Chapter 1: May
~~~ Monday, August 26th, 2013 ~~~
"Now, please welcome to the stage…May Maple!"
May runs up onto the stage, wearing a rainbow-colored glitter dress and glitter flats. All of her makeup has some glitter in it as well, so that she literally shines in the light. She's holding a pink glittery microphone in her hands. The announcer disappeared backstage, and music started playing through the speakers. May took a deep breath before letting her amazing voice be heard.
Loud applause from the audience is what she lives for…
"May! Wake up, or you're going to be late for your first day of school!" The mother of the brunette, Caroline, called from the kitchen.
"Mm…" The brunette flips over in her bed, so that her face is pressed against the pillow.
Today is the first day of sixth grade for the eleven-year old brunette with blue eyes.
She groaned while turning onto her side. Her eyes opened before she sat up and yawned while stretching. "I guess it was just a dream…" She got out of bed, and went to her desk. She grabbed her brush, and sat down on the chair to start brushing her hair.
May exhaled with a smile. "I can't wait to make new friends…and meet new people…It'll be fun. I hope." She frowned. "But what if people think I'm too weird and shiny to even look at?" She sighed.
Caroline entered the room. "Are you excited for your first day of middle school?"
"Honestly…not anymore."
Caroline walks to May in confusion. "Why not? You were so excited yesterday to make new friends."
"It's just…" May turns in her seat to stare up at her Mom. "What if no one likes me?"
Caroline smiled warmly. "Sweetie, everyone will love you. You're so friendly…kind to everyone…talented…why do you think they won't like you?"
"Because…of my personality."
"Friendly…" Caroline repeated. "Talented…I'm not really seeing what's wrong with your personality."
"What if they think I'm too girly?"
After a moment of silence, Caroline started laughing. "Oh, May…wearing things with a lot of glitter is who you are." She walked closer and put her hands on May's shoulders. "If they don't like it…then that's their problem."
A smile formed on May's face. "Thanks, Mom."
Caroline backed away. "Be proud of who you are. Your personality is beautiful."
May nodded. "Okay. I'll try."
"That's the spirit. I'll meet you in the front." With that said, Caroline left the room.
May finished getting ready before heading out of the house.
May stepped onto the school campus. She frowned, looking around at all of the older kids, talking to each other. The many groups of kids seem to already be such great friends. She's feeling a little bit intimidated.
Being at a bigger school…with nobody to talk to…and no idea where to go…
May gulped.
Caroline rolled down the window. "Good luck on your first day."
May turned around. She frowned. "Mom, I don't want to go inside."
"Oh, May…everything will be fine. Everyone will love you."
May smiled slightly.
"If you start having problems with the other students…then I'll come and beat them up."
May laughed softly. "Thanks, Mom."
"Thank me after you successfully enjoy your first day."
"Will do."
"Bye, Sweetie."
"Bye, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too." With that said, Caroline drove out of the student drop off.
May turned back around to face the school. She took a deep breath before walking towards the main entrance. There's two semi-circles of stone stairs in front of the doors, and one on each side of the path. A group of girls is sitting on the wide stairs, surrounding one green-haired boy. May could tell that he's one of the popular kids, because the girls are giggling at his jokes and almost flirting with him.
May faced forward, ignoring the giggles. The boy glances over at May, and watches her enter the school. He smiles to himself before standing up. "Girls, I really should be going now. School is almost going to start."
"But Drew…" A blonde pouted. "Stay a little longer, and tell us more stories."
Drew chuckled. "As much as I'd love to, I can't be late to class on my first day of middle school."
May found the office when she entered the school, and asked for directions to her first class.
"I'll show you your first period class."
May turned around, and came face-to-face with a purple-haired boy. His dark eyes really give him a mysterious vibe. He smirks.
May gulped, and smiled weakly. "That'd be great. Thank you."
The attendance principal smiled before getting back to what she was doing before May came in.
May followed the mysterious boy out of the office. The walk to her first period class was silent. In the main school building, there's a circle of pillars around the center circle of 3 blue stairs that lead down. Each of the six pillars has a bench surrounding it. The many hallways that branch out from the circle building are where all of the classrooms are. There's also four doors on the main circle building, one that leads to the office, the one that leads towards the cafeteria, the one that leads to the gym, and the one that leads to the nurse's office. There are two girl's restrooms, and two boy's restrooms separated and connected to four walls right outside the branched hallways that makes this 'circle building' seem like an octagon. The remainder of the walls are full of blue lockers. The students are either wearing blue or gray shirts, and blue or khaki pants since blue and gray are the school colors.
The boy and May enter one of the branched hallways, and stop at the end of it. "Here we are." He said. "This is your first class."
"Th-thank you…" May trailed off.
"Paul."
"Paul." May repeated. "I'm May. I appreciate you going out of your way to help me." She entered the classroom.
Paul smirked. "No problem..." He started walking away, chuckling quietly to himself.
May took a seat in the back row, furthest from the teacher's desk. There's only two more students in the class. One of them is a blue-haired girl with blue eyes. She notices May and stands up. She grabs her things, and takes a seat next to May.
May shyly looks away to avoid eye contact.
"Hey there!" The perky girl said. "I'm Dawn. And you are?"
May turned her head, and showed a shy smile. "May."
"It's so nice to meet you!" Dawn gasped excitedly when she saw the glittery pink bow in May's hair. "Oooh…so pretty."
May's smile widened. "Thank you."
"I can see that your backpack has some glitter too. And your shoes. And your belt!"
May laughed nervously.
"I love your style so much!"
"Thank you. That means a lot."
"We're going to be great friends!"
Riiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnggggg!
The first bell rang, signaling students to start heading to their first periods. A bunch of students start entering the class that May and Dawn are in.
May looks down to avoid eye contact from any students. When she slowly lifted her head up, her gaze landed on the familiar green head that she saw at the school's entrance. His emerald eyes flash in her direction for a brief moment before diverting over to his two friends that he chose to sit beside. Many girls in the class are staring at Drew, almost drooling at the sight of him.
"Wow…he sure is popular." Dawn told May.
"Who is he?" May asked.
"No clue. I saw him surrounded by girls earlier. I did not think he'd only be a sixth grader though."
"Hmm…"
"Trust me, May. People like him are bad news."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The popular kids always think that they're too good for us normals. And so they'll only hang out with other popular people. I bet you that he will be the same way."
"I don't know…he looks nice."
Riiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnggggg!
The tardy bell rang, signaling that all students should be in their classes by now, and class could begin.
"Are you excited for school like I am?" Dawn asked May. "This year is going to be so great!"
On the way to May's seventh period, which is gym class, a group of two girls and a guy watch her pass them. The guy happens to be Paul, her guide from earlier.
May hears Paul chuckle quietly to himself, but she just ignores him and keeps walking towards the gym. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees them start to follow her. When she exited the main building to get to the gym-
"Aah!" May got yanked to the side. She got pulled off the path since the gym is separated from the main building by a small pathway on the outside.
Paul pulls May around to the side of the gym before pushing her against the wall.
A look of fear crosses May's face. "P-Paul?"
Paul smirks. "You'd do better to not attend this school again, Ms. Pop Star." He mocked.
"What is with those atrocious shoes?" One of the girls asked, disgusted. "They're what a little kid would wear."
The other girl gave May a death glare. "And we don't need a little kid at our school."
"M-my shoes are…" May tried, but her words died on her lips.
"And not only your shoes, but your backpack too."
"And that hideous bow." Girl 1 said.
"We can't even look at you without getting blinded." Paul said.
The girls start laughing.
"Just get lost. You think you're some pop star or something? You think you're better than us?"
"I-I never said-" May cut herself off.
Paul smirked before reaching out, and unclipping May's bright pink glittery bow. He then threw it on the ground and stepped on it. May's eyes get watery. Paul and the girls laugh while walking away.
May picks up her bow that's now broken. She put it inside her backpack before sadly walking inside the gym. She wiped her eyes before putting on a fake smile.
"Hey!" Dawn greeted happily. "We both have gym together! Isn't that exciting?!"
"Yeah. It is."
Dawn stares at May in confusion. "I thought you'd be more excited about it."
"I am. Really. I just…don't really show strong emotions like you do."
"Oh." Dawn smiles. "Well, okay then! Let's go sit on the bleachers. The coaches are going to speak soon."
"How was school?" Caroline asked, driving home with May on the passenger seat.
May is staring out her window with a frown. "Fine, I guess."
"You don't sound happy. Did something happen?"
("I can't tell my Mom about those bullies. I can't show my weak side to her. But now that I think about it…that's my only side.") May sighed before taking a deep breath. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just…still tired from having to wake up at seven today."
"Oh. Okay then."
May tossed her backpack by her bed before falling onto the bed, face down. "What happened today? Those bullies were so mean…I never got bullied in elementary school…"
After a long moment of silence…
"…what if Dawn is only pretending to be my friend? What if she hates my childish style as well?"
May sighed. "What a day. At least the teachers were nice…"
~~~ Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 ~~~
May shoved her hands in her pockets and put her head down to avoid eye contact from other students. After yesterday, she really doesn't want to bring unwanted attention to herself. Today, she didn't put a glittery bow in her hair like yesterday, and her shoes don't have any sparkle either.
The only things that have glitter are still her backpack and belt.
"Let's hope today will be better…" May said to herself.
In the distance, she could hear girls giggling. She stops and turns. That same green-haired boy from yesterday is surrounded by female admirers who are giggling at his jokes.
May frowned. "It must be nice to be popular…" She continues walking. "Not lonely like this…"
All of a sudden, Dawn pops up from out of nowhere. "Hey, May!"
May jumped in surprise. "H-Hey…"
"Whatcha up to?"
"Just heading to class…"
"Class? Why? We still have a good twenty minutes before school starts. How about we go for a walk?"
"Umm…I shouldn't."
"Come on! It'll be fun to talk! While we walk!" Dawn giggles.
A small smile spreads on May's face. "I…I guess we could do that." ("I've got to make sure that Dawn really wants me as a friend before I open up completely to her though.")
"Let's go!"
May and Dawn walk side by side back the way May came from. They stick to the sidewalk.
"So, tell me something about yourself."
"Well…what do you want to know?"
"Favorite color?"
"Pink." May answered.
"Favorite drink?"
"Lemonade."
"Favorite restaurant?"
"Chick-fil-a, but…why are you asking such random questions?"
"To get to know my new bestie, of course!"
"Bestie…right…" May's gaze drifts to the side where she sees the same two girls and Paul by the wall. They're the ones who bullied her yesterday. Paul smirks in her direction. She quickly looks away and frowns at the ground.
Dawn looks at May. Her expression changes to one of worry. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just…sad." May answered truthfully.
"Aww…why? Was it something I said?"
May shook her head before looking at Dawn. "It's just…I've never really had a real friend before."
Dawn frowns, sensing the depression in May's voice.
"I've never had anyone other than my family to talk to. In school…I was always alone. Sure, I'd have friends, but…we all eventually drifted apart."
May stops walking. Dawn stops and places a hand on May's shoulder. "I'm so sorry you feel this way." A pause. "I want to be your friend, May." She smiles slightly. "Who wouldn't? You're friendly, and very pretty."
May blushed and looked away. "P-pretty? N-No, I'm not."
Dawn giggled. "Yes, you are. Have a little more faith in yourself."
May smiled. "I'll..I'll try."
"That's the spirit. So, what do you like to do for fun?"
They continue their walk. "I like to play video games…" May started. "And I sing and dance."
"You can sing and dance?!" Dawn asked excitedly. "Can you sing something for me?"
"Umm…sorry…I'm just always nervous to sing in front of other people…"
"Oh, that's okay. Maybe another time then."
May took a deep breath. "…I have this dream…"
Dawn looked at May.
"I would be on stage…singing…dancing…no fear at all. I'd perform for hundreds of people."
"That's a great dream. With hard work, you'll achieve it for sure."
"Thanks."
"So then…does that mean you're going to eventually write your own songs?"
May nodded.
"Ooh! And when you become rich and famous, you'll have to sign me an autograph."
May laughed. "You'll have to take it up with my bodyguards."
Both girls giggle together.
("Dawn seems legit. I didn't think I'd mention my dream only on the second day.")
"I'll help with whatever you need to make that dream come true." Dawn said.
May smiled. "Thank you, Dawn."
~~~ Wednesday August 28th, 2013 ~~~
May is walking towards the area outside where the sixth graders line up before school starts.
Out of nowhere…an arm grabs her and drags her. She gets slammed against the wall.
May gasped, staring into the eyes of Paul.
Paul chuckles evilly. May presses herself against the wall in fear. "Oh, don't worry…" He started darkly. "I won't hurt you…"
"W-what are you going to do?" May asked.
"Just ask you to sing a few notes for me."
"Huh?"
"I overheard you talking to that blue-haired girl yesterday. You said you sing. I want to hear it."
"I-I'm not going to sing for you."
"Oh? Are you too scared to sing? Too chicken?" He scoffed. "And you want to be a famous pop star. Puh-lease."
May whimpers softly, looking down.
"Just sing for me, pop star. I dare you."
May doesn't respond.
Paul chuckles. "You're pathetic. And so easy to mess with."
May whimpers.
"Oh, and I see that child backpack of yours is missing a patch of glitter. Let me help you with that." He bends down and picks up a handful of sand before standing up and smearing the sand on May's backpack. She gasps. "There you go. Much better."
May's eyes get watery.
"Aww…don't cry." Paul lifted her chin. "It shows just how weak you are. Pretty soon, everyone will turn on you."
"W-why are you so mean to me?"
"Why? Because every sixth grader should learn the rules. I run this school. I'm the boss. And I'm allowed to do whatever I want!" He puts both hands on both sides of May's face on the wall. She presses up against the wall. "You'd be smart to listen to me." He said darkly.
May gulped.
Paul backed away and smirked before casually walking away from May.
May took a deep breath before taking off her backpack and trying to dust the dirt off. She gets most of it off, but some of it seems to already be glued to the backpack. She sighed before swinging her backpack back over her shoulder.
When May got to her first period, she took her seat next to Dawn.
"Hey!" Dawn greeted. "I have an idea that you've just got to hear."
"What is it?" May asked.
"You should start a YouTube Channel."
"…what?"
"Just think about it…you want to become a super famous pop star, right?"
"Sure…"
"Starting out on YouTube is the best idea! You'll grow a fan base who will support your music, and you'll have fun doing it! I'd be happy to help with whatever you need!'
May smiled slightly. "Thank you, Dawn. I'll have to sleep on that idea. I mean…with school…and putting in a lot of work to make videos…I don't know if I can manage both."
"Makes sense. Well, whatever you decide, I'll be with you all the way!"
"Thanks."
Dawn faced forward. May frowned before looking away. ("I want to tell someone about those bullies, but…I can't trust Dawn this soon. And I don't want to get my parents involved. I should just report them to the office.")
An image of Paul flashed through her mind.
May shook her head. ("I can't report him. He might do something bad to me if he were to find out…")
~~~ Thursday, August 29th, 2013 ~~~
Dawn ran up to May. "Hey May! Guess what today is!"
"What?"
"I said to guess!"
"Umm…Thursday?"
"Nope! I mean it is, but that's not all!"
"The 29th?"
"And…"
May ponders it for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know. What is it?"
"It's my birthday!"
May smiled. "Sweet. Happy birthday, Dawn."
"Thank you!" Dawn hands May an invitation. "You're invited to my party on Saturday! There's going to be games, and cake, and a water slide!"
May reads the invitation before looking at Dawn. "Cool. I'll have to ask my parents if I can go."
"Great! The party won't be complete without you!"
"You're too kind."
~~~ Saturday, August 31, 2013 ~~~
Caroline parked her car down the street from Dawn's house. May got out, holding a small gift bag. Caroline got out and walked May down the sidewalk. "Are you excited for that water slide?"
"Mm hm." May hummed. "And I hope Dawn likes her gift."
"You never told me what you got her."
"From that bracelet making kit you got me from Walmart, I made her five pretty friendship bracelets."
"How nice." Caroline and May walk onto Dawn's property.
May rings the doorbell. A woman with short blue hair opens the door. She smiles. "Welcome. I'm Johanna. Dawn's mother. Come on in."
Caroline and May enter the house. "I'm Caroline, and this is my daughter May."
"Nice to meet you two."
Dawn notices May and runs to her. "You're here! Just in time to join us for musical chairs!"
"Huh?" May questioned.
Dawn takes May's arm and drags her away.
"Have fun, Sweetie!" Caroline called.
Dawn and May enter the living room. "Take a seat, girls!" Dawn says excitedly.
All of Dawn's girl friends find a seat. Including May and Dawn, there's a total of ten girls. The chairs are lined up in a circle in the center of the room.
"Ready…hit it!" Dawn said.
A boy with dark blue hair clicks a button on a radio. Music starts playing. All ten girls stand up and start walking clockwise around the circle of chairs. The boy takes one and drags it back to the table with the radio on it. He clicks the pause button on the radio and the music stops.
The girls quickly sit down in the closest chair to them.
…but May was too slow.
A few girls laugh with each other.
May frowns and walks away, so the girls could continue their game. She finds a table with presents on it, and she places hers with them. "Why am I so afraid of what her friends think of me?"
She glances into the room where Musical Chairs is going on.
She sighs. "I'm just so shy. What if Dawn asks me to play another game? I'll probably just lose on the first turn again…and then I'll get laughed at."
"Hey! May!"
May turns her head. "Dawn?"
"I got out on the second round." Dawn said, laughing. "I've never been good at that game."
May smiles slightly. "Neither have I."
"Sorry I dragged you in at the last minute. I just wanted to make sure you were included."
"Aww…that…that means a lot."
Dawn smiles brightly. "So, what do you wanna do while the others finish the game?"
"Umm…not sure…"
"Oh, I know! I've got to show you the garden."
"A garden?"
"Yeah, come on!" Dawn takes May's wrist and starts dragging her away.
May laughs softly, running to catch up. "Okay, okay. I'm coming."
They go out back. In a corner of the backyard, Dawn has a garden growing with flowers and there's one next to it that has vegetables.
"Wow…did you grow these?" May asked, kneeling down at the flowers.
"My Mom taught me how to garden. I planted the flowers and she planted the vegetables."
"That's so cool."
"Hey, Dawn!"
Dawn and May turn their heads to see one of Dawn's friends running towards them.
"Hey! It's time for cake!"
"Okay. I'm coming." Dawn said. The girl ran off. Dawn looked at May. "Come on. Let's go back.
May smiled and stood up. "Okay."
When they got back inside, two of Dawn's girl friends pulled her over to the kitchen table and sat her down in front of the birthday cake. All invited guests gather around the table.
May shyly steps closer to the table to get a view of Dawn. But she gets pushed out of the way.
"Move out of the way."
May frowned and stepped back, letting Dawn's rude friend take that spot at the table.
Dawn notices May behind everyone. She smiles. "May!"
May lifts her head and looks at Dawn who signals her to come. May shyly walked around the table, eyes following her every move.
"You can stand here. Right next to me."
May smiles shyly.
All of Dawn's other friends throw disgusted looks May's way. She looks away to avoid their gaze.
Johanna turns off the lights in the kitchen after lighting the candles on the cake. They all start to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Dawn.
"Happy Birthday to you…happy birthday to you…happy birthday dear Dawn…happy birthday to you…"
Dawn blows out her candles, and everyone claps.
After everyone was served a slice of cake, they all started to head to the living room to watch a movie.
…but May was stopped by two of Dawn's girl friends.
"We'd like to have a word with you." One of the girls said, expressionless. "Outside."
"Um…okay." May put her plate on a nearby table before following the girls outside.
Once they know that no one inside can hear them, the girls both push May hard. She stumbled backward and bumped into the wall.
"Ow…" May winces slightly. She stares at the girl's with fear.
One of the girl's grabs May by her shirt and holds her against the wall. "You listen here, May…I've been Dawn's best friend since forever, and I won't let you take my place."
"I-I'm not trying to."
"Yeah, right. You're obviously trying to get Dawn's attention by being dumb and lonely! Of course she'd try to include you. She's nice like that. But it's getting to be annoying. I'm her best friend! Got it?!"
May nods quickly.
"Good." She releases May's shirt. "Just stay away from Dawn. Or else." Both girls enter the house again.
May breathes heavily and could feel her eyes getting watery. "Why me…?"
May took a deep breath before entering the house again. She could see all the other girls, eating their cake and watching the movie. She just decides to walk down the hall after grabbing her plate of cake. She sees an open room and looks inside it.
It's clearly a bedroom. Has a bed…a closet…a TV…
May enters the room and sits on the bed. She looks around. "This must be Dawn's room."
She starts to eat her slice of cake, hearing the sound of laughter coming from where the movie is being played. She frowned.
~~~ Monday, September 2nd, 2013 ~~~
Dawn walks up to May as May is walking towards the sixth grader line before school starts. "May, Where did you go on Saturday? After the movie, you and your Mom were nowhere to be seen."
"Sorry, Dawn…I was just…a little tired, so I told her to take me home."
"Is everything okay?"
May fakes a smile. "Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"You just seem…a little sad."
"I'm fine. Really."
"If you say so…" Dawn faces forward.
May frowns. ("I just can't seem to make friends…I do nothing to people, and I still get bullied.")
"Did you at least enjoy the party?" Dawn asked.
May smiled slightly. "Yeah."
"That's good. Did you make any new friends?"
May sighed. "No. I just…have a hard time making friends."
"Then I guess I know what my goal is for this year! I'm going to get you some friends."
May laughed nervously. "You…really don't have to…"