𝓟𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬 𝓛𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓻 (Girl Meets World Fic)

Girl meets Middle School

3rd person POV

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It was Monday, which meant only one thing: a new school year had begun. This meant Julia would have to deal with all of the nonsense that had made her dislike school in the first place. The kids who would make her life a living nightmare, or the growing pressure she was under from her mother to earn perfect grades, or even the idea of trying to fit in. Julia's head hurt even more from the lack of sleep as a result of all of this. Despite Julia's dislike of school, she rationalized that it was preferable to spending the summer at home with her mother.

Julia had spent the summer studying and doing nothing but chores at home, as well as working part-time for her landlord around the building to assist her mother pay the rent. Of course, this was not by choice. She wished she could spend the summer with Riley and Maya, but life intervened. Her mother was laid off from her work at the time, putting the two-person household in a financial bind. As a result, the newly turned 13-year-old was forced to take the initiative and support herself and her mother.

She didn't tell her friends what was truly going on, not only to avoid the embarrassment, but to avoid the girls shunning her because of her families difficulties. Julia would be unable to cope with anyone else abandoning her or believing she wasn't good enough for them.

Her frustration with the fact that she had to get up today was increased by her thoughts of the summer. Julia turned off her alarm clock with a sigh of disdain, knowing that today would be a difficult day.

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Julia's POV

I turned off my alarm clocked and sighed, this day was going to suck. Now, I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but I'm being practical. These kids despise me, and I despise them. We have reached an agreement. This year, I'd like to strive to be a little less of a pushover. I'm not looking for people to walk all over me. I'd like to be able to live without being afraid of people like Missy Bradford.

"You have to get out of bed for that to even work," I reasoned to myself. With that, I sighed and rolled out of bed, finding my way to my dresser to start getting ready. I take out a cardigan I found at a thrift store a few weeks ago, along with one of my mother's old turtlenecks and a pair of worn-out jeans.

I put on my old New Balance sneakers and take my backpack, which I had repacked at least seven times the night before. As I brush my teeth and wash my face, I exit my room and enter the restroom. I recognized how exhausted I looked when I looked in the mirror. The purple circles under my eyes have gotten darker and I've realized that I can't go to school like this. I rummage through the cupboard for any traces of my mother's makeup that will match my skin tone. My mother is very picky about my appearance; she thinks that if I wear makeup, people will take me for a slut or a whore, and that it will reflect negatively on her "as a mother".

I looked at the clock in the hallway after I finished using the bathroom. A I realized I barely had about 10 minutes before missing my train, my eyes widened. Since the station is a 5-minute walk away, I decided to skip breakfast and get down to the station as soon as possible.

My mother shouts out to me from the couch as I make my way to the living room to leave the house. I tense up and turn my gaze to her. This morning, I could tell she was in a bad mood.

"Julia," my mother says, looking at me with a mixture of scorn and frustration in her eyes.

"¿Estás seguro de que deberías llevar eso? Te hace parecer más pesado."(translation Are you sure you should wear that? It makes you look heavier.

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that the flesh was cut through."Sí, mamá, me siento bien con esta ropa." (translation-Yes, mamá, I'm comfortable with this outfit.") I jerked my gaze away from my mother to return to the clock. I'd have to race for the train and hope it didn't come early if I didn't leave in the next two minutes.

I returned my gaze to my mother, who had a harsh expression on her face.

"Mama si eso es todo me tengo que ir . Si no, voy a perder mi tren",( translation-mama if thats all I really have to go . If not Im going to miss my train)  I replied nervously, my gaze fixed on my feet, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. For a brief moment, my mother locked her gaze on me, almost as if she were analyzing my appearance for something to criticize.

"necesitas arreglar tu cabello te ves descuidado y asqueroso. No me vas a avergonzar. Arréglate y sal de mi vista".(translation-you need to fix your hair you look sloppy and disgusting. You will not embarrass me. Fix yourself and get out of my sight.)

I gave her a quick nod and dashed out the door and down the stairs. I dashed two blocks to the station and arrived safely. I sat on the subway, contemplating who I want to be this school year. How do I get the kids to quit antagonizing and belittling me at school? I allow my mother to do it to me all the time. Am I just that pathetic?

I get off after a 25-minute commute and walk to school. When I first walk into the building, I look for my locker number only to find that Riley and Maya were already there. As I make my way up to them I can hear them talking about the summer homework.

"Did you have trouble with the homework?" Riley asked looking knowingly at Maya.

"Piece of cake", Maya replied carelessly

'You didn't do it, did you'?

"I don't even know where my books are".

" They're here and they're heavy". Riley says handing Maya her books.

"Don't worry Maya you can copy mine", I said going up to them smiling. They looked at me and smiled.

"JULIE, JULES", they both screamed out as they hugged me.

"We missed you so much" Riley said still hugging me.

"How was your summer kid", Maya said letting me go and smiling.

"It was alright", I said not really meeting their gazes. They were too excited to seem to to notice.

"That's great Juleszy, Peaches and I have to tell you about this morning. Right now right now right now". Just as Riley said that the bell rang.

I looked at her and smiled. "How about we talk about this after class lovey".

With that we linked arms and made our way  to our first class. History.