Kate watched her mother's car drive away, then abruptly spun around. The look of pain and insecurity faded from her face. It was replaced with a determined look of power. This was the place where Kate ruled. Where she could release the hatred and anguish that built inside her every moment she spent home. Fixing her dress and making sure her hair was still intact, Kate set off for the steps to her high school. Swishing her hips from left to right, she walked with style, like a runway model. She walked directly to the front office.
In an important and defiant voice, she said to the lady seated behind the counter in the front office, "I need a late slip."
"Reason?"
"My car. It's in the shop. Just for today. A nail or something got stuck in the tire and they just decided to replace all four. Anyway, my mom had to take me today, so I'm late."
The woman looked at Kate accusingly. She raised her eyebrows as if trying to pick apart her story to find a lie hidden within. Deciding it measured up, she wrote Kate Sanders and the date on the slip. Under, "Reason" she simply wrote, "car trouble" and handed Kate the small pink slip. "Go straight to class."
Kate rolled her eyes in defiance. Where else would she go? If she were planning on skipping, why would she even go to the office? Walking on in frustration, she made her way up the stairs and into class. Opening the classroom door, she noticed someone in her seat. Before she got the chance to address the problem, her teaher spoke. "Late again, are we Miss Sanders? Well, it's no big deal as we all know the world revolves around you."
"That's what my dad says," Kate replied with a breezy smile. As the class laughed, she shot a murderous look at the boy in her seat and he moved without delay.
"Please, just take your seat Miss Sanders. We'll discuss your truancy later. Now," he said addressing the class, "open your books to page 64, and begin the discussion questions.
Kate took out a nail file and went to work on her nails. She had no need to even bother looking like she was working any more. All of her work was done for her by pathetic, unpopular students and her teachers knew it- more or less. Once at school Kate forgot how her mother made her feel, and took on characteristics of the woman she hated. Any ounce of depth faded into her scowl. Any sense of compassion went out with each time a boy in her class checked her out. It didn't matter how much she truly hated herself. At school, any ounce of feelings like that, faded away.

Lunch time. Kate walked seductively down the rows of tables, accompanied by her posse of giggling girls. Each table brought on new smiling faces. Each trying to get Kate to sit with them. Kate left the inside of the lunch room, as one groan seemed to resound from all within. She walked outside, towards a table that was hidden by a large tree.
"Hey babe," a voice came from behind her.
"He-, mmmmm," she began, but was stopped by his kiss. "Ethan, happy to see me?"
"You know it," he said, pushing her against the tree and slipping a hand up her skirt.
"Ethan," she said, putting her hand on his. "Not here."
He kissed her hard, grabbing her breast and thrusting her hand up her skirt more forcefully. He caressed her skin beneath his hand as he felt around her body that was hidden to the rest of the world beneath her tight black dress. Finally, she pressed hard on his hand, forcing him away from her. "Not here," she repeated firmly. She walked over to the lunch table. Ethan gave a huff and walked off to flirt with another girl. Kate looked down, almost hurt. During lunch she mostly sat and watched everyone talk, with nothing to do but sigh and look bored, preferably attractively bored. She didn't eat anything, and no one noticed. Almost none of her friends ate lunch. Many people talked to her and she said things, without even realizing she was talking. It was the daily drill. She made some meaningless small talk, insulted a few people and looked sexy. That seemed to be all her life meant. She embraced the stereotype she fit willingly. At least it felt like she belonged somewhere. Sometimes, anyway.