The first week of high school couldn't have gone better. I met several nice
people and Kate was becoming more and more subdued.
The next Monday morning I got dressed in khaki pants and a tight black sleeve-less shirt. I brushed my golden hair and let it hang straight down my back. Putting on subtle make-up and took one last look at my reflection and decided I was ready to appear to the world.
Once I arrived at school I met Miranda and Gordo at the front entrance. We accompanied each other to our lockers and finally stopped at Miranda's locker where we stood and chatted.
Through the flutter of chitchat the conversation somehow turned to, the one and only, Kate Saunders.
"She's being so quiet." I commented
"And less bitchy." Miranda agreed
Gordo held up his hands, as though in surrender, "Whatever it is with her, I'm not complaining."
I laughed and said, "For sure!."
When I finished giggling I turned to face Miranda and behind her, coming down the hall with her usual crowd of girls behind her was none other then, Kate.
Miranda spotted my gaze and followed it to Kate. "Speak of the devil," Miranda said softly to me, "Literally."
I smiled and leaned against her locker, setting my backpack by my feet.
"Miranda, that's not nice!" I began. "Although I can't disagree with it."
Miranda's face spread into a smile and she leaned up against me, laughing.
When I looked up I saw Kate walking past us, giving us a haughty glance.
Next thing I knew, I saw Kate throw her hands in front of her and then fall to the ground, in a heap of pink.
Immediately Miranda and Gordo erupted in laughter on either side of me.
I, however, saw that Kate had tripped over my backpack and my heart went out to her, feeling it was partly my fault.
I leaned down to offer her a hand, but she slapped it away, sending me off balance.
"McGuire." She growled as she stood up, leaving me on the ground. "You purposely did that to humiliate me, because your so jealous!" Kate accused.
I opened my mouth to apologize and explain, but then I closed it and fixed Kate with a glare of my own. I think I finally decided to stand up to Kate, instead of lying down and letting me walk all over me, like in Junior High.
I put my hands on my hips and retorted, "No Kate, that was entirely, *your* fault. Maybe if you weren't such a klutz you wouldn't go walking into walls, like you just did."
Kate gave me a surprised look and took a step back. She seemed to regain her confidence and said, "Why would I listen to you, your just a little loser freshman, with your only two dork friends."
A few people had wandered over from their lockers to watch the cat- fight going on.
I gave Kate a fake smile and responded, "Kate it may surprise you to know that your just a lowly freshman too, and the only friends you may have only like you for your money!"
As soon as the words left my mouth I wanted to take them back, but I knew Kate deserved it.
She gave me a disbelieving look and said something that sounded like, "Bitch" under her breath. As she turned away I saw she had regained her composure, but for one faint moment there I actually saw vulnerability in her features.
As Kate strode away Miranda offered me a high five, and Gordo patted me on the back.
"Lizzie!" Miranda exclaimed, "That was so unlike you!"
"I know!" I agreed, "I can't even believe myself!"
We started off to homeroom still talking about the incident.
During yearbook the same day I saw Kate, with several upper-classman pointing at me and whispering. I held my head high and continued organizing the class lists I was holding.
The next day, the rumors began.
The next Monday morning I got dressed in khaki pants and a tight black sleeve-less shirt. I brushed my golden hair and let it hang straight down my back. Putting on subtle make-up and took one last look at my reflection and decided I was ready to appear to the world.
Once I arrived at school I met Miranda and Gordo at the front entrance. We accompanied each other to our lockers and finally stopped at Miranda's locker where we stood and chatted.
Through the flutter of chitchat the conversation somehow turned to, the one and only, Kate Saunders.
"She's being so quiet." I commented
"And less bitchy." Miranda agreed
Gordo held up his hands, as though in surrender, "Whatever it is with her, I'm not complaining."
I laughed and said, "For sure!."
When I finished giggling I turned to face Miranda and behind her, coming down the hall with her usual crowd of girls behind her was none other then, Kate.
Miranda spotted my gaze and followed it to Kate. "Speak of the devil," Miranda said softly to me, "Literally."
I smiled and leaned against her locker, setting my backpack by my feet.
"Miranda, that's not nice!" I began. "Although I can't disagree with it."
Miranda's face spread into a smile and she leaned up against me, laughing.
When I looked up I saw Kate walking past us, giving us a haughty glance.
Next thing I knew, I saw Kate throw her hands in front of her and then fall to the ground, in a heap of pink.
Immediately Miranda and Gordo erupted in laughter on either side of me.
I, however, saw that Kate had tripped over my backpack and my heart went out to her, feeling it was partly my fault.
I leaned down to offer her a hand, but she slapped it away, sending me off balance.
"McGuire." She growled as she stood up, leaving me on the ground. "You purposely did that to humiliate me, because your so jealous!" Kate accused.
I opened my mouth to apologize and explain, but then I closed it and fixed Kate with a glare of my own. I think I finally decided to stand up to Kate, instead of lying down and letting me walk all over me, like in Junior High.
I put my hands on my hips and retorted, "No Kate, that was entirely, *your* fault. Maybe if you weren't such a klutz you wouldn't go walking into walls, like you just did."
Kate gave me a surprised look and took a step back. She seemed to regain her confidence and said, "Why would I listen to you, your just a little loser freshman, with your only two dork friends."
A few people had wandered over from their lockers to watch the cat- fight going on.
I gave Kate a fake smile and responded, "Kate it may surprise you to know that your just a lowly freshman too, and the only friends you may have only like you for your money!"
As soon as the words left my mouth I wanted to take them back, but I knew Kate deserved it.
She gave me a disbelieving look and said something that sounded like, "Bitch" under her breath. As she turned away I saw she had regained her composure, but for one faint moment there I actually saw vulnerability in her features.
As Kate strode away Miranda offered me a high five, and Gordo patted me on the back.
"Lizzie!" Miranda exclaimed, "That was so unlike you!"
"I know!" I agreed, "I can't even believe myself!"
We started off to homeroom still talking about the incident.
During yearbook the same day I saw Kate, with several upper-classman pointing at me and whispering. I held my head high and continued organizing the class lists I was holding.
The next day, the rumors began.