They Ate Me Alive, But I Was Their Lifeline

I cried until my body felt hollow like I'd drained every tear. Eventually, sleep sneaked in like a thief, taking my sadness away for the night.

Morning came too fast; a voice shook me from whatever dreamless sleep I had left. "Miss, it's time for school, the first day."

It was the maid's voice, not Mom's. Normally, it was Mom waking me up, so I blinked. I mumbled, "Yeah, I'm up," and dragged myself out of bed.

I went through my morning routine on autopilot—shower, brush my teeth, throw on whatever clothes I could find—before heading downstairs.

When I reached the kitchen, my stomach dropped.

Mom was feeding Ginny, spoon by spoon, like she was still a toddler.

It wasn't just that. Ginny was sitting in my seat, all snug like she'd been there forever.

Charlie sat beside her, his arm casually around the back of her chair. "Eat up. You're too skinny," he said, ruffling her hair like she was his actual sister.

They didn't even look up when I walked in.

"Morning," Mom said, her tone so casual I felt ignored.

Charlie didn't say anything. He just gave me a cold glance before turning away as if my presence had ruined the atmosphere.

I lingered at the edge of the room. But my stomach grumbled; I hadn't eaten anything since last night.

The grumbling felt like a storm was brewing inside me, making breathing hard as I stepped forward.

"That's… my seat," I said quietly, my voice barely making it past the lump in my throat.

Ginny stared up at me with those huge, watery eyes like I'd just yelled at her or something. She shrank back, clutching her spoon like it would save her.

Charlie quickly straightened up, his expression hardening. "She's sitting here. Let her stay."

I swallowed, feeling the room close in around me. "But… that's always been my seat…"

Ginny flinched. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—I'll move." She tried to stand, but her foot caught on the chair leg, sending her crashing to the floor.

"Ginny!" Mom shot out of her chair, rushing to pick her up.

And then Mom turned to me, her eyes full of blame. "Betty, what's the matter with you? It's just a chair! Does it really matter where you sit?"

I couldn't even answer. My throat was tight, my head spinning.

It wasn't just the chair. It was everything. But no one seemed to get it.

Before I knew it, Charlie shoved me to the floor.

"Ouch!" I cried. The cold tile stung my knees and elbow. But unlike Ginny, no one came to help me.

Charlie glared down at me like I deserved it. "Get up, you fat pig!"

I looked at Mom, silently begging her to say something—to stop Charlie from calling me names and scold him for pushing me.

But she was silent. She just held Ginny close, her expression unreadable.

The tears I'd held back for so long finally pushed them to the surface.

Why was it always me?! Why was I always the problem?

For the first time, I walked to school alone. No Mom holding my hand, no comforting words to help me manage the anxiety bubbling up inside.

It felt like the start of something bad, but I kept pushing forward. Maybe it was better than going back home, I thought.

When I finally got to class, I dropped into my seat, trying to blend in with the background.

But before I could even settle in, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head.

I whipped around, and there he was—a boy, grinning like he'd just pulled off the prank of the century. His nameplate read: [Angus Whitman.]

His hand still raised, he balled up another piece of paper and flicked it right at me.

The crumpled ball hit me square in the nose and dropped to the floor.

I didn't flinch. I just stared at him, my mind racing. First day of school, and this guy had the guts to pull this?

"What are you staring at, ugly freak?" He sneered like he was taunting me.

My hands curled into tight fists. Every muscle in my body wanted to lunge at him, to show him I didn't deserve another crap like that.

But before I could move, a familiar voice rang out across the room. "Betty! What the hell are you gonna do, huh?!"

Charlie.

I looked up, my heart sinking.

There he was, standing in the doorway with Ginny by his side, playing the protective brother.

The boy who'd thrown the paper ran over to my brother, still grinning like the jerk he was. "Dude, I just don't get it. Why's your sister so ugly? If I were you, I'd be embarrassed to be seen with her."

This was it. Charlie was going to defend me. He had to, right?

I waited for him to knock the punk out, to put him in his place.

But instead, my brother just glanced at me with a look—one that felt like embarrassment, maybe even disgust.

"Betty, Angus is right," Charlie said, his voice flat. "You always fight people. Just… stop it."

I froze, disbelief washing over me. My fists loosened as the fight drained out of me.

I had been ready for Charlie to stand up for me, to have my back like brothers are supposed to. But all I got was this huge, aching disappointment.

"Charlie…" I whispered, but he didn't glance in my direction like he didn't hear me.

Angus, seeing an opportunity, grinned wider and then turned to Ginny. "Whoa, dude! Who's that pretty girl?"

Ginny blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She shot him this shy smile that made my chest tighten with jealousy.

Charlie, beaming with pride, slung an arm around her shoulders. "Well, this is my other sister, Ginny!"

Angus looked Ginny up and down. "Yeah, no doubt about that. She's way better than that freak over there!" He nodded toward me, laughing.

Before I knew it, a group of boys had crowded around Ginny, eager for her attention.

Charlie barely reacted, but when he did, it wasn't to defend me.

"Hey, hey, hey, back off! Stay away from my sister!" he barked, but there was no anger—just a proud smirk as he looked at Ginny.

I sat there, sinking deeper into my seat as the humiliation burned my face.

My brother stood there like a hero—but not for me.

Before I could stop myself, I shoved my chair back and stormed out of the classroom. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

Tears blurred my vision, but I didn't stop. I didn't know where I was going.

All I knew was I couldn't bear it anymore.

That boy named Angus.

And Charlie.

Especially Ginny!