The Horror in the Mirror
Elle spent the whole weekend in her bed, trying not to cry. Yeah, unsuccessfully. The only time she left her bedroom was to go to work, which she couldn’t get out of. She hated leaving the house to do so, though.
The love of watching the city pass through her bus window and as she walked to work was now gone. Elle had felt like a mushy mess; her eyes were stained red, her hair was unkempt, and her clothes were mismatched. She had actually thanked God for her uniform this weekend.
Elle went through varied emotions. She went from happy that it was over so soon between them to sadness it was over and all the way to straight-up ax murderer that he had done this to her, and everything else in between.
Elle promised herself she was going to get over him by Monday. There is no way Nero is seeing me like this.
Elle was determined Nero wasn’t going to think he had gotten the best of her. She was going to move on, and he was going to see it Monday morning.
When Monday morning rolled around and Elle’s alarm clock went off, she thought of a new way to destroy it when school was finally over. She woke up groggy. More like I feel like shit.
Turning on the bathroom light, she saw the horror in the mirror. She didn’t exactly know if this was even fixable. She wished Chloe was there to help. Wait, Chloe can help.
Elle ran back to her bedroom and hit Chloe’s number. It rang several times. Elle knew it was pretty early and thought she should hang up, but then it was answered.
“Hello?”
Chloe sounded wide awake to her. She knew she’d hardly slept, but damn it was early.
“Chloe, I need your help. I look like shit.”
Chloe’s voice sounded almost cheerful. “Be right there. Bye.”
Chloe was definitely the one for the job. She had to look like a million dollars a lot of the time, due to her dad’s work. She had to go to many occasions with her parents and look like the part of the perfect, beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, with her scars, her father made sure she looked like two million dollars, so it would distract from the slashes down her face.
Elle knew if any other girl had Chloe’s markings, they wouldn’t pull it off, but since Chloe was beyond gorgeous naturally, she made them look beautiful. Chloe can pull anything off.
Elle brushed her teeth and washed her face before Chloe got there. When she did arrive, she immediately got to work. Elle kept her hands locked in her lap and didn’t move while Chloe was working on her. She thought Chloe would wear gloves before she even started working. She didn’t, and Chloe made sure to use all the tools.
“Okay, what are you going to wear?” Chloe asked as she put away her hair tools.
Elle shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a t-shirt and jeans, I guess.”
“I did not do your makeup and fix your matted hair for a t-shirt and jeans.” Chloe walked into Elle’s closet and came out. “Where is the green sweater?”
Elle looked at the floor. “I don’t want to wear that.”
“Why not?” Chloe asked, sitting on her bed.
Elle knew it was stupid, but the only reason she had liked it instantly was because it had reminded her of Nero’s eyes; as such, she didn’t want to wear it. Elle didn’t want to tell Chloe that, though; therefore, she simply shrugged.
“Elle, do you want to make him regret ever cheating on you and shove it in his freaking face?”
Elle thought for a second. Yes, I fucking do.
Elle got up and went into her closet, shutting the door. She dressed in the small space, putting on her black leggings and getting the sweater down from the top shelf. Then she put on some high, black boots.
She came out and Chloe’s mouth went into a smile. “He is going to cry himself to sleep tonight.”
* * *
Nero leaned up against his car in the student parking lot. Amo and Vincent had joined him a few minutes earlier. His car was just a few feet away from Chloe’s parking spot. Nero knew he and his crew were still going to have to provide some protection; if anyone got wind of him and Elle breaking up, she would be done for.
Nero rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the past few nights. He wanted to believe it was going to be easy winning her back, but honestly, Nero had no idea where to start. He had no women expertise outside of the bedroom.
He had spent the weekend following Elle to and from work, again. Moreover, Nero found it even more miserable than the first time he had done it. Watching her so close and not talking to her was torture. Then not going into the diner while she worked was the worst kind of torture.
He had noticed she didn’t look like herself and was clearly in pain. He figured that was why he didn’t talk to her or pop up in the diner; he didn’t want to cause her more damage. She’s had enough of that.
“How are you, man?” Vincent asked, breaking through his thoughts.
“Fine,” Nero answered quickly, not wanting them to think he was torn up over a girl.
“And how’s she?” Amo asked.
“She looked pretty rough last night,” Nero confessed.
Vincent laughed. “You’re going to have to come up with something good, man. Thank God, I’m not you.”
“Yeah, I know. Listen, we need to be on them. I think Cassandra comes back today.” Nero knew he wasn’t going to be able to get too close without making up with Elle yet, but he needed to get as close as he could.
Amo and Vincent nodded. They waited for about five minutes until Chloe’s BMW appeared and pulled in her spot.
Nero watched as the passenger’s door opened and a pair of black boots hit the ground. When the door was closed shut, he blinked his eyes several times before he realized it wasn’t going to change anything. Holy hell.
Nero felt an intense amount of emotions as he watched Elle’s ass sashay across the parking lot in that outfit. Firstly, he wanted to fuck her. Secondly, he wanted her to dress like that more often. Lastly, he wanted to know why she looked perfectly fine.
When only Elle’s back was visible, his first emotion returned harder. It’s been a fucking while, okay?
Nero noticed his friends gawking. “Hey, fuckers, move your eyes to someone else.”
“Damn, Nero, you were right. Elle is just so heartbroken.” Amo couldn’t hold in his laughter.
Nero leaned up from the car and ran his hands through his hair. He turned back to them and saw Vincent closing his eyes, whispering something.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Vincent whispered something else before he opened his eyes. “I was just thanking God for leggings.”
* * *
Elle and Chloe went through the chicken patty line. Picking what we want is now over. Elle knew it had been good while it lasted, and honestly, she didn’t even know if she was going to be able to eat today. She had completely forgotten about lunch money, not like she would have paid the ridiculous price for it anyways.
Elle and Chloe moved up the line. She had been on the lookout the whole morning, and Chloe had started walking behind her again. She did notice that the three assholes had been following them all day, though. I don’t need to be followed!
Elle and Chloe grabbed a tray full of fries and a chicken sandwich and then went to give the lady their number. Elle held her breath, wondering if she was going to get away with it. When she did, she couldn’t believe it. Elle figured the only reason she had was because the lunch lady in the other line was much meaner. So, I guess I’m stuck eating chicken patties for the rest of the semester.
Elle walked toward her and Chloe’s original table, but found it full.
“Shit.”
She looked around and saw the only table that was unoccupied was the table in the corner that they had sat at Friday. Elle turned and walked toward that table. As she did, she noticed Nero, Amo, Vincent, and Leo sat at the table closest to it. Of course they are. The other surrounding tables were still filled with the football team.
Elle took the seat facing the lunchroom again, and Chloe took the one in front of her, just like she always had before. I guess some things can never change.
Elle gave Chloe a reassuring smile. Chloe hadn’t been prepared to go back to their old ways. Elle had watched her as she had blossomed back into her old self. It had been the happiest Elle had seen her since she had met her the first day of high school.
Elle picked up her sandwich to take a bite when she noticed the lunch lady from the other line was heading her way.
“Uh, Chloe, why is she coming toward us?”
Elle watched Chloe swing her head around and then quietly speak, “Should we be afraid right now?”
“I don’t—”
Elle gasped as the lunch lady snatched her sandwich out of her hand and put it back on the tray. “I told you last week, Elle, you need to pay for your lunches. No more charges.” Elle heard her mumble under her breath, “This isn’t a damn charity,” as she walked away.
Elle and Chloe’s mouths hung open as she then walked right up to the trashcan and threw away her tray. She knew this school had really gone to the next level when they’d rather throw away food than feed a hungry child.
“Can she do that?” Chloe asked, turning back around.
“She just did,” Elle said, wanting to disappear.
Chloe pushed her tray away. “You can have mine. I’m not that hungry.”
“No, Chloe. I don’t want it. It wasn’t what I wanted anyways.”
Chloe wrung her hands in her lap. “Yeah, me either.”
* * *
“Did that just happen?” Nero heard Leo ask.
“Fuck this school. Why do we even go here?” Amo added.
Vincent looked at Nero. “That was the most fucked-up thing I have ever seen. Something needs to be done about that.”
Nero was trying to calm himself. Yeah, by thinking of a thousand ways to murder that old-ass bitch. He would deal with that later.
Ho took a deep breath. “Vincent, I need you to do me a favor.”
Vincent smiled. “Strangle the life out of her?”
That sounded nice. “Maybe later. I need you to go buy Elle another lunch, and don’t get the chicken sandwich. I know they didn’t want that shit.” Nero stopped and looked back at their table. “Get them both new lunches.”
Vincent sounded surprised. “Why me?”
“Because Elle won’t take it from me, and she will think I paid if Leo gave it to her.” Nero paused, not wanting the next words to come out of his mouth. “And for some reason, she likes you the most between us.”
Vincent looked over at the lunch lady who had thrown Elle’s tray away. “I’ll be happy to.”