I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read that. I know what I did was wrong, but calling me out like that? Oh my god that wasn’t fair. They, especially Ash, didn’t have to go that far. I know it needed to be out there, but to the whole SCHOOL? That was insane. I turned my phone off, and slipped it into the pocket of my yoga pants. I finished up what I was doing, and called Christopher to pick me up. He arrived after I had finished showering all the sweat off of my body. “You seem to be upset, Ms. Arianna.” I ignored him. I was upset, yeah, but nothing I can’t deal with… right? We got home, and I went upstairs to my room. Ash and Madee were giggling in one of the rooms on my floor. As I got closer, it was MY room THEY were giggling in. I swung that door open, and they both stopped. “Hi Arianna!” Madee squealed, and I frowned. “Out of my room! Both of you!” Madee frowned. “Can you give Ash her picture back?” I couldn’t deal with this. “GET OUT!” I yelled, and both of them scrambled out. My still damp hair draped in front of my face, which I gave off a huff to shove it somewhere else. Madee looked at me as they walked down the hallway. “Why are you so mad..?” She asked. I slammed the door to my room shut. It was none of her business to know why I’m so mad. Ash probably told her anyway. 

I flopped on my bed. When was the last time I had a good cry over things? I didn’t know. I want someone to just listen to me. Would that ever happen? Father is mad at me, Madee doesn’t remember me, my own mother is dead, Vann doesn’t like me much, I don’t have a good amount of friends that Ash did. I guess what motivated me to do what I did was because I was jealous. Ash had friends and people that loved her, her friends have parents that love them, they all get along with each other. And I only had basically myself. If I called my father and asked him to come home, he would say: ‘Ok, I can. You’ll just have to wait a little.’ and then not come home for a few more months. Vann didn’t want anything to do with me, he probably didn’t even want to listen to me. Ash hates me because of all that I did, and I wouldn’t blame her. Madee doesn’t even know that she is my sister, and I guess I just want it that way. I decided that I would avoid her. 

It was the next morning, school went by as normal. Madee and Ash had to stay here now because they had no home to go to. Madee had tried talking to me when Ash wasn’t there, and I ignored her. “Hey, Arianna. Do you want to help me with my homework?” She asked, I looked at her. “And why? Can’t Vann help you?” She frowned. “Vann OR Ash isn’t here. Christopher is busy.” I rolled my eyes. “Well, ask one of them.” She groaned. “C’mon Arianna. It’s just homework. Simple stuff that YOU would understand, at least I hope you would.” I looked at her. “Did you just call me stupid without calling me stupid?” She smiled, shrugged, and walked away. “Ugh, you little brat.” I hissed, grabbed a few snacks from the kitchen and went to my room. Madee knocked on the door after an hour or so. I sighed. “It’s unlocked doofus. Just open the door.” Madee came in, and shut it behind her. “Well, you keep it shut, so it’s good for a person to knock just in case you are changing or something.” I rolled my eyes, and looked at her. “What do you want?” I was annoyed, and I wanted her to know that. She looked at me, and soon came closer to my bed. “Why do you avoid me? It’s obvious you are.” I frowned. “None of your business. If you need help on your homework, then ask for it. I don’t have time to chit chat with a toddler.” she frowned this time. “I’m not a toddler, i’m nine.” I smiled. “I know you’re nine. I was there… nevermind.” I said, ending the conversation quietly. “What else were you going to say?” 

I shook my head. “It’s not important, Madylnn.” I watched her face as it grew with curiosity. “What’s my middle name, and my birth last name if you are going to say that.” I bit my lip. “Out of my room, Madylnn. I don’t have time for this.” She crossed her arms. “No. Not until ou tell me.” I got off my bed. “Out.” She smiled, still crossing her arms. “No.” I frowned. “Out.” She still stood where she was. “No.” I heard Ash coming up the stairs. “Get out Madylnn.” She giggled. “No. Not until you tell me!” Ash opened the door. “Get out Madylnn!” I hissed, and Ash came and stood behind her. “What is the problem with Madee, Arianna?” I looked at her. “She won’t leave me alone.” Madee sighed. “Because she won’t tell me how she knows I'm ten. She said that she was there for something. And she won’t tell me what that something is.” Ash sighed. “Let’s go. Arianna is just being Arianna.” Madee and Ash left me alone, quietly shutting the door behind them. 

It was Tuesday, Monday had gone by in a blur. Felicity showed us the science assignment that she said she would do for us, but I secretly wanted to do it myself. So, while Felicity, Veronica, and Jordain did work, I made my own Solar System Model. It was around lunch time, when I decided on making my own attack. It was going to actually be harmless, I swear on that. I went over to Ash, and knocked her hat off from behind. She picked it up again, and so I did it again. Ash looked at me, and I didn’t notice my friends were behind me, and rolled her eyes. “What do you want Arianna?” Ash asked as she put her hat back on. “You think you’re so funny making Hairstripe here,” I said pointing to Varian before I continued, “Do an article that antagonizes me in front of the whole school.” I snapped at her. I guess I just couldn’t hold my temper like I wanted to. “Okay, first of all, my name is not Hairstripe.” Varian hissed out, slamming his hands on the table and pointed to me before he continued. 

“And second, I came to her. Don’t be antagonizing her when she has the courage to stand up to you instead of letting you be a complete and total-” Ash spoke over Varian’s last word. “Arianna. I did not choose to be adopted by you. I choose to let you bully me because I had no other choice. Well, as of today, your reign ends. Now.” Ash stood up from where she was sitting. Her friend was whispering to herself, the same word over again. I honestly was more afraid than I showed. My friends backed up farther than I did. “You think this is all a joke? Hurting me, manipulating me, lying to me and others to boost your own ego? You don’t know how to care for others because your parents are never home! You’re just a fake know-it-all and you know it.” I was angry. My mother was dead for crying out loud! And no one, and I mean no one talks about my mother like that. So, I aimed for her. Ash dodged me, mainly because I was being as predictable as I could. “What’s the matter, Arianna? Am I too hard of an opponent? Maybe you should try the elementary school.” Ash took her hat off and smacked me hard in the back with it, which caused me to stumble a little. After almost falling on my face, I tried to really give her a left hook. 

Ash stuck her foot out, which caused me to actually fall this time. Ash put her hat back on, and bent down to face me. “Who’s all high and mighty now, Arianna?” I watched her face curve into a smirk before she straightened herself out. Ash looked at all my friends, her face full of rage. “Does anyone else wanna try the fury of Ashtynn Reyes?” She practically yelled, raising her arms above her head. My friends were all trying to hide behind Jordain, until Jordain moved over to Ally. “Good.” Ash hissed, sitting back at her lunch table. At this point, the whole cafe was silent. I stood back up, crying. I knew my mascara was running down my face. “You’re going to regret this Ashtynn! Every last bit!” I cried out, and stormed out of the cafe. I knew I would be called into the office. I didn’t care at this point. I was still upset that she brought my mother into this. Would my mother be proud that I tried to protect her name? Or would she be upset that I lost? I shook my head, and went to the bathroom after grabbing my makeup bag. My face wasn’t bruised that bad, just a few places that would be black and blue. I knew my back most likely did have a bruise from where the button thing at the top of her had hit me, because that really hurt. She’s lucky she didn’t knock the breath out of me. Well, she almost did at least. 

I scrubbed my face clean with the cleanser I had, and reapplied my makeup. Felicity and Veronica came in when I was reapplying my blush. I had already redone my eyes and put my chapstick on, so I was good there. “Are you alright Arianna?” Veronica asked, seeming genuine. I frowned. “It doesn’t matter how I am.” Veronica sighed. “Well, do you want to help us with our assignment for science?” I shook my head ‘no’. “I think I'm going to do that by myself.” They nodded. “But, we’ll fail without you.” Felicity said, frowning. “Ok? Figure it out.” I said, put all my stuff back in my makeup bag, and went out of the bathroom. I just realized too. I need to eat my lunch. But I sure as day am not going back in there. I went to the now empty choir room, sat down, and ate what Vann had packed for me. I pulled out my phone when it buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from an unknown number. I ignored it, and it kept texting me. 

I decided to at least take a peek at the messages that I was being sent. I frowned, hoping that they would be good messages. Sure enough, they were the opposite. Who gave people my number? I don’t know, do I want to know? Kind of, yeah. I blocked the number and finished my lunch. I was needed in the office now. I got there, and sat down. Ash, Varian, and a few others were there. I felt the scowling look of Ash, but ignored it. I seemed to be getting better at ignoring things and people. “Arianna Delmire. You may enter my office.” I entered the principal’s office, and sat down in one of the chairs. “Do you understand what you have gotten yourself into young lady?” I looked down at my hands. “Yes.” Principal, Mrs. Johnson, sighed. “What’s going on at home, Arianna? Is there something there that is causing you to lash out at school?” I frowned. “My father is never home..” they nodded. “What about your mother?” I looked back up at them. “She died when I was seven. So, she obviously is never home.” Mrs. Johnson nodded her head. 

“Well, Arianna. We can’t let you get away with this behavior. We won’t call your father about this if you serve the after school detentions. I am going to give you three.” I nodded my head. “Yes ma’am. I’ll serve them.” She nodded. “Mm, well, i’ll add this to the file, and we’ll get you back to class. No more of this, alright?” I nodded my head again, got out of the chair, and left. The other two were sitting there, and soon Ash was called into the office. Classes  passed by, and soon we were home. I went to my room, and Ash was somewhere in the house. I soon heard a knock on my door, and opened it to see Christopher. “I heard about what happened at school, you’re lucky your father didn’t pick it up. Please leave Ash and her friends alone. This is a warning before I tell your father.” I rolled my eyes, and shut the door in his face. I did feel bad afterwards, but still. I don’t need a warning. I’m not two.