A Simple Switch

6 - Bad Week

MICHAELA

I woke up feeling like a zombie and barely able to open eyes. I'll admit it, after finishing off the coffee I'd been gifted yesterday morning, I drove to Starbucks afterschool to buy two more Grandes... I may have a slight problem with my cravings.

I quickly grabbed my phone to shut off the awful alarm noises.

SHIT!

My phone screen read 8:18AM. School started at 7:45 AM. I frantically threw on a grey shirt, leggings, an olive green jacket, and raced into the kitchen.

Of course I fucking woke up late! Third time this week. And it's only Thursday.

It only makes sense for a terrible week to get even terrible-er.

I paced around the empty kitchen looking for something to eat. It does not matter how late it is: I will NOT pass up a chance to eat my precious food. Doesn't matter how mad Señora will be.

Even though I usually leave for school just as they wake up, both of my parents were gone by this hour. At least I don't have to worry about them scolding me, yet again.

I rushed out the door with a banana in hand, and quickly threw my book bag into my silver Audi A6.

I drove to school as quickly as possible. Okay, maybe I sped. In my defense, I personally don't think driving 40 mph on 25 mph residential roads is that bad, especially since I was doing it before anyone was actually there.

By the time I got to the school parking lot, the time read 8:58 AM. I felt my shoulders relax a little bit.

Okay, I can stay here for a good 10 minutes, with plenty of time to make second block... At least I only missed one class; Spanish is boring anyway.

Since I had a few minutes to spare, I reached into my glove compartment and downed a small gulp of Redbull. We 'technically' aren't supposed to have energy drinks on school grounds, but I was feeling drowsy as hell, and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I was stuck with a spot at the back of the lot anyway, so I was far from anyone's line of sight. Not that I'd be caught anyhow.

Before I knew it, the bell signaling the end of first block rang.

Hooray.

I made my way inside with the crowd of students, and hoped my tardiness wouldn't be noticed.

"Michaela!" I heard a voice call.

I frantically whipped my head around, only to see my bubbly blonde friend jog toward me.

"Oh! Hey Livvy," I responded. "Don't scare me like that, I nearly slapped you."

My friend's curly waves bounced as she giggled in response.

"Sorry Mickey, I was just going to ask where you were first block! Señora passive aggressively used your name for like, eight example sentences."

"Missed my alarm," I explained with a shrug.

"I should have known," she said with a wink. "Anyway! You're going to Caleb's on Friday, right?"

"How could I miss it?" I responded with a laugh, as if it were obvious.

A lot of the kids at Polk High were pretty well off, but Caleb Bronson was by far one of the richest. The house he lived in was only one of four mansions that his parents owned. After any holiday, Mr. and Mrs. Bronson would always take off for three or four days, during which Caleb would always host a rager or two. They were never short of amazing. Expensive booze, good music, and plenty of rooms. My favorite part of each semester.

"Yes!" she responded energetically. "It's going to be crazy!"

"It better be," I said as she left. I was one more car scratch and Econ test away from having a mental breakdown, and I couldn't wait for this week to end.

--

The next bell rang just as I walked through the door to math class.

"Late again, Ms. Arthur?" Mr. Lahey spoke. "Please fill out the tardy form. You know the drill."

"Seriously?" I muttered as I began filling out the form. I hate that man. He was probably the only person in the world who could make Precalculus worse than it already was.

When I finally sat down I heard a whisper.

"Psst!"

I turned to my left and saw my best friend Madison looking at me.

"Oh, hey!"

I had forgotten my class had just switched seats, and we now sat right across the aisle from one another.

"So I heard you're going to Caleb's on Friday?" she asked in an excited whisper. "I thought you said you had a family reunion!"

Didn't I just figure that out myself, like, two minutes ago?

"Yeah, I think I am," I responded. "Probably just going to skip the family thing."

"Ms. Arthur," Mr. Lahey called out sternly. "Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

FUCK YOU LAHEY.

"Nope, sorry," I said flatly. I forced a quick smile so he'd get off my back. As soon as he turned, my porcelain expression melted as my eyes became daggers staring into back. Lahey was always out to get me. Hate that man. Hate this class, this week, this school.

I saw Madison smirk at me, holding back a laugh.

Lahey continued to ramble on about limits and whatever, but for the rest of math class, Madison and I drew several penises on the bottom of his desks. We're obviously very mature.

--

As soon as class ended, Madison and I met up with Audrey in the hallway.

"It's okay guys," our tall brunette friend said reassuringly, as if she could just tell by my face looked that this week was going horribly.

"Two more days until we're all boozin' at Bronson's!" She and Madison playfully bumped hips and did a little shimmy.

"Thank GOD," I said. "But it's so not fair, 'cause you two will have a way better time, hooking up with your boyfriends," I said playfully.

"Asher is not my boyfriend," Audrey responded. "We just... hang out," she said casually.

"Besides," she assured smugly, "I hear Jake wants to get with you."

Madison rolled her eyes in disgust.

"What? Jake Faust? Who told you that?" I asked, alarmed.

I used to have a secret little crush on him from when we first met in the seventh grade, which I had then considered very important that no one ever found out about. Then again, we did hook up randomly one time two summers ago, but no one really knew about that either. Oh yeah, I should mention that Madison dated the guy for almost all of junior year until she found out he cheated on her with three different girls. It's pretty safe to say that 'getting with' Faust was not exactly on my to-do list.

"I don't know, that's just what's going around," Audrey replied nonchalantly.

"He's such a dick," Madison said defiantly.

We nodded in agreement. Audrey and I tried to contain our chuckles.

"But it's always the hot ones that are the douchiest," Madison complained.

Audrey brightened up. "Don't worry! We can test it this weekend!"

I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

This weekend. Only two more days...

I suddenly felt much better about my bad week.

How bad could two more days be?
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Sorry for such a late update! I do plan on finishing this, though, rest assured... Not even sure if this has an audience or not, since no one seemed bugged by the late update, but yeah, here it is!