Two Ways to Spell Blake

{Chapter 1}

At school the next day, everyone seems excited about something. Except for me. I never get excited at school. I mean, it's school. Why in the world would I be excited about something that takes place there? Anyway, Fox Creek is a small school where everyone gets excited about the littlest of things.

I make my way down the hall towards my locker that just so happens to be in the middle of a flock of Gossip Queens. They're whispering and giggling and it makes me sick. Shouldering my way through, I push them out of the way.

"Um, what do you think you're doing?" the head of the flock, Olivia, asks.

I give her an unimpressed look. "Going to my locker which is what you should be doing," I retort.

They ignore me and go back to gossiping. "He just moved here and is coming to our school," Olivia smiles.

"He's perfect for you, Olivia," her second in command, Ellie, says.

I roll my eyes. These girls are shallow and stupid. "How would you know? You haven't even met him," I mutter.

"Um, excuse me, Bleak. Who asked you?" Olivia snarls.

"Blayke. Not Bleak. Not Bleach. Not Black. Blayke. We've gone to school since kindergarten, Olivia. Get my name right. Or are you too much of a bimbo to remember someone's name?" I snap and walk over, slamming my locker door in the process.

Fuming, I make my way to homeroom. I'm the first one there and pull out the book I've been reading. As more people file into class, the silence is filled with whispers. Most of them are about the new kid. Whoever he is.

The whispers stop when the Mr. Bryant walks into class just as the bell rings. He takes the roll and then we're left to our own devices. I pull out my book again but before I can start reading, I'm disturbed.

"You're reading that again? You realize there are more intellectual books out there?" Carlos asks.

Carlos tends to aggravate me at any given opportunity. I guess he just likes poking the bear with a stick.

Slowly, I look up from my novel. "I'm sorry, did I ask for your opinion?" I hiss.

"Blayke, if you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all," he snarls.

A smile breaks out on my face. "Carlos, you look like you got hit by a bus today," I say super sweetly.

His eyebrows furrow, taking a minute to comprehend what I said. "Just because you say it in a nice way doesn't mean it's nice," he snaps, finally getting it.

I roll my eyes and return to my book. After twenty minutes, the bell rings. As always, I'm the last one out of the classroom due to being small and being pushed out of the way.

 My next class is Algebra 2. I don't think anyone should have to do math in the mornings. I believe you're too tired to actually focus on the work. Or that's at least what I blame my grades on.

All during Algebra, everyone's passing notes-most likely about the new guy-and distracting me. I'm watching everyone pass notes when Ms. Hall turns around and she asks me a question.

"Um, what?" I ask, not having heard a word she said. 

She rolls her eyes. "Were you even listening, Ms. Tanner?" she asks.

"I was trying to," I mutter.

"Well, try harder," she snaps.

I clench my jaw to keep from saying something that will most definitely get me into trouble. Just as she's about to assign homework, the bell rings. Saved by the bell, thank goodness.