How to be Basic

iii.

Never write essays while listening to angry music, especially if it's for class ✌

/\\//\\//\

"Hey Brook, got a pencil you can spare?" Why did everyone just assume that it was okay to call me Brook?

I pretended to not hear the pencil-less girl and discreetly turned my headphones up a notch. It was Study Hall, my only break during the day. Weren't headphones the universal symbol for "fuck off"?

"Brooklyn," the girl from my Literature class said my name a little louder. I internally sighed, and finally looked up at her and raised my eyebrows in reply. She made some stupid motion for me to take out one of my headphones. I was about to show her my gesture for her to screw off, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Connor approaching. What's up with everyone trying to start a conversation with me today?

"What?" I paused the song, removed both of my earbuds, and propped a hand under my chin, trying to seem interestingly disinterested.

"Can I borrow a pencil?" I reached into my purse and rummaged around for one, "and do you want to sit with my friends along with I myself for lunch?" Her grammar made me want to stab her with my pencil, but the thought of actually sitting with people instead of hiding in the library for lunch seemed slightly more appealing. I handed her a purple one and nodded my head.

"Cool! I'll look for you outside!" She hopped away just as Connor pulled up a seat across from me.

"Were you serious about joining art club?" I let out an annoyed sigh and my eyes slightly widened when I realized he heard it. Connor chuckled and shook his head, "Rough day? Or no to art club?"

"I'm not actually not that good at art." I paused, dramatically biting my lip to somehow convey to him that he had pegged me as the wrong kind of person. He leaned back in his seat and didn't reply, so I assumed that was the end of our conversation. I only put one of my earbuds back in, out of consideration and/or hope that the conversation would continue, and continued to read my book of choice. When I had finished a page or two, I looked back up at the lingering Connor. He was still sitting in the chair, kind of rocking back and forth, and looking at me every now and then. Eventually, he smiled and shook his head, getting up to leave me in peace.

I was left to ponder what his weird glance meant for the rest of study hall. I don't exactly want actual friends at this place; I'd rather just have people I could surround myself with but feel no real ties to. There was something about him that put me on edge though, the warning lights in the back of my mind always started flashing when I saw him.

/\\//\\//\

I've never been ashamed of my own race quite like this before. I stared in disgust at everyone who passed me, focusing my distaste in their awful fashion choice. All the white girls in the hallway were wearing riding boots, those stupid fake ones that don't actually help you to ride a horse, but instead help you look like you're a prestigious bitch. At least when Uggs were cool you could rely on them to be comfortable, but this? Those fo-leather things with gross half inch heels would rub the skin right off my foot.

"Brook!" I lifted my gaze away from peoples shoes to see the girl with the puffy vest waving to me over by a tree. I still didn't know her name, shit. "We're going to eat outside, I think Sarah said today was going to be the last cool day of the season." I hesitantly followed the girl around the courtyard until she saw her group of friends.

"Kayla, you'd never believe what George did to Lanny! He's such an asshole, you seriously have to get over him." Without introducing me or anything she sat down across from the girl I'm assuming is named Kayla. Kayla must've been raised to understand how awkward it is not to introduce a new person to everyone else, so she gently reminded Puffy.