The start of my day sums up in one word: Ugh.
"ALEXANDER! I want you ready in FIVE MINUTES!" Mum yells from the kitchen. "MAKE SURE YOU LOOK NICE Sophie put the spoon down AND NOT ONE WRINKLE ON THAT SHIRT!"
I made sure I looked as neat as Mum's homemade pies- which are quite disgusting.
"Alex!" Mum grabbed my arm and shook me. Her hair was wild, and she looked like one of those witches in fairy tales. "What happened to the checkered shirt?!"
I shrugged. "Didn't fit."
It did fit.
Mum sighed and touched her forehead then her shoulders. "Just eat and hurry up."
My little sister, Sophie, was in the chair beside me when I sat down. Her curly hair had syrup dripping from it, a strawberry slice was stuck to her cheek, apple juice was dripping into her eye, but her smile couldn't have been wider. She kicked her feet as if she was still two years old. That was three years ago.
"Morning Awex," she sings. I rolled my eyes.
"Shut it, Soph. We all know you can pronounce my name correctly." I shoved the last bit of waffle into my mouth and gulped down my juice. Then I jumped to my feet, popped a mint in my mouth, and kissed both her and Mum goodbye.
"The bus'll be coming soon," Dad says from the stairs as he descended. I waved to him as I stepped out the door.
"That's where I'm headed!"
All the seats were taken when I boarded. Everyone stared at me as I crept down the aisle, gaze flickering from face to face. I was just about to turn around and walk, ah, screw it, when someone called out.
"Hey! Dude! Over here!"
I turned and found a boy with glasses waving at me. I hopped over some legs and sat down beside him. The bus started to move again, and he looked at me.
"You the new kid?" he asks, adjusting his glasses. He had ratty blond hair and wide blue eyes, and his body resembled a twig. His shirt hung off him like rags.
I nod. "Mmhmm. Alex Greene."
He gives me a wide smile. "Cool! I'm Marty. Well, my full name's Cinderella, but call me Marty."
I stare at him.
"I'm kidding."
The rest of the bus ride was filled with Marty's endless chatter, and I seriously thought I would have thrown myself out the window if we hadn't gotten to school at that moment.
As I stepped off the bus, tuning out Marty, I saw her. She stood by the trees on the opposite side of the road, staring at me. Blood covered her dress, and her curly locks looked wet and were plastered to the side of her head. Her eyes found mine, and her lip trembled.
"Awex," she calls, then disappears. I clench my jaw and follow Marty to the school grounds.
What was that, you may ask? I don't know. But I'm used to it.
"We have to wait for the bell, dude," Marty says as he plops himself down on one of the benches. I follow him. "Hey, I heard there's a new kind of burrito in the cafeteria. Did ya know they allow you to pick between steak and chicken? It's amazing! They've added little cups of Hershey kisses. Chocolate milk is a choice for drinks now. They took away the Waffle Wednesday, though. Too childish, I guess..."
Kill me.
My eyes traveled across the grounds. Students lounged on the grass or clustered together in groups. There was the occasional loner here and there, a few with books in their hands, a few others listening to their music. An idea formed in my mind, and I popped an earbud in the ear facing away from Marty. I left the other earbud dangling. I quickly pressed play on a song and relaxed.
