Chapter Six: Be Glad to Feel Safe Even Just For Now

What exactly are apologies supposed to do?

This is the question I ask myself as I saw Larry doing so to Kate. He tripped and bits of the ice cream he was licking came flying down Kate's skirt. She was screaming at him and all he could do was apologize. Claire would have none of this and threw her crème puffs directly to Larry's face, and the other kids laughed.

Is an apology supposed to appease the other person? Or is it now, just something we do on reflex, like we're required to do it? Out of randomness, out of pity, out of fear?

A few minutes more and the whole Kate-Larry scene is over. Claire and Kate smile happily retreating back to their tables, glad they've proven their "queen" status once gain. Larry on the other hand wipes his face with his shirt as he scoots over to our usual table, with our Dwarflord club members there.

He began talking to the others about the latest in game strategies and I could only roll my eyes. It was typical Larry - he doesn't want to talk about any of the embarrassing moments that happened to him. He quickly changes subjects. And besides, Dwarflord was so last year, even a she-geek like me knew that.

But that wasn't important. I was busy coming up with my plan, and the people who are going to be on the list. That, and the fact that I just got rejected, although unknowingly, by Gordo. It hurt. Really hurt.

Larry interrupts my thoughts. "Hey, Veruca, you seem spaced out. You OK?"

I smiled weakly as I took a look at him. "Yeah."

He was going to speak some more but then this high screechy voice comes from behind. "HEY GUYS!" It's not that her voice is irritating, it's just.. LOUD.

"So what's up?" she asked as she took a seat beside Larry. "Got the game thing figured out yet?"

Larry sighed. "Not yet, Parker. I can't seem to make it work."

"Crud," Parker said. "Well, you will," she said as she took a bite of her sandwich, smiling happily. For all the weirdness attached to that girl, I can only wonder where the cheerfulness in her voice comes from.

Parker the freak and Larry the geek being watched by Veruca, the she-geek. Oh, the wonderful lives we lead. I hate it.

That leads me to think. Are Larry and Parker even on my list? Not because they're my, um.. friends? Okay, so they're nice to me. But in no way am I going to rule them out just because of that. I'll have to think about it - they're on the safe list. For now.

My mind goes wandering once again.

I hate being labeled. I hate how the school works, and I hate how the world is so transfixed on itself it can't seem to notice the major flaw that's engulfing our society.

Labeling. Stereotyping. Typecasting, even.

In the little way that I can, I will put an end to it. Just for sweet Hillridge Junior High.

++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please review! Chapter 7 is Lizzie, and 8-10 will be what Veruca does to them.. hehe :)