Lupin's POV

Everyone was snickering.

Some we're taking pictures too.

And Anna....was making a video.

The thick yellow mustard slid all the way down from my hair and dripped on the well polished floor.

It had a lavender kind of scent. But that also stung my eyes.

I rose my head up and tried to look straight at Charlotte directly without letting my tears fall from the corner of my eyes.

"Are you glaring at me!" She thundered before dropping a stinging slap on my left cheek.

"Know your place b*tch" She smiled.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I let them fall. Not saying a word while sobbing silently.

My ironed white shirt had been drenched in expired mustard and had changed to a pale yellow. It was starting to produce a foul stench and I winced each time my nose took a whiff of it.

" Let's go. We're done here. " She muttered before turning back swiftly and waltzed out of the cafeteria with her loyal dogs behind. Anna also followed.

Click

A girl came closer to take a better picture of my ruined figure.

I moved my legs which suddenly felt heavy from the floor and dragged them to the girls convenience room.

I placed my hands under the running water and used it to wash my face. Over and over .

I then stopped to look at my reflection in the mirror.

My shoulder length black hair was sticky and damp. My round silver lined glasses was drooping on my nose at an odd angle and my dark black eyes was wet and watery from the non-stop flow of tears that streamed earlier.

I tried placing my head under the tap to wash it off but couldn't. It was too low.

I would have to change out of these clothes too. I moved to the door and poked my head out a bit looking round.

The hallway was empty. That means lunch break was over and everyone was in class. Learning.

Finally I stepped out and hurried over to the gym locker room and found my spare clothes without wasting much time.

I headed back to the ladies room and had a quick bath. Ughhh. I bathed with school water.

I looked at my body in the mirror on last time.

My hair was now tied in a rough pony tail with a few ends sticking out. But my clean blue jumpsuit gave me a bit of confidence.

I stuffed my other uniform in my school bag and headed out in my black trainers.

At the school gate, there at least three to five security men standing guard. And I doubt they would let a lone teenager with inferiority complex go home without a given note form the principal.

So I thought carefully about my options.

I had to jump the fence.

°°°

I smiled a bit at the lovely couple making out in the sunny park as I walked past. Well don't they look adorable.

I tried not to gather attention to myself as I practically jogged home.

The fence back at school was well too high for any random teenager to fly over so I used a ladder and jumped off.

They'll probably notice later on but who cares. I'm not going back there anyways.

The wind was picking up pace and it was getting clouded as I stopped to look at the road before crossing.

Cleared.

It looked good enough so well I ran across. Reaching the other side my hair pulled out a bit from the band and got tangled in a girl's bracelet.

"Hey! You get it off!" She complained in her shrill voice.

It was hurting my scalp a bit. I tried to used my hand to reach at it and untangle it but she just yanked her hands harder instead.

Ouch!

"Pls.....stop moving" I tried to talk to her but was petrified after seeing one of her friends bring out a scissors from her bag.

Why was that even in there! She handed it to the girl and I looked at her with pleading eyes.

She ignored me and....cut it off.

She could have just cut that part but no, she chose to cut a huge chunk of my hair.

I stepped back to look at it fall to the floor gently.

"Serves her right" the friend muttered.

I moved away slowly from them and walked quietly. I didn't want to cause any more trouble.

Eventually I got home.

" Hey Mom." I greeted.

She was in the kitchen and I could her her voice a bit muffled.

Why didn't she respond.

I pulled out of my shoes and moved to the couch in my white short socks.

I flopped on it tired. My hands found their way to my hair and was feeling the side that had been cut.

I would have to redress this. It sucks. Plus how would I tell Mom that I don't plan on going back school. She'll get suspicious.

I switched off the TV that was showing images of a woman in her mid twenties maybe teaching how to make a pancake.

Who doesn't know that.

I tried closing my eyes to doze off but it didn't work. I felt my tummy grumble.

That's right I didn't eat lunch today.

I stood up and went to the kitchen where I heard more muffled sounds.

"Mom?" I whispered.

I walked inside to see her in a loose white shirt that barely covered her thighs. It was also obvious that she wasn't wearing a bra inside.

Then....

Next to her was a guy in a brown Jean trousers without a shirt on leaving his well tanned skin exposed.

They were engaging in a breathing taking kiss.

Lupin's POV

" Mom!" I yelled.

She was startled and broke out of the deepening kiss looking flushed and red all over.

The man stared at me amused a bit. Like he was studying me.

"Dear...I can explain" mom tried to talk but I didn't have the patience to listen.

I ran upstairs to my room and slammed the door. I fell on the bed sobbing uncontrollably.

Why

I felt my heart beat faster and it was almost deafening but unfortunately still couldn't block out the noise of mom banging against my bedroom door.

Why!

It's just been three months. Three months since they died and mom was already having an affair?!

That's cheating!

"Honey dear please open up. I can explain" she yelled through the door.

"Go away!" I literally screamed against my tears almost choking.

The knocks stopped.

I didn't get up and eventually fell asleep in my position.

°°°

I woke up terribly to the pain in my stomach. I'm gonna die if I don't eat something soon.

My alarm clock read past 2 so I was only down for at most one and a half hour. I still felt tired though.

I pulled out of my gym clothes and walked into the bathroom. Soaked in the tub recalling the events of the day.

Right, Anna leaked to Charlotte that I have a crush on Russell. The hot jock in Year 3. I know that we'll i would never have a chance with him but I still felt attracted to him.

Ended up telling Anna, my bestie since the 7th grade. Now we are senior year 2 together. Yeah, we've been friends for 5 long years. Yet out of the blue she helps Charlotte one of the popular girls in school humiliate me during lunch.

My hair that barely grows yet I was determined to train it was just cut off by a bratty kid that looks no older than me. And I have no idea how to fix it.

Lastly and maybe also the worst, mom..... Having an affair with a hot guy that was obviously too young for her. I bet he's barely clocked twenty!

And he's really hot too.....

*sigh.

I hated the way things changed so fast. After Dad and Joshua died in the plane crash three months back mom had been secluded. She didn't open up to me or even try to comfort me.

But this...it's just not what I expected.

I'm gonna spoil my skin if I stay in here any longer

And I'm as hungry as f*ck.

I moved downstairs quietly just in case they were still at home. To my relief it was empty. I entered the kitchen and tried to drive away the scene that took place earlier today from my mind.

I checked the pot to see it was washed clean. Where did she place my meal, or she didn't cook?

"It's on the shelf in a flask princess"

I whipped my head to the back and saw the hot guy that Mom was making out with lean against the door looking me in the eye with a dirty smirk.

"Thanks" I mumered. I didn't want to have anything to do with him.

I reached up for it but well....my not so tall legs couldn't reach it.

I then felt him towering over me and took it off without any problem. I bet he placed it there himself! Just to show off his pretty skin.

And why was he still not wearing a shirt!

He handed it over to me with a wide grin. Oh please, what are you feeling like right now. I thought and rolled my eyes.

" The names Nathaniel, but u can call me Nathan" he said

"Don't care" I whispered loud enough for him to hear then walked out holding the flask to my chest.

I ran up the stairs and locked the door once again before settling myself to devour the warm food like a hungry lion.

What should I do now. I'm bored.

Study?

I brought out my phone instead and went to the schools platform and read the never ending messages popping up every second

Cynthia: omg guys I hear what happened to lupin's today lmao( ^ w ^ )

Laura: have u watched the clip u should. I'll send it later×~.~×

Harry: but won't Lottie be punished later. That was harsh and the clip might spread.

Jessica: who cares≥ . ≤)/

Cynthia: so the b*itch really liked Russell. What a shame~(^~^~)

......

I closed it and rubbed my eyes. I'm done crying for today. I need to take my mind off this.

I heard a click behind me and turned to see Nathan open the door and walk in like he owned the place.

" How did u open it!" I screamed

"With the spare key your mother gave to me of course." He said as a matter of factly.

I glared at him. Signalling for him to leave but he moved towards me a bit

" Look before you say anything or make any rash decisions, I want you to know that I really love Clarice." He said his eyes calming down a bit.

" She a strong willing,beautiful and passionate woman. And she really loved your Dad but that's all in the past princess." He kept on talking without fazing even once" She needs someone to hold her now more than ever, and while it might come as a shock to you I see nothing g wrong with it."

Lies!

I would never believe a thing you say. My mom had an affair and that's all there is to it. I shot him a look hoping he would shut up and go.

" I might not look it but I'm actually 23 and I want to help ease your mother's pain in her final days" he said the last past with a sad smile.

Oh you sure as hell look 2–....final days?

" What do you mean....."

" Clarice has leukaemia Princess."

Lupin's POV

Was he serious!

I looked at him again waiting for him to say it's a joke or something but instead he looked down at the floor.

But....she never talk about this. She never talked about anything!

"Nathan is telling the truth dear" I heard my mother's voice from the corner of the room.

When did she enter.

"Mom...."

She walked towards me and placed her body on the bed sitting next to me. She wasn't loosely dressed like before but instead was in a pink tank top and 3-quarters.

" I need to explain somethings to you. Lupin." She glanced at Nathaniel and he left us alone.

" I've been sick for over a year now... you do know what leukaeima is right?" She asked and I nodded.

" Ok dear. It's cancer of the blood. And I'm afraid it's gone too far to be treated, all I can do now is take medication to help me stand strong for the few months I have left."

"But why....why am I just hearing this" I asked still unable to phantom that I was going to lose my mom in just a matter of months.

" I didn't want to worry you and well it wasn't that bad earlier. Until.... your father passed on." She said visibly struggling to get the words out.

"Joshua knew though. He persuaded me not to tell you so you won't have a panic attack. But now there really isn't any point in hiding it. It's not like I'll see Christmas....."

"Mom?" I hugged her. But I held back. I didn't want to cry yet.i still had questions that hadn't been answered.

" But why him?" I looked up at her " why did you have to date a guy who's young enough to be your kid. And why didn't you at least tell me about him before...." My voice trailed off. I couldn't finish my sentence.

I still found it difficult to swallow the fact that Mom was seeing someone else. The pill was just too bitter. No matter how I looked at it, she was cheating on dad!

" Nathaniel is a good man Lupin. I plan on dieing in his arms." She said with a dreamy look on her face " He gives me this comfort I didn't know I had before and it's just....it feels right."

Are you kidding me?

Was she really falling for this college student? This didn't make any sense. The more I thought about it the more confused and annoyed I became.

" No mom! This is wrong. You don't have any excuse to be involved with him."

" Lupin! You don't tell me what to do. I am your mother not you. I have every right to be in a healthy relationship with another man. My husband is dead for Christ's Sake!" She yelled making me shake a little.

I stayed quiet.

Yes she was right. She is a grown woman. Who can do as she pleases.

She can mess around and there's nothing wrong with it.

I'm the one being delusional. Thinking she'll stay single for the rest of her life.

"Dear, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to snap like that." She said trying to hold me in her arms.

I pulled away.

Don't touch me.

"Hey please say something...." She continued

I stood up and walked out of the room.

Down the stairs and didn't stop to look at Nathan in the living room, I didn't see anything until I was a good mile away from the accursed door of my house.

I moved along the busy road and spotted a couple of my class mates in cliques headed this way.

One of them saw me and pointed. They all turned their heads to my direction and whispered.

I quickly headed in an alley although I wasn't familiar with it. Just needed to get away from their judging eyes.

I stopped after a while and sighed.

Sat on the damp dirty floor and watched a family of Rats fight each other for a rotten piece of bread.

I laughed when one ( which I'm guessing is the wife lmao) bit the *** of the larger one and kicked the kids aside.

So desperate.

I placed my face in my palms and slowly but deliberately held back the tears that had been stinging my eyes all day long.

" Are you alright?" I heard a deep voice ask.

Startled I jumped up to my feet and studied the stranger invading my personal space.

He seemed a bit tall and his skin was shining despite the lack of sunshine in the deserted hole we were in. Long brown hair slightly curled at the tip properly arranged with obvious hard work gave his finely defined face a godly look.

He had brown eyes that seemed to look at my soul from a single glance. And was in a black tracksuit.

It's him....

"Yeah....."

Oh My Gosh it's him!

"You don't look ok" he said with a worried look. " Here take this"

He then tossed over a bottle of chilled water. It felt cold to the touch but I bet it's gonna be a whole lot refreshing.

Because it's from him!

"Drink up. You look spent. " He said squatting down.

I didn't. Just stared at him like a moron not able to speak.

"Do I know you? I feel like I've seen your face somewhere before..." He muttered using his hand to roughen his hair.

He does that when he's thinking!

Wait he's thinking about me?!

" That's right. You are that Mustard girl who's video's on all the school's platforms. I'm Russell. How are you?"