Most people have those days where they think they want to die.
This was one of those days. Of course, I would very much like to consider myself human. That would make me forget the fears and nightmares I've had ever since I landed and was taken upon Caroline Rosanne.
I finally drive my way to school; no one was staring at me today.
Thank God, I think to myself. I get out of my car and slam the door behind me, strutting my way to the crowd of people gathered around a new girl. One of the boys saw me and greeted me kindly.
"Good morning, Caitlin."
I grin widely at him. I look at the people shoving and pushing to see the new girl. "What's going on?" I asked. "It's like they're going to let the poor girl stuck in there."
He laughs and sighs. "No kidding. Everyone's been there since six o'clock, she should've escaped by now." He turned the other way and got on his tiptoes. He could barely see, clearly. "Well, she is still stuck in there. I'm gonna head to my locker now, see you later."
I wave, not knowing what his name was. I was pretty sure he was in my English class... hmm, oh well. It doen't matter to me. I was the most popular girl in school, I have to act the way I act. I suddenly catch sight of my best friend, Grace. I make my way through the crowd and breath deeply.
She looks at me when she suddenly hears my breath. "Oh dear,
Caitlin! You're claustrophobic, let's get out of here!" She pulls me through the crowd as I follow her, dazed. When we finally make it through, she grabbed the inhaler in my bag and makes me suck in my breath.
I nod and push the inhaler away. "Thanks so much, I don't know what I would do without you," I breathe.
She smiles and hugs me. "Anything for my biff." She stuffs the in-
haler in my bag and finds my unfinished poem. "Poetry?" she giggles as she began pulling it out.
I pull it out of her hands before she can even begin reading it. "Not your business." I blushed, quite embarrassed. It was about my latest crush; definitely embarrassing for a sixteen-year-old girl. "So... how was your weekend?" Trying to change the subject was always the fix.
She pulls a piece of gum out of her pocket, unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. "Omigod, it was horrible, Cait! Just horrible!" she whined unwillingly.
I shush her. She wouldn't calm down, I almost slap her! But thank God, I don't. "Your date bailed on you again?" I whisper as we walk to class.
She nods glumly.
"Aww." I hug her and put her head on my shoulder. "That's just not right. You're a great girl, this is the second time Camren bailed. I'll help you set him straight." That was what I was going to do, that is what a good friend would do. Or... I am right, aren't I?
She shakes her head, too sad to use words. I can see it behind her I'm-totally-happy-what-are-you-talking-about face. "You've done enough for me already, I owe you a lot." She sighs, starting to think about everything I helped her with since kindergarten.
"Okay, but I'm just reminding you, you don't have to do anything for me. It's what friends do." I walk to Algebra and sit down in the first seat, my usual seat. I turn around to see Vanessa and Angela in the seats behind me.
Vanessa glares at me.
"What did I do?" I ask innocently. I never did anything to make her angry and I never would. She knows that.
Angela giggles and answers for Vanessa, who suddenly starts to laugh with Angela. "It was a joke. We didn't make you angry, did we?" She whimpers and made a puppy face.
I groan, looking awful toward the front of the classroom. I shake my head, but I'm not sure. Well, I'd never really be mad at them. Only it was part of my reputation to yell at them or something. "That wasn't funny," I whine. I pull out my doodle notebook and start to draw a random cartoon. I try to ignore them as they tap my shoulders over and over. Stop that! I scream in my head.
Vanessa leans over my shoulder and sighs. "I'm so sorry, Caitlin. You know I never meant to make you mad." And I never knew you were so tempermental, she adds in her head.
Luckily I had the power to hear that. But at the same time, I don't want to hear what she has to say about me. "Whatever," I mumble inaudibly.
"What?" I hear Vanessa mutter to Angela.
I turn to see Angela shrug. She looks at me and waves me forward. I turn around, not wanting to talk to them.