Unreal.

The bus screeched to a halt, and my headset came off, I tightened my grip on my backpack, and entered the bus, as others alighted.

"Excuse me, move!" I shoved myself in between two seats, as the bus started to move. My headset came on again.

Listening to music was my way of escaping from the world around me, and the reality of my life. I came down from the bus, standing beside it.

It started to move, splashing muddy water on my uniform. "Ah God, no!" I tried brushing away the dirt, but it was too late. The brown on yellow was very visible.

I sneaked into the kitchen through the back door that was left ajar, leading out of the restaurant.

"I told you, Jenna, this would be the last time I'm doing this for you," Max whispered his voice firm but low.

"I'm so sorry, Max, I won't do this next time." I resumed my place in the kitchen. My eyes widened as I saw the number of plates I had to wash for the door.

"You came late again, you might not be leaving here until 9pm tonight, you've got a lot." Jose laughed, as he walked past me.

The kitchen was bustling, chefs here and there frying, cooking, steaming, and smoking different foods. My nose squeezed, and my stomach churned to the aroma of the food coming from inside the kitchen.

I placed my hands to cup the stars in the sky, "They're so bright today." I flinched to a tap on my shoulder.

"Here, have something to eat." Max extended a plate of food to me, and I smiled hungrily as I devoured the food.

"Get the hell out of the kitchen, girl!" The screams sent me into confusion as I hurried back outside.

My hands searched for my phone, but I remembered dropping my backpack inside the kitchen, I walked to the door, hesitant to go, as the door flung open, and my backpack hit me in the face.

"Your pay is inside the bag, now go home." Brad the manager said, closing the door behind him, but I wanted to see Max one last time before leaving for the night.

I stared at the door, waiting for him to come out, but he didn't, I turned around and walked away, and just then the door opened.

"Jenna!" A smile crept on my face, as I heard the familiar voice.

"Were you going to just leave like that? What of our goodnight hugs." I giggled, as he spread out his arms and I hugged him.

His body filled me with warmth that brought tears to my eyes every single time we hugged. Max was the only person in the world that understood me, he was the only person in the world that knows what I go through every single day.

I found comfort in him, and he does in me. He took me like a younger sister after losing his sister in a ghastly car accident, that left his mom crippled. He knew every single thing about me.

Not only that, but he was my diary and I wrote every page of my life in him. "Snap out of it." He chuckled, pulling me out of his arm.

"You've got to go now, it's half past nine." I nodded, as I turned and walked away from him.

"Jenna!" Sophia screamed, as soon as I stepped inside the house.

"Why haven't you slept yet, you've got school tomorrow." I frowned, as I walked into the kitchen and met my mother smoking again.

Sophia coughed, and I let go of her hand. "Go to your room, Sophia, I will be there in a jiffy." I jumped slightly, and she giggled as she ran to her room.

"Mom," I called, but her attention was on her cigarette, and she wasn't listening to me. My heart throbbed, and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"Mom!" She was startled, as I screamed, and turning to face me, she immediately dropped the cigarette from her hand and smashed it with her leg.

"You forgot to put Sophie to bed again," I muttered in sheer anger and rage.

"Oh! I forgot she was back from school." I watched as her expression changed every second. She wasn't herself and had been drinking and smoking too much lately.

"Do you know what time it is? This is 10pm already, Sophie comes back from school by 2pm, are you kidding me!" My voice reverberated in the kitchen, and then she started to sob.

My face wore a terrible frown, as I glanced on the cooker and saw the kitchen was the way I left it before going to school.

"You're pathetic." I slammed the door behind me, I walked to my father's room and met him sleeping. I turned off the lights and turned to leave.

"Jenna, is that you?" His voice trailed off, with the bustling sounds from the street.

"Yes Father, you should rest, I will bring you tea." I walked out of the room, microwaving the food that was stolen from the restaurant. I was too tired to cook.

Likewise, I walked to my father's room and fed him, before giving him his medicine for the night.

"You should rest, papa, don't forget to ring the bell if anything happens." He nodded and I walked out of the room.

I grabbed a plate of food for Sophie as I walked to her room.

"Sophie, here you should eat, I know you haven't eaten." She beamed with a smile as she ate.

"Mommy always forgets to cook dinner." She frowned, and I patted her head.

"Don't worry, I'm here for you, okay?" She nodded, smiling as I watched her eat.

As I brought out my phone, I cursed under my breath, seeing the broken screen, my mind drifted back to the classroom earlier today.

"Jenna, the scholarships are coming up, you should apply for one." Ruth grinned. I rolled my eyes and focused on the job application on my phone.

"She's always applying for one job or the other, take a time out, chill." Chris chimed in, I didn't look up at them at all until, someone tapped my shoulder, and grabbed my phone away from my hand.

"Hello, Jack of all trades." I sighed, knowing it was Steve and his group of bullies.

"Hello Steve, need anything." His brows were furrowed with anger, as his friends laughed, jeering at me.

"My phone." I extended my hand, and they laughed hard.

"I wonder what's funny?" I asked, and the group went mute, everyone in the cafeteria turned around to look at us.

"What did you say, Jerk?"

"I asked what's funny, you all seemed to laughing at a joke no one made." There were silent giggles from the students.

He grabbed my uniform collar, jerking me off my seat. "Don't you dare?" He spat.

"Mr. Steve, are you in need of another detention?" Mr. Mark, the science teacher, asked, and he let go of my collar.

"Good, be a good boy," I whispered, and he smashed my phone on the floor.