Behave Yourself

Do I look alright?

Chapter 12

Two weeks later, Monday, 8:00 am

At school

Katie's POV

Dad really was serious about taking me to an eye doctor. Now I've got glasses, and he's trying to encourage me to get out of the truck and go to school. I don't want to. Why would I wanna do that? If Penelope sees me, she's gonna have a new reason to pick on me. I don't wanna give her a new reason, when she already has like, a billion reasons. And most of those reasons are completely made up. She just finds random shit to pick on me for. My glasses are definitely gonna give her another reason to pick on me.

Dad: Kid, I get that you don't wanna go, but we've been over this. You have to go to school. I can't just keep you home all the time.

Yes, you can. You literally always say shit like "I'm the parent, so what I say goes". But you won't say that I can stay home from school? Really?

Katie: But you can.

Dad: No, I can't. You have to go to school, Katie.

Katie: But Dad-

Dad: Is this about your glasses? Do you think people are gonna make fun of you?

No. I KNOW that people are gonna make fun of me. Specifically, one person. One person who I'm progressively getting sicker of.

Katie: No. I just don't-

Dad: You don't wanna go. I know. You never wanna go. And I get it. I do. I was a kid once, too, and I get why you don't like school. But you have to understand why I can't just keep you home all the time.

Katie: I never miss any days. One day wouldn't hurt anybody.

Dad: I'm not keeping you home without a reason. A good reason. A reason like being sick. And you're not sick. So you're going to school.

Katie: Fine.

I get my bag from the backseat and open the door.

Dad: Have a good day. I love you.

Katie: I love you, too.

But a good day, with Penelope around, isn't possible. I can try my best to have a good day, but as long as Penelope's a part of my days, they won't be good. I get out of the truck and go inside the school building. This is my first day at school, with my glasses. I like being able to see clearly, but I'm already getting looks from people that I don't even know. I can't tell if they're judging me, or if that's just my anxiety. These people might not be judging me, but Penelope will be. Maybe I can find a way to avoid her. Even though that never works. She always finds me, and finds a way to pick on me.

Brittany: Katie. She calls while walking over to me.

She's alone, which means that Penelope isn't here yet.