Hidden Secrets

By Amneh

Maria is a junior high school student struggling between reality and a lie and trying to figure out who she really is and what she really wants in life. Maria undergoes a series of situations in her life that puts her in a test, where she has to decide what’s best for her and also her mother’s—dealing with her drug-dealing dad, her toxic relationship with her lover, and having to deal with one-sided friendships, which she is having a hard time to admitting to.

Will Maria pass the tests, or will she make a mistake and fail herself and her mother?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662461088

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Hidden Secrets

Amneh

Copyright © 2022 Amneh

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-6107-1 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6108-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

The sun is rising at the horizon. Everything is so quiet and so calm in California, Los Angeles, as I am waking up on a Monday morning. I felt the sun on my face. Trying so hard to open my eyes and at the same time trying so hard to reach the alarm clock button that has been going off for the past ten minutes, I finally tended to get up off my bed and turned the alarm clock off, and I suddenly heard my dad knocking at my bedroom door.

Maria, open the damn door right now.

I quickly opened the door. Okay, I’m up. You don’t have to keep knocking, I said.

Yeah, and you better stay up. I don’t have time to wake you up again, understand me?

Yes, I understand. I walked to the bathroom, pretending to be scared of my dad, and followed his orders so I wouldn’t have any more interruptions this morning. I went back to my bedroom, put on my varsity cheerleading uniform, put my hair in a high ponytail, and added my bow that I have been waiting to wear all summer for my first day as a junior at Westbank High School.

As I was looking in the mirror, doing my last touches before heading downstairs to grab breakfast, I could hear arguments between my mom and dad in my two-bedroom one-bathroom townhome.

Sarah, wake up. You have been lying your head down on the kitchen table for the whole night. Get your ass up and do something in this house.

John, I smoked two blunts last night, and I’m still out of it, and don’t you remember? Wait a minute, no, you don’t remember because you have been drunk all night, not giving a fuck about anything.

I came down the stairs to see my dad grabbing my mom from her shirt. Listen to me, bitch, I put a roof over your head, and I’m not liking all that disrespect that you’re giving me right now.

Chill, you guys. Do we have to go through this every morning? Sheesh.

My dad let go of my mom and walked to the living room to have his morning beer while my mom just sat back on her chair, acting like nothing just happened, that my dad never called her a bitch and grabbed her by her shirt. I walked up to the cabinet, grabbed a bowl, and fixed a bowl of cereal for myself.

Where you off to? Isn’t too early?

I’m off to school. It’s the first day. I’m a junior in high school. It’s the school that you used to go to when you were a kid, remember?

My mom looked at me with a frown on her face, and suddenly that frown turned into a face of curiosity. Is that my bow? she asked.

Yeah, it is. I found it in the box full of your high school memories. It’s in the basement.

She still looked at me with curiosity across her face. It’s the first time I saw her like that. Mom, you okay? I asked.

Get out of my face, Maria.

I shook my head. Damn it. I’m going to miss my bus. I quickly ran out the door. When I got to the bus stop, I saw everyone was still there.

Hey, girl, the bus is not here yet, Maria, said Mia.

I lay on my back on the cool green grass, trying to catch my breath. Mia, do you know when the bus will come?

No, I have no idea, girl. Maybe it will come in a couple of minutes.

Damn, girl, I woke up like a dead person this morning.

Me too, girl, but we did have fun at Eric’s place last night, Mia said.

Yeah, we did. I couldn’t feel my legs from the dancing that I did last night.

I had a blunt of weed yesterday that I’m still recovering from, said Mia. Maria, you’re such a good person. I have never seen you smoke or drink. I wish I was like that.

Well, sometimes. Mia laughed. I just don’t like the smell of weed or alcohol.

What? Are you kidding right now?

No.

You have to be kidding. Who doesn’t like the smell of weed and alcohol, and it tastes bomb as hell too.

We both laughed hysterically.

The bus finally arrived at the stop. I could see David and his friends throwing a football pillow at each other; the bus driver seemed to get really annoyed from the pillow throwing and yelled as I was getting on the bus, Stop throwing that pillow. This is not a slumber party.

As I was looking around, trying to find a seat on the bus, my eyes met David. I felt the bus was empty except for both of us on the bus. Maria! Maria! Maria, let’s go. You’re holding everyone up. What’s up with you?

What? Oh, I didn’t notice.

What do you mean you didn’t notice? Mia said.

I finally realized how hard I was staring when I turned around, and I could see everyone staring at me, waiting for me to sit. The whole bus ride was quiet and just me looking at David the entire time. I can’t help but stare at him. I can’t help but keep my eyes drawn to him. I mean, look at him. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and the most golden-yellow hair that I have ever seen, and just, oh my god.

Maria, what is wrong with you? asked Mia.

Mia, I can’t help but stare at David. He’s so perfect.

"David? Really? Ugh. I don’t see anything good about him. He just uses girls to get what he wants," Mia said.

I looked at him once again flipping his straight smooth hair away from his face as he was trying to catch the pillow in his hands. Mia, go long, David said as he threw the ball with force on her face.

Watch it, dumbass, Mia said as she was struggling to throw the pillow back with force at him.

Who are you talking to, little girl? said David.

"Who are you calling little girl, head ass?

Fight! Fight! Fight! everyone on the bus started to yell.

Hey, hey, everyone, calm down. You high schoolers just want something to fight about. Now, every single one of you get off the bus in a quiet manner. You guys have done enough this morning.

You can hear quiet laughter from everyone as they were all getting off the bus.

When I walked into school, I felt good hope for this year but felt butterflies in my stomach at the same time. I don’t get it. I have been going to Westbank for two years already, and I feel nervous all of a sudden; maybe taking some deep breaths is going to help me. I kept inhaling and exhaling until I reached the guidance office. Mrs. Miller was already at the door, handing everyone their schedules for the school year.

Maria, it’s good to see you. How was your summer? Did you get to go to Spain with your family?

Yes, I did go with the family. I had fun.

Great to hear. Well, say hi to your mom for me. I haven’t seen her in a long time. What she has been up to lately? asked Mrs. Miller.

My mom has been great. She has a new big case in China, and she won’t be back till a couple of months from now.

Wow, you go, Sarah. I remember when she and I were your age here at Westbank. Your mom was so smart and cool. Everyone wanted to be her friend. I remember how I and Sarah used to hold interviews, whom she wanted to be cool with and who got turned down. Those were the good old days, said Mrs. Miller. What in the world sounds so good about begging my mom to be her friend? Thinking about my mom being the coolest kid to being a crackhead and my dad being captain of the varsity football team to being one of the high-end drug dealers in Los Angeles and the fact that no one in the school knows yet who they really are make me want to vomit.

As I was heading to my class, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I know who it was, but as rude as this might sound, I refused to turn. After a second, I felt another tap on my shoulder.

You’re not going to say hi? I missed you like crazy. How have you been?

Look, Ethan, stay away from me. I…really… I’m not feeling it, never will.

Really, Maria? Okay, have it your way, but we will be together someday.

Whatever, Ethan. I kept walking and finally reached my first class without Ethan bothering me again. As soon as I came into the class, I sat on the first seat in the second row. I looked over to my right, and to see Ethan right next to me, I gasp. Ethan, how did you manage to get here before me? I asked.

Because I have superpowers, and blew out a kiss.

Ugh, you annoy me.

I know. I bet you like it though, said Ethan.

No, the hell I do not, I replied.

Whatever. You will someday, Ethan said.

I shook my head in disbelief. I can’t believe him. Ever since the ninth grade, he’s been having this obnoxious crush on me. Ethan, get lost, man. You’re distracting my peace.

As Ethan was just about to open his obnoxious mouth, Mr. Akins came into the classroom. Hello. Welcome everyone. My name is Mr. Akins. I’m going to be your teacher for this year’s history class. Mr. Akins is probably the youngest teacher at Westbank high school. I looked around the classroom as Mr. Akins was talking and saw all the students in the classroom either half asleep or some having their hands on their cheeks, waiting for this boredom to end. He does look young, but the way he presents himself was like an old man that has been working here forever. All you can hear is the