"In this cry of pain the inner consciousness of the people seems to lay itself bare for an instant, and to reveal the mood of beings who feel their isolation in the face of a universe that wars on them with winds and seas." John Millington Synge

It's a story you've probably heard time and time again, but this one has a small definitive, but very important difference. It's imy/i story.

But we've all had the same tale told to us, right? the pretty girl, with a destiny about her? Who can accomplish so much and is in the constant disbelief that she can't? Who finds love with someone and conquers all evil. Well, this isn't that story. I'm not pretty, The best thing I've ever accomplished is keeping a friend for more than a day, but I am under no misinterpretations about who I am and what I am capable of.

I am me.

And this is my story…

It would never fail to amaze her, the whole hierarchy of the 'school kingdom' as she liked to call it. She had roughly experienced some of it back in Ireland but when moved to New York, the American system... it was so much more defined; not to mention terrifying and harsh, all wrapped into one chaotic experience that was high school.

She had moved to the states a few years ago with her family. Her parents hoping for a fresh new start on the acclaimed land of opportunity, however somewhere along the line the country had lost its opportunist streak. They had migrated after the sudden death of her brother, it was an undiagnosed brain tumour… he was five. It had completely torn her family apart, it was after that in which everything began to go wrong.

After moving to the states and failing to find a steady job her father had fallen into alcohol, spending most of his days at the bar or stuck in the sofa drinking himself to sleep. Her mother however, had taken a firm grasp on religion, believing that her son's death was punishment for the sins of their family. And since she could never fault her husband and she herself was a sainted woman, the blaming of the sins went to the daughter. But it was okay, she managed it.

She didn't know what to expect when moving to the states, she didn't expect popularity of any sort, she simply wasn't the type. However the reaction was one she didn't, but should have expected. The students had heard that they were getting a transfer student from Ireland and had gotten themselves in a tizzy. Most of the female students expecting a roguish muscle bound suave party animal, the men on the other hand, expecting a fiery pristine girl called 'Mary' who could always be counted upon to show the lads a good time.

They weren't expecting iher/i

Her with her bushy brown hair, her pale pasty complexion, her average size. She was plain, and apparently that wasn't good enough.

She became invisible. And that suited her perfectly fine, she didn't want to be noticed, she didn't want the attention. But still, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have… well, someone, anyone to talk to?

But that was her, she was cast aside from the rest of the population in her own little bubble which couldn't penetrate the walls of the system, of the hierarchy of the teen royals who deemed that anyone who fell into certain categories did not belong in their world. And it was simply that, she didn't belong.

But then something happened.

It was just a normal Monday morning, walking into school with her head to the floor and her mind on other things, she caught wind of the gossip which had cascaded over the weekend. One name rang across the school, and still remained when she got to her first class. 'April O' Neil', something had happened to her father. Some people said he was shot, they were mugged and that he was abducted; there was even one story going around that he had been taken into the sex trading business.

According to the certified rumours, April had not taken it well and was apparently raving to the police about aliens, robots, mutant plants and strange ooze. Obviously, to the population she had jumped over the deep end.

It puzzled the girl, as she listened to everyone around her gossip shamelessly. This was April O' Neill, she shared a few classes with the girl. She seemed nice, she was popular, had the looks, the brains and was always.. friendly to everyone. Yet apparently being genuine didn't account for much… it was sad really.

There was a sudden abrupt and unnatural hush in the room when the object of gossip had entered, she looked as though she hadn't been sleeping, or eating (but then again she always had that thought about thin people) and as April approached her usual desk all the eyes in the room seemed to be on her, even the teacher whom, sensing this, hastily began taking the register.

She took her seat, slouching in the chair and not bothering to pull out any books.

With each name that was called out people gradually began to take their eyes off her, all save for one girl in the back of the room.

"O' Connor, Shauna" the teacher called, her eyes flickering to the back of the room

"Here" the girl quietly called, momentarily taking her eyes off the girl.

"O' Neill, April"

Her eyes flickered back once more.