Chapter 6: High School Life
Molly was sitting nervously at her desk after the school day was over. She couldn't believe she was in actual detention...
About what? Her just daydreaming? It was ridiculous! When most of the students (except for those who were in clubs) were already home, enjoying their Friday, while Molly was stuck here...
''Milly, I'd be completely honest with you. I'm not impressed at all with you! You don't do your homework, you fail at every exam I give, and you don't pay any attention in my classes!'' The teacher said with an angry face.
''I-I'm sorry, I really am. I know, I get a little carried away sometimes, but I try my best!'' Molly tried to apologize.
''If this is actually your best, you're going nowhere this school year. I have no idea where you were before, but high school takes an actual effort'' The teacher said.
Molly felt completely alone in this situation. Not Jacob or Mia did anything to help her, nor did the rest of the class. For a few months now, Molly still barely remembered their names. Mostly because she didn't talk with anyone else except Ava...
''I'd try, I promise...''
''Oh yeah? Well, I hope you will! I have high expectations for students, young lady, and if you are THAT bad at paying attention, you will fail my class! Think about it very well...'' The teacher said.
Molly was even more down and embarrassed by the whole situation. Yes, she was bad at keeping track of lessons, but the teacher looked like she was seeing Molly as an idiot.
Maybe the whole problem really was Molly being alone... When she or Libby had trouble, they always helped each other. And when Libby wasn't there for her, there was Andrea, Abigail, or anyone else from Molly's class in Brighton.
She could try to join a club after her detention. There are probably others desperate to find a place where to feel surrounded by people. Yeah... A club should help her. And that could finally be her chance to find other friends.
...
High school also wasn't easy for Libby. She did have decent grades and no F's so far, but it was definitely exhausting. Not only for her but also for Scratch, who definitely wasn't enjoying it.
''Man, this has to be a joke! Those desserts in the cafeteria have to be the most miserable excuse of sweets I have ever seen in my afterlife!'' Scratch said.
''Wish only the sweets were like this, but it's the whole lunch in general. That's why I'm preparing my own food'' Libby said, while getting books from her locker.
''Ugh, and what's up with kids these days?! Yeah, I sound like the typical grump grandpa, but who the heck thinks it's a good idea to put his head inside the toilet?!'' Scratch asked, disgusted.
''Trust me, that's the least gross thing I have seen so far. There was one girl who had her, e-hem, ''time of the month'', and had to change herself in the bathroom... And when I had to use it, one of the stalls was all in blood! Ugh!'' Libby said, disgusted, while closing her locker.
''I'm not even gonna ask...''
''Better don't... And that's not even the worst part of high school. Because of my ''great'' luck, it just so happened for me to be a classmate with-
Before Libby could finish, a ball hit her by the back of the head and she dumped herself into the locker. Scratch, who was still invisible, saw a group of girls giggling behind Libby... And one of them just so happened to be Tammy Myers.
''Hahahaha! Aw, is the lonely loser talking to herself now? How sad!'' Tammy said.
''Pff, what do you expect? The very thought of her is enough to make people sad!'' Another girl next to Tammy said.
Libby wasn't even bothered or angry, but just slightly annoyed. Even though her head now hurt a little, she just rolled her eyes and started to walk away with her backpack to the next class.
''Oh, already leaving? Absolutely no way, I'm just starting to have fun!'' Tammy said, as she threw her ball back to Libby's back head.
All of them started to follow and laugh at Libby, while Tammy was throwing the ball, then it hit and bounced back from Libby, and Tammy would do that again and again. Unlike Libby, Scratch was already on the verge of revealing himself and scaring Tammy away, but he kept himself from doing it.
It felt like even he was getting bullied since he also followed Libby and just watched her getting humiliated over and over.
''Oh, acting like the world around you doesn't exist, eh?! LET'S SEE ABOUT THAT, LESBO!''
Tammy threw the ball in the air, then when it felt back she smacked it with all her power to Libby, knocking her down. At that moment, all she wanted was someone, just ONE person to tell Tammy to stop... But no. All the teens around them started to laugh at Libby falling and dropping her books on the floor.
''OH, THAT'S IT!'' Scratch said.
That was the final straw for him. He wasn't gonna watch Libby get bullied like that, he was gonna give those brats a scare of a lifetime!
The first thing he noticed was that Tammy was standing close to the water fountain. He flew inside and turned it on. From just spraying normal water, the pressure inside of got stronger and a large stream of water sprayed Tammy.
''What the?! Is this a joke?!'' Tammy said, as the water suddenly stopped.
Her attention for making fun of Libby completely changed to her clothes being all wet. She was confused at how that happened, since no one was close to turning the fountain on. Not that she'd be surprised if that thing broke down...
''Ugh, well there goes my favorite hoodie!'' Tammy said.
''You keep your kit in your locker, right? Just go get it'' One of her friends said.
''But, isn't it too revealing for the dress code?'' Another girl asked.
''Meh, whatever! Who cares about that? Ugh, NOT THAT I DO SINCE THIS JOKE OF A SCHOOL CAN'T KEEP THEIR FOUNTAINS STRAIGHT, UGH!'' Tammy said, as she started to walk away.
Still muttering under her breath, Tammy got a bag with her usual sports kit she wears during training sessions, and went to the bathroom.
With a still mad look, she first looked at herself in the mirror. Great, not only her clothes but her hair was also ruined. From annoyed, she has now lost it. From one tiny accident, her look was now completely ruined!
''Gah, WHY?!'' Tammy yelled, punching the stall's door behind her.
''Cuz' you deserve it...''
She then stopped and turned back to the mirror. Did her reflection... Talked back? She had no idea if she was seeing things, but she could swear something just talked...
''Wanna play tough?! FINE! TWO CAN DO THAT, MYERS!''
Out of nowhere, her own reflection jumped out. Scratch grew into a large and scary demonic ghost with red eyes and hundreds of sharp teeth, and then grabbed Tammy like a churro stick.
While Libby was grabbing her books one by one... And of course, absolutely no one tried to help... A loud, terrified, and echoing scream was heard through the hall, grabbing everyone's attention.
Right after that, Tammy ran out of the bathroom with tears in her eyes and screaming like a little kid. Everyone was so confused and some looked through the open door of what was in the female's bathroom that could have scared her so much. Nothing out of the ordinary.
''Heh, maybe I'd close my eyes for that one...'' Libby muttered with a grin, while still picking up her books.
Yeah, it was definitely wrong, but she would lie if she said she didn't enjoy it. Seeing a jerk like Myers getting what she deserved was pure entertainment for Libby and other introverts like her.
As Libby was about to grab the last book... She saw all the other students suddenly disappeared. Just vanished... A moment ago surrounded by people, a blink, and no one was to be seen...
''Huh?''
Then she turned back to the book on the ground... And there was a girl holding it. That was when Libby jumped up in horror, her heart beating like crazy.
It wasn't because she didn't expect it, but... Because the girl was wearing a mask. A white mask with a drawn large black smile on it...
''You dropped this...'' The girl said, handing the book to Libby.
Even though the mask was kinda creeping Libby out, the girl seemed... Friendly? Her voice wasn't menacing or scary, it was very calm and yet happy.
Her clothes were also pretty normal. Just black shoes, black pants, and a grey sweater. Her hair was a bit messy though. Not that Libby had a right to complain about it since she herself has long and messy hair too...
''Oh... Th-Thanks, friend'' Libby said with a smile, as she got her book.
The moment Libby called her ''a friend'', the girl looked... Surprised? No idea how Libby managed to see that, but from how the girl got closer, she assumed she did like that...
That mask was... So messed up. Maybe because Libby had a bad history with smiles, but anyone would feel uncomfortable seeing someone with a mask with such a smile.
''Friend...?''
''Um... Yeah. Friend... And you were?'' Libby asked, looking at the girl with mixed feelings of curiosity and fear.
No response... The girl kept looking at her. No movement, no answer... Not even breathing, just staring right at Libby's soul..
''Huh...Friend...''
Being in the middle of the hallway, with no one around her, and a weirdo wearing a smiling mask was really starting to creep Libby out. But that wasn't the creepiest part. Libby focused on the girl's eyes... And there were no eyes.
Nothing. Libby made one step and looked even more carefully... There was a pitch-black nothing to where the girl's eyes were supposed to be. It wasn't a part drawn of the mask like the mouth was, there were just two holes with darkness. Two voids of nothingness, staring at Libby.
''Libs? Libby? LIBBY!''
That's when someone shook Libby from behind and she saw it was Scratch. There were still no other students around her, but... When she turned back, the girl was also gone.
''What the heck are you doing, you're gonna be late for class!'' Scratch said.
''D-Did you see that?!'' Libby asked.
''See what?''
Libby kept looking at the spot where that girl was just a second ago. What the heck just happened? She was... Having a conversation with something with no eyes? And it just vanished?
''Wh-Where did the others go?!'' Libby asked, looking around.
''Hello, are you even here?! The bell already rang, YOU SHOULD GO TO CLASS!'' Scratch said.
Still confused, Libby and Scratch started to walk to the next class. She didn't care at all about being late, she was just thinking about what just happened.
When they arrived in the classroom, Libby apologized to the teacher for being a little late, then took her seat. She was still trying to process what she saw just a moment ago...
''Ugh... From so much stress, I'm starting to fantasize things...'' Libby muttered.
Maybe it really was just in her head... Well, at least that was her only relief, until she opened her book and got her heart jump out of her chest after what she saw inside. A text she never wrote...
Your welcome
- Buffy
...
Molly was in huge disappointment. After her detention was over, she was full of excitement to join one of the clubs or maybe even more. But...
''Sorry, Milly, but I don't think crafting really is your thing... We're taking that a bit more seriously'' The boy leader said.
''What?! No, no, no, I'm very good at crafting! Here, look! I have tons of stuff I... Okay, most of the things I did aren't in me right now, but I did a lot during the years!'' Molly said, showing pictures of the things she crafted for years till now.
''That's... Okay, I guess, but not our level'' The boy said.
''Ugh, yeah! Unicorns made out of paper? Christmas decorations? I mean, that's stuff even a little kid can make!'' A girl next to the group said.
''But... Okay, I can become more professional! I bet I could make anything you ask for!'' Molly said.
It was one thing not joining a club, but being told she's bad at something she has done since she was little?! That was WAY TOO FAR!
''Okay, can you make a giant space rocket out of macaroni?'' The same girl asked with crossed arms.
''Uh... Wh-No?''
''Can you make a replica of the school, using wood and an axe?'' The boy asked, crossing his arms too.
''... No?''
''Can you craft a water gun, out of a REAL one?'' Another girl asked, also crossing her arms.
''What, is that even possible?!'' Molly asked, shocked.
All the teens from the group looked at each other with disappointed looks. It was enough to tell Molly she was not welcome on their team...
''Sorry, Milly, but we're actually taking crafting as a real art. As a beautiful way to express ourselves. You? You're just... Doing silly schemes for kids. If you wanna join, here's some advice... Upgrade from the ''kindergarden'' level'' The boy said.
Those words stabbed Molly's heart. ''Kindergarden'' level? She knew she was not as good as them, but... Her abilities were close to those of a toddler?
''Oh... I... I understand...''
Without adding anything else, Molly sadly walked away. Then she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen that she was keeping in her pocket.
Art: No place left
Sports: DEFINITELY No!
Politiclal: Too complicated
Crafting: Not good enough
Just writing those last words was hurting Molly. ''Not good enough''. Her parents always said she was the best at crafting, and that she was the most creative person. Scratch didn't understand much of it, but he did complement the stuff she was making. Heck, Molly was even making decorations for Libby's holidays!
But... That was all a lie? A trick, just to be told at the end that she's not good enough? That was painful...
So far, from bad, high school was turning into a total disaster. From being a huge extrovert, Molly was becoming a total outcast, and... She had no idea how to stop that. So far, nothing was working, and she was all by herself...