Cut Your Bangs [S.Barber]

chapter two

At seven thirty, Monday morning, Beatrice was up for her first day at the new school. She had no idea what to expect, no idea how it would be adjusting to a new class in the middle of the year.

What will happen to her grades? What happens if she gets left out? She tried to push aside these thoughts. That day, she dressed in a long skirt that stopped at her calves. Along with it, a large sweater.

She didn't know what kinds of dress-code rules the school had, so she decided to play it safe. Once again, she walked.

Even though her parents insisted on driving her, she didn't want them to waste money on gas. Besides, the school was much closer than her previous one.

It only took her fifteen minutes to arrive at the crowded building. She stood outside, staring ahead at all the teenagers. They leaned on the walls, talking, laughing.

She saw a group of boys pushing another poor boy into the wall. She grimaced. She imagined herself being in that position within a few weeks. She shivered at the thought.

She nervously walked into the school. She felt as if everyone was staring at her, even if, in reality, nobody cared.

She stopped at her assigned locker. It was rusted and had a piece of gum stuck to the outside of it. The girl sighed. She unlocked it, and began to take out everything she had in her heavy backpack.

"I like your skirt." Spoke a girl's voice. Beatrice turned around frantically, knocking over her backpack. In front of her, stood a short girl. Her face was freckled and pale, she had red hair that stopped at her neck.

Beatrice stared at her with wide eyes. "I'm Sydney, by the way." The girl introduced herself awkwardly. "Hi.. Sydney." Beatrice cleared her throat.

"Hi..." Sydney trailed off. "Forest." The girl quickly responded. She figured she would still use that name here, too, since she had the chance. "Okay, well, uh— Forest.. you're blocking my locker, so." Sydney grinned.

Forest paused for a moment. She turned to the locker just beside her. "Oh!" She stepped aside. "I'm s-sorry. The lockers here are small." She chuckled anxiously.

"Yeah. No worries." Sydney muttered. Forest sighed. She leaned up against her locker and shut her eyes for a moment.

She heard Sydney shut her locker. "Are you new?" Asked the girl curiously. Forest opened her eyes and looked ahead at the short girl.

"Yeah." She smiled. "Oh, well, welcome to this shithole, Forest. You need help finding your class?" She offered.

"Uh.. yes. Please." Forest looked down at the schedule in her hand. "Alright.. let me just see what class you've got.." Sydney leaned in, staring down at the paper.

"Oh, no way! We've got drama together. Just follow me." Sydney beamed and began her way off to the class. Forest hesitantly followed after the red headed girl.

The classroom was actually a large auditorium. It was only filled with a few people sitting at the front. Sydney and Forest took a seat in the third row from the front.

"So, why'd you transfer here?" Sydney asked. Forest pursed her lips. "It's.. sort of a long story." She chuckled.

"Well, well, well."

The two girls looked to the side. Forest never felt more frustrated in her life. There he stood, the boy with the baggy clothes and that strange smell.

He had a smirk on his lips. He stared directly down at Forest through his sunglasses. "Didn't know you went here." He spoke.

"You guys know each other?" Sydney questioned. "Unfortunately." Forest mumbled. She leaned back in her seat.