Every Monday was always an exceptional day, different from every other days of the week. Mondays were special everywhere, apparently the same in this small town called Mary Hills.
Monday had everyone out their butts, working to bring the best. Children kissing their parents bye for the adventure ahead, workers making sure they were on time to work.
"Good Morning, uncle Evans... Be prepared- my grandma will come, a mishap came for her flowers during the last storm." wheezed Gracie as the wind rushed down her throat, tempting all the bologna sandwich she had chomped earlier to stream out.
Before the bald man in green collar shirt could turn from the clothes he was putting a perk on, Gracie already fled, catching up with the yellow school bus labelled Mary Hills High.
"It came for my roof too." The man said softly, since the girl couldn't hear, for she was already in the moving bus and it was evidently true, half of red roof the house he stood before, had it body curved, shifted on top of the other side.
It was great that she had informed him so he could make her grandma's reservation.
Gracie laughed in relief and joy as she settled at the tail seat of the bus. Fortunately, she was the first person in the place, so it was hers before any interruption for other students on the road.
She sat uprightly and arranged her cluttered hair orderly, pushing every golden strand out of her face.
She groaned at a particular stage of kinkiness, "C'mon!" Sometimes, her hair twist into some exasperatingly striking ringlets which she despised.
When giggles started embodying the vicinity, Gracie got the hint that people were filling up the empty seats and they were drawing near to school. Her heart drummed fast as she brushed her hair back in a concealed manner.
She made a speedy search for her earplugs in her bag before the buzzing of their condemnation and put it on while she played some song for the collections on her phone, one of her Jhene Aiko's jam.
She stared out from the window, at the rows of trees dashing in a rhythm. That way, she was hidden from their condemnation.
But not totally, as some of them threw her way sneers and scornful looks, they smashed their faces on each other's ear and whispered, "She's back."
"Did she really come back after that?"
Good enough for Gracie the music was loud to clear off the gossip as her eagerness to start seeing the gate of the school and scurry off the bus increased.
A gasp escaped Gracie's lips as she felt the heaviness of something splashed on her face and she knew it was definitely not good. The thing slipped down her face, dropping on her thigh, a bright yellow banana peel sat on her red uniform skirt.
She removed the plug from her ear in rage and glared up at the boys with red face, their laughter echoed. Gracie recognized some of them from her last class before her departure, including the girls who hid their chortles behind their covered mouth with their hands.
"Choke on it, bitch."
Gracie foamed in anger, as she knew nothing could be done. They were bunch of bullies who found pleasure in tormenting losers like her and some of them were in the basketball team, she hated all of them in the basketball team.
As soon as the bus came to a stop and gave shift for every one to step out, Gracie flung her purple anime backpack behind her and bounced out, neglecting the rebound mockery. She regulated her panting when a fresh air blew her face, stimulating a mild smile at the tips of her lips.
While scanning the environment and some boys deliberately brushing her shoulder off just to piss her, she glared at their skulls as they moved on in her front.
Only if she had super powers like one of those fantasy supernatural-horror romance novel she usually read, their skulls would be under her feet as a footstool.
"Gracie?"
Turning to the source of the noise, her facial expression soften as she recognized the person, "Tori." said Gracie softly.
"Is that really you, oh my, you're finally back!" The girl in short hair and skirt ran her way into her arms and cradled her in a bear hug.
Gracie grunted in a happy way.
"I- think-I- need- to- breath-" She stuttered breathlessly as her whole body had been felt like a bread squeezed in a toaster.
"Oh!" Tori hopped back, acknowledging the fact that she was killing someone's child.
"I'm elated you finally show up!" It seemed so hard for Tori to stop shouting at the top of her voice while she spoke to her best friend she was so excited to see, then she proceeded to check her out with their hands interlocked.
Many things had changed about her body, she appeared thinner and that made her look taller, in some way fairer. A little bit too pale with her skin, feeling soft in her hands and some circle of bags under her eyes which were noticeable. She did not get to rest on her break, even though, it was supposed to be a break from the world.
But the case was obviously different on the good side of Tori, she was shining. Her perfect olive skin matched accurately with the season and everything about her was like a blossoming flower. Her once long red hair that Gracie used to be familiar with was now replaced with short bob slashed by a side parting, the color of her glossy lips still matched that of her hair.
Just then, Gracie noticed the pattern of her skirt.
"Your skirt." She mentioned.
"Oh," Tori looked down at her red pleated shirt, she forgot Gracie saw her last in the straight one.
"It's for Jenny." She made clear.
"Jenny?" Gracie repeated in confusion.
Ding-dang!
A bell bonged out of the blues, calling both their attention as all students hurried in through a foot-high main door.
Tori swiveled back to Gracie, "You'd not forget our assemblies, do you?"
Gracie nodded her head, showing that she still remembered the hot morning tea of lectures they always attend on Monday mornings before normal activities. The duo stepped in and walked through the corridor that led to the basketball court.
"Were you talking about Jenny Porter?" Gracie asked as they flooded with other student in rows of red pants or skirts and white shirts uniform.
"Yep, Jenny and Sheila Porter. Remember they were in the math club last year"
Of course, she would always for the sake of old times, dwelled upon the fact that the blonde twin were the dumbest members of the club.
"We became close after you left and trust me they're my ovaries like bunny meets Mr. Joker." Tori explained all giddy up as her amber eyes reflected with joyous cheerfulness.
They entered the court and quickly found their seat at a good location to sight the principal while he talks.
"I thought you said they're too cloddish for your liking." Gracie twitched a flashback.
Tori sat down beside her best friend and put her pink shoulder bag on her lap. she got a glimpse of a blond guy from the end round of the row seats, he winked at her and she winked back but Gracie was blind to this action for she had been gone too long.
"Forget what I said then, they're adorable."
"May I get your attentions, please." A feminine high-pitched voice vocalized through the speaker, acquiring the distrait, noisy pupils.
Gracie straightened her attention, focusing on the pretty, blue eyed woman in black suit on the podium.
"There is a rumor that the principal is poking Miss. Davis." Tori whispered into Gracie's ear. Her eyes widen and she chuckled.
"Attention, please, the principal of the school has something to say." Miss. Davis announced again, the students weren't giving their total commitment.
She turned back to the principal on his tulip chair and gave him a pout. He sighed in fatigue and unwilling rose from the chair while the assistant principal, Mrs. FIint cheered him.
Miss. Davis made way for him by moving side way.
The principal adjusted his black sunglass that made him felt cool and his combover hair, meanwhile the students thought he looked like some backstage guy who does the pizza delivery in movies and ends up getting killed.
On getting to the podium, he dug his suit pocket and brought out a small bell that could actual deafen someone when tickled. So he rang it, not minding if it was affecting him, he just closed his eyes and when he sensed the student's party was over, he stopped it and returned it back to his pocket.
Widely smiling at the angry fellows, he started his speech.
"Good morning all, as you know I'm your brainy, resourceful man and it's an apex honor to have my ancestors as one of the founder of this town and school, Mary Hills," he took a pause and glanced round the room.
"This school has been notion for it enablement to harvest students of credible potentials that have laid name round the country, It's an honor..."
It was obvious that Gracie was bored of Mr. Hills endless praise about achievement, so she leafed through the room and accidentally caught sharp hold of pairs of eyes ogling at her or at her way.
"... and it has come to my immense notice that some students are violating the policy by their means of dressing, the female especially."
The room stormed up with discord, again he dug into his pocket and rang the bell.
Gracie looked away from them as she couldn't figure out if she was the object of their stares, plus they didn't look familiar. It was a large school.
Mr. Hills continued when the clamor was down, "I've come up with plans that will help y'all. I read out." he unsquished a rough paper and laid it on the podium while he read.
"Female students are not allowed to wear Fencenet, Fishnet, oh my God, Back seam, Stay-up, do student really wear all this Mrs. Flint? Garter belt. Wear only Knee- high stocking. For the love of Jesus, this is a school not a night club. Anyways I've got my soldiers out, so watch out." he was forced to remove his glasses.
"He's so boring." Tori breathed on Gracie's neck as she napped close to her and murmured along with other student. Gracie had no problem cooperating with the rules, she only wears knee-high socks, although different colors.
"Okay now, ladies and gents, we've got a big day ahead. Have a chafe-full day."
"Did he just use the word chafe-full?" asked Tori rhetorically,
Picking up her bag as the principal disappeared with his crowd, Gracie and her best friend walked out.
"Yes, he used chafe-full, he was practically cursing our butts." Gracie replied, waiting for their turn to open the door and go out.
"I'mma step on his toe, I'm wearing a Fishnet." Tori announced to her friend as she spotted the principal taking his secret exit.
"What?" Gracie looked down at her legs and saw the black net looking socks.
"Grace, right?"
Both friends gazed up in shock.
Seriously ready to defend her friend, Tori pulled up a stern face. It was certainly an unexpected group of friends.
The DEN.