Shadows In Durango

Chapter 14

*:kkxG0fig's POV*Fkkx

Morning arrived far too quickly, with the bright sun shining through the blinds once again - welcomingto a

new day.

| groaned, my body protesting as | forced myself out of bed (if you could even call my blanketed spot on the floor

my bed).

The events of last night still swirled in my mind, mingling with the remnants of restless dreams.

I had survived my first shift at Vincent's bar, but the uneasy tension between us lingered like a dark cloud -

makingthink over when | would next see him with fears that he would perhaps change his mind and fire me.

After a quick shower, | dressed in my usual school attire- simple jeans and a tee. The cold morning air nipped at

my face as | stepped outside, my breath visible in the frigid air.

It had started to get pretty cold, and | heard smen at the bar last night talking about a storm that was

approaching... which only filledwith dread.

I didn't have any warm clothes or waterproofs if it were to rain, but perhaps with my new job somewhat secured |

could visit the store again and pick snew items up?

| continued to walk briskly to school, my mind replaying the strange interaction with Vincent last night as | had

met them in the last place | ever expected to.

Why had he insisted on cutting my hours while keeping my pay the same? The more | thought about it, the more

baffling it seemed.

I managed to reach the school building in record time, probably wanting to get out of the cold as quickly as |

could, and | welcomed the warmth of the place with open arms.

It was another day of physical ed on the cards, and | again didn't bring any suitable clothes for it.

Great!

| hated the whole atmosphere of the class too, with the bitchy girls and rowdy guys drooling over them every two

seconds... it was sheer hormones on heat!

The bell rang, signalling the start of my morning misery, as | dragged my feet towards the gym halls, hoping for

something drastic to have happened in order for the class to be cancelled.

But | was being hopeful, approaching to find the sguy teacher from before, standing in the sdull grey

uniform with a whistle hung around his neck.

"Ah Maria, is it?" He greets me, causing two of the nearby girls to snigger at him callingby the wrong name.

"Sofia..." | correct quietly, as he squints as though | wasn't being truthful.

Why the heck would I lie about my own name?!

"Go change, we are doing rugby indoors!" He pushes, as | fidget with my fingers in fear of what he would say

when | again explain that | don't have any change of clothes.

"I don't actually, have anything to wear... | forgot..." | mumble, trying to keep the other girls from hearing my

admission.

"Oh so you're going to be one of those ones are you? Hates exercise? Good thing we have spare clothes for the

likes of you - go find something in the box!" He points towards a large plastic box in the corner, as my eyes

almost pop out of their sockets.

I walk over to the red box with slow steps, my heart sinking as I rifled through its contents. The clothes inside

were a chaotic mix of sizes and colors, most of them looking well-worn and unwashed...

Reluctantly, | pulled out a pair of oversized shorts and a too-small shirt that had a faded school logo barely

visible. The outfit was mismatched and ill-fitting, but it was all | had.

| trudged my way to the girls' changing room, trying to ignore the growing pit of dread in my stomach at showing

them my outfit.

Inside, the air was thick with the sounds of chatter and laughter to which I didn't fit in to in any way, shape or

form. I quickly changed, feeling the eyes of the other girls peering towards me, their whispers barely concealed.

"Nice outfit, Maria," one of them sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she had overheard my change of

nkindly granted toby the teacher just moments before.

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| kept my head down, focusing on tying my sneakers back up, hoping that they would just get bored and would

leavealone.

"Oh my god, she looks like a clown in that outfit," another one chimed in, and the group erupted into even more

giggles.

| forced myself to stay silent, letting their words wash over me. There was no point in responding it would only

make things worse.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything huh?" a tall girl with perfectly styled hair demanded, stepping closer. She

was one of the queen bees of the class clearly, always surrounded by admirers and lackeys.

I didn't look up, keeping my eyes on my laces.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and | could feel her frustration growing at my lack of

acknowledgement - but | didn't know what else to do.

"Hey! I'm fucking talking to you bitch!" she snapped, grabbing my ponytail and yanking it hard.

| screamed instantly, the pain shooting through my scalp as she pulledright down until my knees hit the

tiles. My hands flew up to my head, trying to free myself from her grip, but she only tightened her hold, dragging