Bubble Billionaire

Part 1 - Sybil

I was nervous. After all that had happened, I was still nervous. I was stood in front of my new school's building, it's massive brick façade looming over my small stature. Students streamed around me, ready to start a day like any other. I watched them chat to each other in cleverly matched clothing, then looked down at my own oversized plaid shirt and baggy jeans. I sighed. I don't think I could manage anything better even if I tried. Finally steeling my resolve, I headed inside.

Becker Highschool was nothing extraordinary. It was little bit bigger than my last one, and perhaps a bit nicer too, but the classic blue lockers and the plain beige walls were enough to give me flashbacks. There were smatterings of students littering the space as I nervously navigated the hallways, but no one glanced over at me, and I was able to find my first class relatively unnoticed.

It was a math class, according to my schedule, and the classroom was already crowding with other kids. I paused outside the door, racking up the nerve to go inside. Deep breathes. In and out. In and out. All I had to do was go in and sit down, right? No big deal.

I felt someone staring at me. I turned around just as a blonde kid in a gray t-shirt looked away. What was he looking at? Was I that ugly? Something with my hair? I felt at my loosely tied ponytail, frayed and uncombed as always. I suppose anyone might stare at someone who dressed like I did. I dismissed the thought, and charged into the room.

Although I kept my head down and tried to act casual, I caught the teachers eye right away.

"Hello!" She said, moving in front of me so I couldn't escape. "I'm Ms. Taylor, I'll be your math teacher for this trimester. I heard you transferred over from Chester?"

I gave her my best I-don't-really-want-to-talk-to-you smiles and nodded. Completely missing the hint, she grabbed my shoulder and hugged me to her.

"I've got the feeling we'll be best of friends! I know it can be difficult, switching schools in the middle of the year, so let me know if you're feeling behind. Luckily enough, we're starting a new unit today, so we should get you caught up in no time!" Ms. Taylor gave me a blinding smile and gestured towards to the back of the room. "We've got a seat for you in the back of the room, but let me know if you need to switch with someone."

I nodded again and made my way to the back. I sat in one of the two empty desks and sighed in relief. The back was perfect. Here, I could escape the teacher's attention and periodically check on my app, which had been growing recently and risked the possibility of server malfunctions. Everything would be fine as long as I managed to stay off the radar and not attract any attention.

"Hey." I jumped a bit as a deep voice came from my right. I looked over and then up and up and up some more until I finally saw his face. He was a modestly handsome guy with short black hair and the sort of smugness that said that he was popular and he knew it. He wore a scowl on his face, and was looking around the room as if he couldn't believe my audacity. "You're in my seat."

Of course I was. Because my life was a living nightmare and nothing went my way. With the sort of panic reserved for awkward social situations, I scrambled to grab my stuff and leap out of the desk, almost tripping before locating the other empty chair and falling into it. The guy gave me the sort of side eye that made me know he wasn't done with me and claimed his desk for himself. Right next to mine. Just my luck. A girl with a fake looking smile and way too much lipstick skipped up to us.

"Hey Sam-" she caught me staring and looked over. "Who's this?"

I ducked down quickly, but Sam put his head on his hand a looked over at me, a malicious sort of grin covering his face. "I don't know. She hasn't bothered to introduce herself. Took my seat without even apologizing."