STONEYBROOK HIGH Story One - Chapter 1 : I am Natalie


sidenote The title of this story, originally called "Natalie's Revenge", has been changed. I felt the new title "I am Natalie" was more appropriate :)
"haha, droopy Natalie. Aww, poor baby. What's she gonna to do?" laughed one.

"You can't see anything without your glasses can you little baby?" provoked another.

"give them back!" I cried, clutching my skirt tightly. Pamela and her two friends Jannie and Leslie had gotten a hold of my glasses when I tripped over Leslie's foot.

"and what if I said, no?" Pamela laughed.

"Please! Give them back!" I could feel tears forming in my eyes.

"give them back?" Pamela asked, "sure, I'll give them back. Here." I could faintly see my glasses in her extended hand. I reached out to take them but as I felt my hand closing in, it fell through my grasp. With a clunk I heard it hit the floor. What I feared most came next. I heard a crunch beneath me.

"ooh. Sorry, I guess you'll have to cry your little eyes out now, don't you?" Pamela said. That did it. Tears overflowed and slid down my face as I fell to my knees. Searching with my hands I felt around the floor until I touched the broken glass. I could feel the smirk of satisfaction painted on her face.

"haha, that was fun. Let's go girls, I don't want to stare at her face unless I have to," Pamela said. I could hear their laughing along with their footsteps disappear towards the back of the room. All my life I've been tormented and bullied by them. Broken glasses, ripped homework, money stolen, and being pushed around like a maid.

Tired from crying, I picked up the pieces from my glasses and dumped them into the garbage. Sitting down at my seat, I looked around the room. It was noisy, like a room full of buzzing bees. Our teacher had gone to the office to drop off some of our final projects which were to be on display. Eighth grade was ending soon. Everyone was excited because it was our last year at StoneyBrook Middle School. Graduation was in a week and the auditorium used is under decoration.

"do you know what your are going to wear yet?" asked someone behind me. I turned around to see who it was, just to realize the question was not directed at me. It was Nancy asking Karen. They along with Hannie occupied some seats behind me. I could tell they were talking about the graduation ceremony.

"I'm not sure. I'm still deciding between the lavender dress or the blue dress," Karen replied.

"Wait, don't tell me it's that blue dress with the big white ribbon at the waist," said Hannie.

"Yea, what's wrong with that?" asked Karen.

Hannie rolled her eyes, "My god Karen, that dress is for babies. Even the lavender one. It has ruffles at the bottom."

Karen narrowed her eyes on Hannie, "well, I think it's nice. I even have shoes to match both already."

Nancy had sensed an argument coming, so before Hannie could reply, she said, "Well, I know what I'm wearing to the ceremony."

Hannie and Karen lost interest in each other to look at her and at the same time asked, "what?"

"It's a blue dress that comes to the knees," Nancy described, "two strings tie together at the shoulders to hold it up. It's very nice. I got it on Saturday with my mom."

"Hey, I like the sound of that. Bring it with you to the slumber party this Saturday," said Karen.

Slumber parties. I've only been to two slumber parties in my life and they were both at Karen's house. One was during second grade when Karen had invited everyone in our class, including Pamela, Jannie, and Leslie. The other time was in grade seven after Karen had asked me when Nancy caught a cold and couldn't come and Karen needed a filler for a game.

I've been the social outcast all these years. Once, just once I wish I could be as popular as Pamela, but it is like asking for the impossible.

dddiinnnngggggg went the school bell. The day was over at last.

"Alright everyone," said Mr. Curtis as he rushed into the room, "remember the class party is next Monday so don't forget to bring any refreshments or games. Graduation is on Wednesday as you all know. And before you guys leave for the weekend, I want everyone to remember to bring in your collage of remembrance by the end of Tuesday. If not, it will not be hung during the graduation ceremony. Have a great weekend."

Outside it was raining. I forgot to bring an umbrella that morning so I was a little soaked by the time I reached the school bus from the school. I took my seat next to Bernie Zuanski, another school geek like me.

"Hi Natalie," Bernie greeted me as he smiled shyly. Bernie wasn't very talkative but he was nice, I guess.

"Hi Bernie," I replied. I didn't want to talk much because of what happened with Pamela today.

"You look very pretty without your glasses on Natalie," Bernie whispered. I looked at him but he was staring at his hands which were fumbling a pen around.

"Thank you". I could feel myself blushing at his compliment. I still couldn't see well without my glasses though.

After awhile the bus stopped on Berrington Avenue. I said goodbye to Bernie and stepped off the bus slowly. It was still raining outside. The doors of the bus shut with a swish behind me and drove on. I sighed. It was finally Friday; two days without Pamela and her friends.

I unlocked the door to my house and stepped inside, dripping wet from the rain.

"Natalie?" someone called from the kitchen.

"Yes, it's me," I replied as a let my knapsack fall to the floor. I took of my soaked shoes and hung my wet jacket.

"Hi, Sweetie," my mother walked in from the kitchen and gave me a hug, "how was school today?"

"It was fine," I replied. I didn't want to tell her how horrible it had been.

My mother pushed me away from her a little. "Where are you glasses? Why don't you have them on?"

Dammit, I was hoping she wouldn't notice. "They fell off when I was running and broke." That sounded lame. My mother didn't look like she believed me anyway.

"We're you bullied again Natalie?" she asked. I could tell she was concerned but it only made me angrier. I pushed myself away from her.

"I said I'm fine!" I grabbed my knapsack and ran up the stairs. When I reached my room I slammed the door shut behind me. I cried endlessly that night.