"Ok so 1978," Mr Wesley said as he circled the year on the board. History had to be one of the most boring classes but Mr Wesley was not bad looking. That was the only good thing. Not that I have daddy issues, but having a class with Summer, Addison and the cocky jock, Tyler was bad enough. One was super gorgeous and always trying to point out why she's right, the other was always right and Tyler, he was just a pain in the ass.
"Rebekah?"
"Yes Mr Wesley." I didn't realize he was at my desk, anticipating my response.
"Are you with us?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Uh yeah," I lied. I completely zoned out before.
"So what's the answer?"
"Uhh... it was a pretty great year," I said.
"What made it so great?" Wesley asked. I had no idea where I was going with this.
"A lot of famous people were still alive and well any year before 2012 was a great year right?" I laughed nervously. I could see Wesley's face harden.
"Ian Somerhalder was born in 1978," Chloe yelled from her seat at the back. Half the class groaned and I could see Mr Wesley roll his eyes in annoyance. Chloe literally worships Ian Somerhalder. It's an unhealthy obsession.
"But back to the real topic now," Summer said. She was only interested in being the center of attention and I was only interested in going home.
*************************************************
"So how was school today?" Nikki asked as she poured our tea.
"Same old story," I told her.
"You know, when I was in high school I had amazing stories to tell everyday. Some I couldn't even tell at all," she winked at me. I grimaced and we both laughed. Nicholette, my aunt, has been my legal guardian for the past three years now. She was only twenty when I came to live with her. She couldn't afford college after high school so she moved to Bloomington and got a job as a Waitress. We both went through foster care after my parents died. Nikki is my mom's sister and she was only fifteen at that time. I never met my grandparents. My dad's parents died before I was born and my mom never really had a relationship with her parents. Maybe it's a norm in my family to have no parents.
"So what's happening tomorrow?" I asked as I sipped the hot tea.
"Well I got a double shift at the bar so when you get in I might not be here," she replied.
"How come?"
"Alexis has to attend her daughter's ballet recital and boss asked me to cover for her."
I nodded and took another sip from my cup.
"Don't you wanna hang out though?" She asked me.
"Hang out? Why?" I scoffed. Not like there was anything much to do around the house or anywhere I could hang out. Worst of all, I had nobody to hang out with.
"You're telling me you have zero friends?"
"I'm telling you I'd rather stay at home. Besides it's a school night," I replied. Nikki shook her head and smiled.
"Whatever floats your boat kid."
*************************************************
The next day, I was hurrying towards class when this guy turned the corner and bumped right into me. My books threatened to fall but he caught them before they did. We bumped heads in the process.
"Can you watch where you're going?" He yelled.
"You're the one turning corners like a madman," I replied just as loudly.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"You obviously!"
"You don't even know me," he scoffed.
"I don't want to either," I hissed in reply. I hugged my books and headed off to class.
The day slugged by as usual and I was very happy when I heard the bell at the end of the last session.
"Phoenix," someone called as I closed my locker.
"Principal Austen?"
"I'd like to have a word with you," he said. His face unreadable as always. I never got called by the principal before.
"Am I in trouble?" I asked as I walked behind him.
"That depends. Have you done anything you shouldn't have?"
"No," I replied. He seemed amused at my response.
I walked into the room as he held the door for me. He then pointed to the chair for me to sit and after making himself comfortable, began to speak again.
"How has your time been here at this school so far Ms Phoenix?"
"Principal Austen I've been attending this school for the past three years and you never once asked me that," I pointed out.
"Well yeah but it's senior year now and I only recently realized that you do nothing extra curricular," he said.
"Is that a problem?"
"No it's just... your grades are average and you have no records of participating in school events. You're always by yourself. Are you ok?"
"Principal Austen I can assure you that I'm fine," I replied.
"Are things ok at home?" He pressed. I knew where this was going. He was going to ask questions until he brought up my parents and I was going to have a breakdown. Nope. Not today.
"Yes. Speaking of which, I have something very important to do at home and Nikki must be waiting for me," I lied.
"Ok Phoenix. But tomorrow I have a task for you," he said.
"What's that?"
"I want you to make at least one friend by tomorrow afternoon."
"Principal Austen I don't really do well with socializing-"
"Well you don't have a choice. I'm putting you on the decorating committee," he said in a final tone.
I stared at him in disbelief. Why was he trying to push me into a situation I did not want to be in. I don't even like this school. Well not the building but the people. A bunch of wannabes and mean jocks.
"Am I being punished for something I don't know I did?" I whined.
"No not at all. I believe mental wellness is important and it helps make high school easier."
"So you're suggesting that I'm not ok mentally?" I scowled.
"Phoenix no I wasn't-"
"No it's fine. Admit it. Everyone at this school already knows the story of my parents. Apparently people just decide that it's ok to research an individual and come up with absurd assumptions and theories. You all steer clear of me because you think I'm on the brink of a meltdown. Because my parents died you decided to judge me," I sobbed.
"Ms Phoenix I didn't mean to upset you," Austen said. I wasn't buying it.
"Then please don't make me do it. I don't want to be a part of any committee I just wanna make it through high school."
"And you will. Just prove me wrong. Take the chance and prove me wrong. All of us. Show us you're not on the brink of a meltdown," Principal Austen said. I stormed out of his office wiping my face as I went.
I hate it when people treat me like I'm a bomb. It felt good to be left alone because nobody would be able to make a conversation awkward. I wouldn't have to hear "sorry about your parents" or "are you ok?" Or any stupid question about how life affects me now that I'm an orphan. It has been eight years. People used to treat me like a social experiment. My foster parents were always waiting for me to act out and I never did but that was what bothered them.
My silence.
As I turned the corner to the main hallway two hands grabbed my shoulders, holding me at arms length.
"You just walk without consideration for anyone el-"
He stopped mid sentence. I wiped at my face quickly in an attempt to rid it of any sign of tears. When my eyes cleared up I could see it was that guy I bumped into that morning.
"Are you ok?" He asked me. I shrugged out of his grip.
"I'm fine," I told him.
"No you're not," he replied. I was not up for chit chat at the moment, I just really wanted to go home.
"Yes I am. Now leave me alone," I said and I walked quickly away.