Stuttering Heart

Wednesday

"Hey Max!" JJ cheerfully greeted me as I met her at the school doors.

"Hey!" I said. I gave her a one armed hug as we walked into the school. People waved at us and said 'hello'. We were the popular people. Well, there are others, but we're the most known popular's—minus Lissa.

"Did you hear we're gonna get a new student this week?" JJ asked me. I nodded, chewing away at my granola bar. What can I say, Chocolate chip granola bars—any chocolate chip things get to me. They're my drug.

"Yeah, I think it was a kid from Virginia. I bet Lissa has all the deets on him. I heard from Shelia who heard from Jenny who heard from Lissa, that Lissa's gonna make her move on him. She told me that he's supposedly a hotty," JJ said. She was all up in the drama. She kept me updated on all that.

"Seriously? That's, like, what, the 5th new student that she's gonna get to go to bed with her?" I sighed, while jamming my books into my locker. I grabbed my books for math and my binder then closed it. JJ and I made our way to math through the crowds of kids running all over the place. One kid bumped into me, knocking my books out of my hand.

"What the hell?" I screeched at him. The eyes in his head popped out of their sockets.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" But I cut him off.

"Didn't mean to? Then why did you run into me in the first place? Watch where you're going next time or you'll regret it," I growled at him. He nodded rapidly and took off down the hall as fast as he could. I picked up my books and patted down my hair.

"What a loser," I said. JJ had a look in her eyes that I couldn't place. All she did was look down and nodded. I flipped my hair and walked off to class with JJ trailing behind.

I opened the door and sauntered to my seat before plopping down with as much grace as the queen. I felt eyes on the back of my head and turned around. Sam was staring at me with lust in his eyes. I smiled mischievously and winked. He blushed but smirked.

"Max! Turn around and pay attention," Mrs. Shortis snapped at me. I turned around and said innocently, "Yes sir- I mean mam." I smiled widely and saluted her. She scowled at me and turned back to the board. I pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled in perfect writing: Behind the bleachers after school. (; and folded it up. Wrote To: Sam on the front and kissed it, leaving a pinkish mark before passing it behind me. He read it and scribbled something down before passing it back up.

I dunno if I can wait that long, baby. How bout during lunch? I smiled at his eagerness and turned around, tossing the note that said Nope, just gotta wait. His face broke out into a grin and blew me a kiss. I caught it and pressed it to my lips. Math dragged by slowly until the bell dismissed us. I walked with JJ to the girls' locker room to change into our gym clothes. After we changed, we walked into the gym to wait for the coach. Lissa walked up to me with her twin sister, Brigid. They smiled and waved at me.

"Hey girls," I grinned at them. They responded and sat down next to us.

"So, did you hear about the new kid?" Brigid asked. I nodded.

"Well, just letting you know, he's mine," Lissa bragged. She was always trying to top me. In grades, physical activities, and popularity. She just doesn't know that she will never be the one on top. That will always be me and not her. Call me cocky, but I'm just stating the truth.

"Okay, quit your chit chatting and pay attention," the coach snapped. He was about 21 years old—22 tops. The school didn't know but he and Lissa went to bed the day he came. How do I know? I have my ways in the world. Lissa winked at him. He ignored it and went back to telling the class about today's activity. I guess it was a one time thing.

Lissa huffed and slouched in her seat. JJ giggled at her and tried to stifle it when Coach Greene warned her. Gym went on with Coach Greene telling us stuff about Health. God it was so boring.

SpaceBarsDontMatter

Thursday

Thursday went by slowly. The same thing happened. Get up, go to school, make fun of people, and etc etc. We couldn't wait to see what the new student looked like.

"Oh yeah, if he's ugly, Max can have him," Lissa said. We were some what friends. Okay, that's a lie. We are constantly insulting each other. Not in public, though. No, in public, we're bestfriends. It keeps us on top.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I questioned her, slightly scowling. They bring wrinkles, jeez. I shoved my books into my locker and made my way to the cafeteria with Lissa and Nudge.

"It means, Ugly plus Ugly equals true love!" Lissa squealed. What the...

"Then shouldn't you stick with him?" I retorted. Who would've guessed that Lissa knew math? I certainly wouldn't have.

"Ugh, shuddup, Max," Lissa scoffed, "You don't have to be jealous of me." She flipped her hair and grabbed a plate. She sauntered over to the salad bar and scooped some salad onto her plate. I eyed the salad before choosing the burger. I almost forgot about JJ. I didn't notice her behind me until she grabbed the greasy pizza. Lissa carefully stepped away from JJ, as if the pizza would give her calories and fat just by looking at it.

"Jealous of you? Seriously? What's there to be jealous of?" I rolled my eyes, "Am I supposed to be jealous, because you can eat leaves while I can enjoy greasy foods without getting fat?" She huffed and plopped down at our usual table. JJ sat next to me. She was staring at her pizza in deep thought.

Brigid came running over to us in her heels and threw down her half filled plate of salad.

"OMG! Did you hear?" She asked. She didn't wait for an answer and rushed out, "The new kid is coming today and not tomorrow!" Lissa spit out her "diet water" and choked. Brigid slapped Lissa's back, thinking it would help. Lissa ended up face plating her salad. She lifted her head and hissed at Brigid. She had Hidden Valley Ranch all over her face. I smothered my laugh with a cough. She turned to me and scowled. Wrinkles, dear, wrinkles. She got up and ran to the girls' bathroom.

"Quite the show," I teased. JJ cracked a small smile before going back to staring at her pizza. What's up with her?

"Well, he's supposedly coming today. Like, right now, today. As in-" Brigid was cut off by the cafeteria doors being pushed open. In walked a guy about 6'3 with olive toned skin and jet black hair. He had Onyx colored eyes to match. Lissa had just walked out of the bathroom. Her jaw slacked as she saw him, and she took off towards him. She stopped midway when she saw the kid that ran into me in the halls making his way to him. He put his arm around his shoulders and said something to him. The new kid smiled and said something back. The hallway kid looked confused before smiling wider and shuffling him to his group of friends.

"UGH! Did you just see that?" Lissa screeched. I winced. " He's gonna become a loser!" Only she could think about him becoming a loser than actually meeting him.

"Talk to him if you're in a class with him," I said, getting up to throw my trash away. They followed me and did the same. We headed off to our next and last class for the day.

Lissa sat on top of her desk with Brigid, while JJ sat next to me and stared out the window. I sat and pulled out my travel kit of make-up. I picked up the concealer and added some more. When the new kid and hallway kid walked in, Lissa straightened up and hopped off the desk. You could hear some of the class groan. They were used to her flirting with every new kid.

Before Lissa could do anything, Mrs. Wagy walked in to teach science. "Alright! If you guys finish this last slide, you can have the last 5 minutes to talk and hang out." Everyone all of a sudden got the urge to write faster. Mrs. Wagy left the room to chat with Dr. Adkins across the hall. Everyone started talking. Lissa made her way over to the new kid as everyone started to quiet down.

"Hey," Lissa purred, "I'm Lissa." The hallway kid's eyes widened.

"Whoa, back it up. Lissa, let's not give nick here an STD on his first day of school," He waved his hands for her to go away. She ignored him and went back to flirting with 'Nick'.

"So, Nicky-poo, where are you from?" He looked up at her and thought about something before responding.

"I-I'm from C-Colorado-o," He stuttered. She smirked at him. She probably thought he was stuttering, because she was 'hot'.

"I guess I need to move to Colorado since all the cute boys are there. Well, not anymore, because you're here," She smiled at him. He let a little smile slip onto his face.

"T-Th-Thanks," He stuttered again.

"I know I'm all cute and stuff, but you don't have to stutter in my beauty," She told him. He looked confused for a second before replying to her comment.

"I-I'm not stu-stuttering, be-because I'm Nervo-ous," He said. Her smile fell and was replaced by a frown.

"You-you mean you stutter?" She screeched, "Ew! EW! That's so gross! Why did I talk to you in the first place?" Brigid nodded her head in agreement.

"Yeah, I mean seriously, who wants to date s-someone wh-who stutt-stut-stutters?" Brigid mocked. Nick's face fell. Iggy got a look of determination on his face.

"Hey, back off. No one asked you to come over here and say anything to him. Just leave him alone," He growled. Lissa scowled at him.

"F-fine, we-we're leaving, losers," Lissa said before walking away. The whole class was laughing except the victims and JJ.

"C-C'mon JJ, W-we need to-to go ho-home," I mocked and grabbed Nudge's arm as the bell rung. Lissa, Brigid, JJ, and I left the room without turning around.

"Can you believe a guy that loser?" Lissa complained, "He friggin stutters!"

"I know right?" I agreed, "Who knew he was such a pathetic loser." JJ cringed when I said that.

"Come on Nudge, we're going to be late for our Mani-pedi!"

"Uh...I-I can't come," JJ said, staring at the ground.

"Catching his stutters, are you now?" I taunted, "And why can't you come?"

"Actually, I don't think we should be friends anymore. I don't like the way you're treating Nick and the other kids at our school," She said boldly.

"Excuse me?" I hissed, "You did not just say that. Since when did you care for other losers, JJ?"

"For as long as I've known you. Just leave me alone. I don't need you guys in my life to ruin it. I'd rather spend the next 3 years of highschool having fun and not trying to set an image that will only last me a couple of years." With that, she turned on her heels and walked in the other direction.

"Ugh, whatever," Lissa rolled her eyes, "She never really was popular material." We continued to walk towards the nail salon across the street from the school.

SpaceBarsDontMatter

Nick

I knew this would happen. I knew I would get picked on the moment I said something. That was how it always went. This was my 7th school that I transferred to. I was always bullied because of my stuttering. At first, I thought that Lissa didn't mind my stuttering, but then she started teasing me. Not to mention, her girlfriends jumped in to join the taunting parade. To top it off, the class busted out laughing...at me. At least this time I made a couple of friends: Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.

Only three, but the only three that I ever needed. The moment Iggy introduced me to them, they told me all about their problems. Gazzy had an over-active digestive system while Nudge was a talk-a-holic. Iggy was obsessed with bomb. You heard it right, bombs. They didn't care if I stuttered of not. It didn't matter to them. They thought it was another color to add to my rainbow of personalities (Nudge's words, not mine).

Maybe I would make it through highschool this time, even if 97% of them were laughing at me. It took just that 3% to give me friends, people who I could trust not to point out my flaws and make fun of me about them.

I pulled out my brand new journal to write in. Mom thought it would be a nice way of expressing my feelings...that's another way of saying 'Son, you need a diary, counseling is too expensive.' Journal just makes it sound about a thousand times better.

Thursday:

Today I made 3 new friends. They didn't care about my stuttering problem or anything. Actually, they accepted me, flaws and all. Maybe this time I wont beg mom to transfer me to a different school. Highschool sounds a little bit better now than it did the other 7 tries. I wish I didn't stutter, though. It would have made my life a lot better. Flaws are flaws. Thanks for listening journal.

Nick

So...how was it? (; Will update when I have time...even though it's summer heh heh, cut me some cake. Didn't like, just click the 'x' in the very top, right corner of this screen :D (or the back arrow at the very top, left corner!)

COME AT ME BRO! JK...felt like saying that haha