7:32? Fuck!
I opened my eyes to that ghastly alarm clock, practically jumped out of bed, and answered the annoying knocking at the door that I'd been trying to ignore for the past god knows when.
I guess this is what I get for being Jade Vincent, normal 16-year old.
Rico appears in my line of vision, looking like his hand was about ready to knock again, holding a small pile of neatly folded clothes in his right arm.
He must like the vision in front of him, huh?
From later mirror notice, my hair was mussed around, I had a big slap mark on the left side of my face, some leftover barbeque sauce on my right cheek, a black eye sealing my right eye partially shut, deep red thumb marks on my neck where Justin had grabbed me, and a brand new baby blue dress with the diamond straps, one of the straps broken and dangling on my left side.
And of course, I was dead tired.
"Did you just wake up?" Rico asked loudly, throwing the pile of clothes at me. I quickly snatched them before they fell to the ground as he continued, "Don't even tell me. Just be ready by 8, okay?"
I might just be a sight too horrible for him to tolerate. Especially at 7:33 AM.
"You're such a saint," I say sarcastically back to him. I pull the clothes up tighter to my chest, , grasping them firmly and continue, "I'll be out soon. Just cool your jets. I'll be ready," and shut the door in his face.
Managers!
I had to get a shower, wake up, eat breakfast, get this damn slap mark not to show, magically make the choke marks disappear from my neck, make my black eye turn peach again, and did I mention I had to wake up?
How am I going to get that done in 27 minutes?
Wait, scratch that. It just turned 7:34. I threw the jeans and t-shit, finally, simple clothes! on the bed and went into the bathroom to get a shower.
That's when I saw my face.
The bright red slap mark across the left side of my face over my eye, the black eye on my right eye that pasted half of my eye shut, the indented dark red thumb marks on my neck that resembled my near-to-death experience, my usual messed-up hair, ugly, blonde piece of shit, and barbeque sauce on my right cheek.
I really need a break from fame. I look like hell.
I slip my dress off my shoulder, finish undressing myself and slip into the shower. I turn on the faucets and feel the water start running down my back. It feels good for about 2 seconds and then I realize...
Oh shit, that's cold!
I quickly jump out of the shower, partially soaked and all naked. Oh I bet Justin would like that! Ha, ha, fantasy again. I turned the knobs the other direction and hop in the shower again.
Almost scalding hot. Just the way I like it.
I felt the misery of yesterday melt off me. The feeling of the slap, the choke hold, the black eye, everything. I as hoping that it would all go away, being sucked down the drain.
But when I stepped out of the shower, that wasn't the case. All I could see was scars.
The slap mark has faded, the right top side of my face was bright red and swollen near the cheek and eye area; it actually wasn't a black eye, but the choke marks on my neck remained dark and menacing.
Then I hear a knock at the door. Rico, don't you realize I'm naked?
I grab a fuzzy white towel and wrap it turban style on my head to keep my hair out of my face. I grabbed another towel and wrapped it around my body, the water still dripping off me as I walk out of the bathroom and open the door. I looked up at the taller figure and it felt like my jaw hit the carpet.
Why does it always have to be him?