The Sea Mist Common Room is a huge building with white walls and a glass ceiling. A ton of purple and sky blue couches are gathered around a couple fireplaces. Abstract art made by the students at the college are on the walls. At the end opposite the door there is a waterfall going down the white wall falling into a small pool that resembles a tiny stone pond. It is a place where all the students in the Sea Mist Dorm Section can gather and hang out. You needed your violet keycard to get into the building and there are Common Rooms like this for all the Dorm Sections.
I walked down the path to the Sea Mist Common Room, my hair wet from the cold shower I had taken. The sun was high in the sky, my violet, green streaked eyes shining and my black curly hair blowing in the gentle breeze. I wore my favorite outfit, my pair of black boots with slick black heels clacked on the sidewalk, my giant hoop earrings about the size of my fist swung. I wore a black miniskirt, barely modest enough to pass the stupid dress code. A simple white tank top and my absolute favorite black leather cropped midriff jacket completed the outfit. My black mascara and dandelion yellow eye shadow highlighted my eyes with a bold statement. You could literally see the vibes of confidence coming from me like lightening, leaving the charged with a certain electricity no one could explain. I felt AWESOME!
I strode into the building like I owned the place, looking at all the beautiful waterfall and art on the walls. I ignored the students staring at me, at first in fear, but then in interest. I was overjoyed. Maybe I was fitting in! Whispers surrounded my ears as I started walking across the room to the window seat in one corner.
“That’s nothing new…” I thought sadly. My ego had deflated. “Its going to be just like everywhere else.”
But then a group of girls and guys that had been sitting in a circle of purple armchairs in couches approached me from the other side of the room. They were all dressed the same, dark blue capris and white leather midriff cut jackets with no sleeves, unzipped, showing off their breasts in silvery gray push up bras. The boys had on tight fitting denim dark blue shorts and white leather vests, unzipped to show off six packs and a ton of muscle. I doubted that even if they were wearing leather jackets with sleeves their arms wouldn’t even fit in them. I had never seen such huge and muscular arms.
“So much for dress code.” I thought smugly. But as they approached, my mood had started to feel happier. I had had a good feeling about this. They hadn’t been showing fear of me!
They stopped in front of me. I stopped too. Both of us waiting for the other to make a move. Then-
“You are one creepy bitch.”
“Yeah. Keep moving, creep! Scram!”
Everyone in the room started yelling insults at me about my eyes, my teeth, my scary appearance in general. My mouth popped open and my eyes widened in shock and disappointment. My happiness and confidence melted away like a child’s ice cream in summer, evaporated like water spilled in the desert sand.
I turned and walked out of the building, my shoulders hung, head down in shame.
Now that I look back, I wonder what I had been thinking. I should have know that they would act the same way as everyone else had. Why!? Why was I born this way?
I was so sad and upset. But I couldn’t cry. I just couldn’t make my eyes feel the familiar sting, make tears well up and trickle down my cheeks. I made myself walk, not sure where I was going, just staring at my feet. There was nothing I could do but walk, walk until my brain gave the signal.
The gravel became pavement as I walked out of the gate of the Sea Crest College Campus. I walked as if I were in a trance, my body numb, my heart heavy, and my brain blank. I went past a book store, a couple parks, a cinema, and two restaurants, nothing bothering me, no noise going through my ears to my brain, no smells registering.
A loud honking jerked me out of my trance. I jumped, jerking up as I threw my head up, looking around wildly and stumbling back as the car on my left honked again, trying to get me out of the way so he could turn onto the street on the right.
“Sorry! Sorry!” I yelled, holding up my hand, palm spread in apology. My fingers twinged painfully at the movement.
“Owwwwwwwww!” I cried out, backing out of the street and cradling my fingers. I shook my head, trying to clear the pain.
I have to get to a doctor.
It was then that I broke. I felt the sting in my eyes and a sob welling up in my throat.
No. Not here. I couldn’t.
I did. I stepped into a small alley and pressed my forehead up against the cool brick wall and let the tears squeeze out of the corners of my purple and green eyes. My right arm resting on the wall over my head and my hands in fists. After a moment I let out a yell of frustration. I was angry. Angry at that Clique, angry at my parents for not stopping me from coming here, but most of all I was angry at myself. Angry at myself for being weak and crying in public, angry at myself for being a freak, angry at myself for existing.
I stayed there for almost an hour, crying and crying, silently, letting all the tears go. Finally, I leaned back from the wall, wiping my face and sniffling a little.
It took me a moment to realize where I was, but when I did I pulled myself together and walked out of the alley. I looked out, then checked my watch. 9:07.
“YIKES! I yelled. I was seven minutes late for my first class in college. Great.
I took off running, sprinting back to dorm in a wild frenzy of panic.
~*~
“Ms. Stratford. You are 22 minutes late.” said a disapproving voice as I tried to tiptoe in quietly and slip into a seat at the back of the room unnoticed
Four girls and a guy from The Clique sniggered openly. The teacher, Mr. Stevens, paid no attention. His brown piercing eyes bore into mine.
“I… uh…. ummm… S-S-Sorry.” I stammered.
The girls giggled and the boy chuckled. Again Mr. Stevens paid no attention.
“You will do better to make it to your college Marine Mammal Biology class on time tomorrow, right Ms. Stratford?”
“I… ummmm... uhhhh… Yes. Y-Yes I w-will s-sir.”
The Clique was laughing openly now. I was blushing brighter red than the girl-next-to-me-who-was-quickly-gathering-up-her-things-as-quickly-as-she-could-to-get-away’s lipstick, my face and neck on fire.
“Good. Now, can you tell me the three orders of Marine Mammals?”
“Ummmmmmm….”
This is the first teacher who is actually looking me in the eye and talking to me without trying to get away quickly. What do I do?!
“Be. Here. Tomorrow. On. Time.” he said, his voice cold.
I sat up straighter in my chair. My tone was steely from anger and embarrassment “No, sir. I know the answer. Order Carnivora, Order Sirenia, and Order Cetacea.” I said, my teeth clenched and words clipped like the sharp snip of flower cutters as they freshly cut the stem of a rose.
Mr. Stevens blinked. Then nodded and returned to his lecture.
I smiled smugly to myself.
Take that Mr. Stevens!
YOU ARE READING
