Everybody has a title. Whether it's popular, jock, nerd, goth, etc. you have one. It's just how this works.
For example… Britt, Tiff, Don Prima (ugh), and Ptreresa, are all populars. Me? I'm a… a geek. I'm one of those kids who absolutely adores science, always trying to invent things and make discoveries. The kid who always gets shoved into trashcans and lockers…
My name is Sheldon. Sheldon Lee.
Brad, my friend, is the kind of person who looks like a smooth talker, a popular, but isn't. At least I'm pretty sure he isn't. I'll see him with a girl every once in a while, but not for very long.
And Jenny… she's the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She's smart, strong, funny, nice, and… a robot. But my fascination for technology just makes me love her even more. I just wished she liked me back…
Did I say everybody had a title? Yes? Oh, well scratch that. There's one girl that I know, who doesn't have one. She only talks during roll call, or when she's called on, I never see her at lunch, and she never hangs out with anybody. At least I'm pretty sure she doesn't. Her name is Rowena Virquil. She has really long brown hair that eventually fades into a gold color, and she always wears the same thing; a white t-shirt with a black hoodie that has the sleeves ripped off, bootcut jeans, a brown belt, leather boots with really thick soles, a black beanie, and leather gloves that go up to her elbows. She's really tall, too. Six foot five. 1.1 feet taller than the average 16-year-old female (and nine inches taller than me). I don't know if she's the kind of person who rips someone to shreds or holds them when they cry. Maybe both.
I was so lost in thought, that I jumped when the bell rang. Seventh hour was done, and school was out for the day. I gathered my things and got up to leave the classroom.
"Shel!" I heard someone calling my name. Brad was rushing down the hallway and stopped at my side. "Ya' still comin' to the park?"
I sighed. "Yes, Brad, I am. Let me get my things first." Brad followed me to my locker and waited while I got my things. Jenny showed up after I got my backpack. "Hey guys!" She said in her beautiful voice.
"Hey Jenny!" I said, trying not to blush. We started walking.
Tuck, Brad's little brother, was waiting for us outside. "You guys take forever."
"Well we can't control when school ends," Brad sneered. "C'mon, let's go."
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Rowena. She had a black backpack slung over her shoulder and was walking alone, as usual. She's one enigmatic character. Brad nudged my side. "Are you eyeing that girl? Do ya' like her?"
"What?" I said, slightly blushing. "No! I don't even know her! Well… I know who she is, but I don't know much about her!" Brad just smiled and rolled his eyes. "I don't like her! I like Jenny!" Jenny turned and looked at me. "I-I mean-" I heavy blush covered my face.
"Shel, If I were you, I would stop talking," Tuck said. I grumbled and looked down at my feet. Jenny giggled.
The park was fun. Most of it was throwing a frisbee for Tuck, or just walking around, but it was fun. After everybody went home, I stopped by the library to pick up a book on mechanics. Right now, I really wish I wasn't there for so long, because now I have to walk home in the dark. Alone.
I tightly held the straps of my backpack, and constantly looked over my shoulder. I hated walking home after dark, I always felt like someone was following me. Oh boy…
All of my fears were realized when somebody yanked me into an alleyway. I was knocked to the ground with a hard blow to the back of my head, and one of the guys kicked my leg when I cried out. The pain and fear was enough to bring me to tears.
I was horrified when I saw who these guys were. They weren't your normal high school bullies, but full on street thugs. Two of them grabbed my shoulders while another one yanked off my backpack, along with my red sweater. After that, they shoved me back to the ground and ripped the zipper open.
Everything came pouring out. When they saw that there was no cash, or even coins, one of them threw a book at my head. Luckily, it missed my head, but it bashed against my shoulder, making me cry out again and bringing more tears to my eyes.
"Leave the kid alone!" A figure stuck itself in between me and the thugs. "Or I'll make ya'."
Everybody paused, until one of the guys broke into laughter. "Oh, I'm so scared!" He mocked, making the other two thugs laugh. "The little girl's gonna beat us up!" Another one taunted.
The girl who was protecting me stepped up to the thug, and he backed down when he realized that she was actually taller than him. He nervously chucked. "So… whaddya want?"
"You're givin in?!" The last one yelled. He grabbed the girl from the collar of her shirt and brought her face close to his. "What do you think you're doin', girl?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She growled, a devilish smirk on her face. Within a second, she removed the man's hand from her shirt, grabbed his collar, and raised her opposite fist. "Or are you just that stupid? Let the kid go, or I'll make ya'."
The thug's face went from terrified, to enraged. "Make me," he snarled.
The girl smiled. "My pleasure." She brought her fist down onto the man's jaw, the force of the blow great enough to knock him to the ground. She turned to the other two thugs. "Who's next? I'm in for another."
The three scrambled and left the alley. When she turned around to pick up my books, I realized who she was.
It was Rowena.
She put everything that had fallen out of my backpack back inside, zipped it up, and put it next to me. Then she reached out and wiped away what was left of my tears with her thumb. "The name's Rowen."
"Sh-Sheldon," I managed to say. She helped me up and handed me my backpack and sweater. I looked at the street and gulped. My house was in the same direction as where the thugs went. What if they jumped me again?
"I'll walk ya' home," Rowen said, noticing my nervousness. I nodded and started walking.
We were quiet at first, until I said, "I thought your name was Rowena."
"It is, but I prefer to go by Rowen," she said casually. "Rowena sounds to much like an evil queen, in my opinion. And… I'm not evil."
I smiled at her humor. "I never imagined you as someone who kicks butt. It was really cool what you did back there!"
She smirked. "Thanks." Rowen looked down at me. "You got pretty jacked up back there, does anything hurt?"
I blushed. "My knee… not so much. But my shoulder and head still do… kinda."
"Do you want me to look?" She asked. I sheepishly nodded. She smiled. I removed the part of my sweater that covered my shoulder and pushed up my sleeve. She checked my shoulder and the back of my head. There were a few bruises and bumps, but nothing serious.
We made it back to my house without running into the thugs, or anybody else for that matter. I turned to face her (and for the first time I realized how pretty she was). "Thanks, Rowen. If you hadn't come along… I can imagine things going a lot worse. I really appreciate it." I said.
She ruffled my hair. "No problem, Shel. Plus, it was kinda fun knockin' those guys around." I laughed. "See ya' tomorrow," she kindly waved and turned around.
"Bye!" I called. I could see her smile. Her long hair flapped around in the wind. Maybe she's more than she offers… hopefully I get to talk to her again.