in. Her hair is tied into a high ponytail and lips painted in the warm nude. My mom is beautiful, no doubt in it. She is very conscious of her body and face. Mom is a bank manager, she is strict when it comes to me. To her bad luck, I didn't get her beautiful features, I'm more on the chubby side. Mom took on herself to make me drop my weight which seemed impossible. Chad goes to the local college where he got the full-time scholarship, mum doesn't want to send him away from home. She is attached to Chad after dad left us. I think I was four years old when he left us to live his dreams. I don't know much about him except that he lives in Australia. Mum never allowed us to contact him. "Are you going to step out of the house or not?" I snapped out of my thoughts nodding my head I finished the reaming salad. Mom left, I locked the front door and started walking towards the school. I'm not excited about school knowing how my mom is going to ask me about my future college plans.  I already got my schedule through email sent by the school administration, I reached the school before the time. I greeted the fellow students whom I know. School is good, there aren't any bullies but I'm sure some of them hate each other. Thankfully I don't have any bullies or people who hate me. My eyes widen when I saw Grace and Sofia. They were standing near their lockers which is beside mine. "Hey Grace, Hey Sofia!" I say with a wide smile on my face. They both turned their heads towards me when they heard my voice. "Hello there." "Hi, Julie." Grace greeted back with a smile. "Have you seen Mila and Peter?" I asked Grace. She is neighbours with Mila and Peter.  "No, haven't seen them. I reached here early for Sofia," Grace replied. I know Grace from sixth grade. She is Connecticut IB academy's topper along with Sofia. Sofia changed to this school in ninth grade, Grace and Sofia turned best friends. I sometimes feel like Sofia has problems with me but I shrug it off. "Now I understand why you haven't posted a single picture of you online," Grace spoke suddenly as I opened my locker. I faced her with a confused face. "What you understood?" I ask her unzipping my Bag. "Because you gained a few pounds, Julie you need to reduce the pounds not gain babe. It's not good for your health." The smile left my face, I don't like it when people point out my weight. I pulled out the new notebooks I brought from home, I placed them inside my locker with a few pencils and pens.  "I will reduce but I don't know when," I replied taking out the new next books. Sofia shook her head looking down at me. Sofia is tall with a slender body just like Grace. While I'm a shorty which makes me look like a fat potato. I don't complain though, people do... "Hey, guys!" My smile returned when I heard Mila's voice. Mila and peter have been my best friends from seventh grade. "Hey Mila, we were actually waiting for you," Sofia said before I could. I stopped what I was about to say as I looked at them. Sofia is being sweet to Mila other than Grace. "Oh Sof, I bugged Peter to drive here as fast as he can. I was eager to see you guys." Mila exclaimed hugging Sofia. My mouth widens in shock but I immediately closed. "Hey, Julie," Peter said hugging me. Mila's gaze shifted to me when peter greeted me. "Hey, babe." Mila hugged me. I checked her after the hug. She lost weight and her dressing style changed to a summer frock which is weird.  "You-look so different," I commented as peter who stood beside laughed. "That's called makeover, which is why she is looking different and good," Sofia said making Grace chuckle. "Julie, even you need a makeover," Mila spoke holding on to my shoulders. Grace nodded her head in agreement. "No, I'm fine in my jeans and sweatshirts," I replied. "Suits you," Sofia spoke in a rude manner making me frown. I pushed the frown knowing Sofia. The only thing which is confusing is how Mila became close to Grace and Sofia. "Come on, Julie. Our class starts in three minutes," Peter said when the second bell rang. Peter and I have the same class, I walked with Peter. Peter is a good looking boy with thick hair and height. I always thought Peter as a brotherly figure. Chad wasn't close so it was Peter who made sure I ate on time or if I needed a lift to go anywhere. "Hey, Peter, when did Mila and Sofia became close?" I asked as we walked towards our class passing the fellow students who are always in a hurry to reach the class.  "They spent their summer vacation together, Mila's mother asked Grace for a favour to tutor Mila. You know we need to c***k the GPA if we want to get into good colleges at least. So, Grace and Sofia tutored all the advanced subjects in the summer which is why they are close now." Peter explained. I felt the fear creep in when he spoke about the GPA, I'm not a clever student. I hardly pass maths, physics and chemistry. They are the toughest subjects for me to c***k. If I don't get at least 6.00 GPA mom gonna skin me alive. She already warned me about this from last year. "You good?" I turned my head towards Peter "Yup." "You look pale, chill Julia. Nothing is going to happen. Just work hard and concentrate more. You will get the GPA your mom wants. Study daily and I'm sure you will.  I smiled at him "Thank you, Peter." Students filled the class and they were greeting each other. "You look good," Lori said. I smiled at her, Lori... The firecracker of our school. She can be rude... Very rude if she doesn't like you. Thankfully, I never had problems with her.  "Thank you, Lori, I love your hair. it suits you so much." I said truthfully looking at her silver dye hair. Peter snorted beside me, he doesn't like Lori for what I don't know. Even Grace, Sofia and Mila aren't friends of Lori. "Thanks, girl." Lori turned around when the teacher entered the room. I don't understand why people fear Lori and keep her away from them. She is good but straight forward. She puts people on place when they cross the line in front of her. The last people to enter the room is Harper and Penelope, the best friends. Penelope waved her hand at me and Peter. They sat in the front as the only seats left are in the front. "Penelope is looking hot today," Peter whispered as he looked at Penelope. True she is looking hot today in her skirt and top. As I looked at everyone, I turned around and caught Sebastian looking at me. He looked away immediately making me frown at his weirdness. He always looked away or ran away whenever he sees me.