"How was school, Scout?" Jem asked as he heard me walk into the door. I threw my books and coat on the living room chair; I didn't care if I got scolded for it later. I was just happy to be home and away from that hell hole they call a school. I made a beeline for my brother's room and plopped myself in the chair next to his bed.

"Hell," I replied.

"That bad, huh?" He's chuckling now.

"Shut up! I'm so sick of people and their ignorant judgements of me!"

"Woah, woah, woah. Chill out, Scout," he was raising his good hand at me. "I only asked you a question."

"I'm sorry, Jem. I'm just in a bad mood. It all started with Calpurnia; she's getting on my nerves. Then I go to school just to be harrassed by that dingbat Cecil Jacobs and he's mad at me because I called him out on his crush on Pumpkin..."

"Ellen Sharkey?"

"Yeah, you know, Emilie's little sister?"

"Yeah."

Emilie was a year older than Jem but all the guys in the high school were hot for her, just as most of the guys in my grade, anyway, had a thing for Ellen or Pumkin. Atticus would kill me if he knew I noticed this but I saw him checking out their mom, Olga, before, walking down the main street in town. I guess it's safe to say that if you were a Sharkey girl, you best be a looker.

"Well, anyway, so Pumpkin overhears this and tells all her friends what I had said."

"Really?"

"Yeah and bad news for me since that's like all the girls in my class. It shouldn't matter, they don't really care for me anyway, those girls. I think I scare them. I don't care about my hair being perfect or having the prettiest dresses or who may or may not have a crush on me."

"Scout, you're okay the way ya are. If they don't like it tough."

"You sound like a tougher version of Atticus."

"Well, hey you'll catch up one day. Every girl blends in with the other girls sooner or later. I've seen them."

"If you say so," I can't help but grin. There were times when my brother could be a real pain in the ass. Yet, there were also times where he would make me feel better about myself and life in general. I get up and give him a hug being careful not to touch his bad arm. He hugs me back the best he can.

"Scout! You know better than to leave your school things scattered all over the place! Come pick up your books and coat now!"

"Yes, Cal," I roll my eyes as Jem laughs. One more strike against me.