Part 2
"What was all that about?"
I was approached after Branwen and her crowd had left b y one of the rare people almost considered a friend, Carline Mandrill. "Nothing," I said with a sigh. "Parker didn't bother to do the reading for English and Ruby was trying to make something out of nothing."
Carline snorted. "Believe me, you're better off nowhere near that crowd."
I didn't understand what Carline had against the popular girls. I knew she had a sister in that crowd, Marla, I'd always put it down to jealousy. I didn't bother asking or looking into what wasn't my business.
"Whatever," I said. This type of thing made me feel even more like a looser. I spoke to these people at school, but only at school. They never invited me to parties, or movies, or even to the mall.
I spent most of my time in a fantasy world inside my head, wondering what my life would be like if I was different. If I had something special to offer. I was a huge fan of the supernatural , I loved the idea of powerful beings out there, vampires, witches, were creatures. I adored things like Buffy, X-Files, Anita Blake, Anne Rice. That was what I wanted to be...the quick witted vampire hunter with gorgeous boyfriends, or the ancient powerful vampiress, beautiful and immortal.
But just daydreams. I'm sure I wasn't the only one with fantasies like these. As fun as those were, no actual person was like a TV or book goddess. The only person who came close was Branwen Redfern. She seemed to have all those heroine like traits.
"What's it like in that head of yours?"
"Huh?" I linked, coming back to reality to find Carline and her friend Deanna smiling at me. I flushed, deeply embarrassed. This often happened, I got so lost in my daydreams I occasionally forgot reality existed. Was it any wonder I didn't have any real friends? "Not that interesting," I said, almost too quickly.
"Come on, we're going to be late for science,."
Science was the one class I shared with Branwen, that and lunch, but we never sat anywhere near each other.
"It's sickening, isn't it?"
Branwen was sitting at the front of the room with her other best friend Juliet Blackthorn, the two of them seemed more interested in their hair and makeup, nails, what perfect people were concerned about. (Even *I* was getting bored with my endless daydreams and admiration of people I would never be. Don't give up on me yet, it gets better, I promise!)
"So what's new with you?" Carline asked, when the teacher started yapping.
"Well some cousin I've never heard of is supposed to be coming to stay next week."
"I didn't know you had any cousins."
"Me neither. Some girl from my Dad's side apparently."
"Know anything else?"
I shook my head. My dad never talked about his family, and neither did my mum of hers. I never questioned it, just accepting who we were. Now what was the deal with this cousin showing up out of the blue?
My parents were less than thrilled with me; I knew that. My grades were okay, I was a steady B+ student, maybe slightly better at my more creative subjects. I was too much of a recluse, had no friends over, never been out on a date before. Maybe they hoped this cousin would help me see things differently, I don't know (or didn't at the time).
"That sounds like fun."
"I guess."
Class was over in ten minutes, and Branwen had never even glanced my way. Oh crap, she was looking at me now for the first time ever. Immediately I ducked my head, embarrassed heat flushing up my face.
"Just ignore her, she's not perfect," Carline's tone was angry. There was definitely jealousy there...and anger, maybe?
Branwen was turning away now, whispering to Juliet, who looked at me and nodded. I dreaded to think what was going on.
"Want to have lunch with me and Deanna?" Carline asked when class was over.
I was suspicious. Okay, what was going on here? "Um, sure, thanks."
"Take my advice," Carline said before she headed out the door. "You don't want anything to do with Branwen Redfern."
I wanted to know why. Nothing Carline could say would change my mind. Telling me not to go near the popular crowd was just making me more curious. I should have listened, I should have accepted the friendship Carline was trying to offer. Of course, I didn't and got the shock of my life.
* * *
"What was all that about?"
I was approached after Branwen and her crowd had left b y one of the rare people almost considered a friend, Carline Mandrill. "Nothing," I said with a sigh. "Parker didn't bother to do the reading for English and Ruby was trying to make something out of nothing."
Carline snorted. "Believe me, you're better off nowhere near that crowd."
I didn't understand what Carline had against the popular girls. I knew she had a sister in that crowd, Marla, I'd always put it down to jealousy. I didn't bother asking or looking into what wasn't my business.
"Whatever," I said. This type of thing made me feel even more like a looser. I spoke to these people at school, but only at school. They never invited me to parties, or movies, or even to the mall.
I spent most of my time in a fantasy world inside my head, wondering what my life would be like if I was different. If I had something special to offer. I was a huge fan of the supernatural , I loved the idea of powerful beings out there, vampires, witches, were creatures. I adored things like Buffy, X-Files, Anita Blake, Anne Rice. That was what I wanted to be...the quick witted vampire hunter with gorgeous boyfriends, or the ancient powerful vampiress, beautiful and immortal.
But just daydreams. I'm sure I wasn't the only one with fantasies like these. As fun as those were, no actual person was like a TV or book goddess. The only person who came close was Branwen Redfern. She seemed to have all those heroine like traits.
"What's it like in that head of yours?"
"Huh?" I linked, coming back to reality to find Carline and her friend Deanna smiling at me. I flushed, deeply embarrassed. This often happened, I got so lost in my daydreams I occasionally forgot reality existed. Was it any wonder I didn't have any real friends? "Not that interesting," I said, almost too quickly.
"Come on, we're going to be late for science,."
Science was the one class I shared with Branwen, that and lunch, but we never sat anywhere near each other.
"It's sickening, isn't it?"
Branwen was sitting at the front of the room with her other best friend Juliet Blackthorn, the two of them seemed more interested in their hair and makeup, nails, what perfect people were concerned about. (Even *I* was getting bored with my endless daydreams and admiration of people I would never be. Don't give up on me yet, it gets better, I promise!)
"So what's new with you?" Carline asked, when the teacher started yapping.
"Well some cousin I've never heard of is supposed to be coming to stay next week."
"I didn't know you had any cousins."
"Me neither. Some girl from my Dad's side apparently."
"Know anything else?"
I shook my head. My dad never talked about his family, and neither did my mum of hers. I never questioned it, just accepting who we were. Now what was the deal with this cousin showing up out of the blue?
My parents were less than thrilled with me; I knew that. My grades were okay, I was a steady B+ student, maybe slightly better at my more creative subjects. I was too much of a recluse, had no friends over, never been out on a date before. Maybe they hoped this cousin would help me see things differently, I don't know (or didn't at the time).
"That sounds like fun."
"I guess."
Class was over in ten minutes, and Branwen had never even glanced my way. Oh crap, she was looking at me now for the first time ever. Immediately I ducked my head, embarrassed heat flushing up my face.
"Just ignore her, she's not perfect," Carline's tone was angry. There was definitely jealousy there...and anger, maybe?
Branwen was turning away now, whispering to Juliet, who looked at me and nodded. I dreaded to think what was going on.
"Want to have lunch with me and Deanna?" Carline asked when class was over.
I was suspicious. Okay, what was going on here? "Um, sure, thanks."
"Take my advice," Carline said before she headed out the door. "You don't want anything to do with Branwen Redfern."
I wanted to know why. Nothing Carline could say would change my mind. Telling me not to go near the popular crowd was just making me more curious. I should have listened, I should have accepted the friendship Carline was trying to offer. Of course, I didn't and got the shock of my life.
* * *
