The Man (A Seth Rollins Story) (Reupload)

Chapter 15- First Day of School (Backstory)

~ 10 Years Ago ~

"Marci, can you believe that we are actually high schoolers now?"

"You are way too excited about this, Trina."

"Think about it. We are in high school now. We are going to have a great four years. We are going to have boyfriends and go to Prom and do other things high school students do."

"I don't have time for a boyfriend or Prom, Trina."

"Ugh, you're such a downer. Marci, this is high school. Could you stop focusing on school for several minutes? I swear, you're worse than me."

"Is it that bad that I want to be focused on school?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

I sighed and followed after Trina into the school. It wasn't that I didn't want to do that kind of stuff but my parents had been telling me since a young age that I should try my best in school. My brothers, well, they weren't exactly people that tried to be successful. I had to hold this family to a higher standard. I was putting all this on my shoulders and always had been. It was stressful to say the least but it was what I had to do. I had to make my parents and family proud. I wasn't going to be another failure for this family.

"So, what is your first class?"

"Um, AP English."

"See, that is what I don't get with you. You make it seem like school isn't a big deal but then you are taking how many AP classes this semester?"

"Just 2. I have 3 next semester."

"Then how can you preach that I shouldn't focus on school?"

"Because that is all you're ever focused on. Yes, I focus on my homework too but every once in a while, you should try having fun for once. Look, I got to go. I'll talk to you later."

I nodded and Trina left. I could have fun. She didn't know what she was talking about. I turned and ran into someone. All my stuff fell onto the floor.

"Sorry about that, freshie."

"It's fine."

I picked up my things and so did the person I ran into. Once all my things were picked up, I looked at the person I ran into. It was a guy that looked to be a bit older than I was. He was beautiful. He had blonde hair and these sparkling green eyes. I had never seen someone so beautiful before.

"Are you sure you're ok, freshie?"

It took me a minute to get up the courage to speak. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. Thanks. I have to go or I'll be late."

"What is your first class?"

I looked at my schedule. "Freshman Bio with Mrs. Peters."

"Ah, me too. Follow me."

He strutted towards the stairs and I had to run to keep up with him.

"You don't look like a freshman."

"I'm not. I'm a junior. I'm just really bad at science."

I laughed. I didn't mean to but I just did. The guy looked back and smiled.

"So, how did you know I was a freshman?"

"You looked really scared and lost. I remember looking like that on my first day too."

"Ah, yeah. It is pretty nerve racking."

"You'll get used to it after a while. It stops becoming scary and more of a prison once everything becomes familiar."

"A prison? Is it really that bad?"

"You have no idea."

We finally got through the stair traffic and went down a hallway. A nice looking woman stood in front of a door and greeted students walking in. It seemed she was taking role as the students walked in. We got up to the front of the line and the teacher gave a knowing look.

"Back again, Zack?"

"You know you would have missed me, Mrs. P."

"And it looks like you have a friend here?"

I stepped out from behind Zack's looming figure. "Hello, ma'am."

"What is your name, sweetie?"

"Marcella Jenkins."

Recognition crossed both of their faces.

"Are you related to the Jenkins brothers?" Mrs. Peters asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Pete, Caleb and J.J are my older brothers."

"Ah." She looked through the list. I could already see the worry on her face. I knew it immediately that she was disappointed to have another Jenkins kid in her class. This is what I had to deal with. My brothers go throughout the grades, destroy our family's reputation so much so that I have to then deal with the glares on every face in school. It was the worst feeling in the world to feel disappointed in by people who only knew you because of your last name.

"Well, I'm happy to have you in class."

I walked in with Zack. I knew she was lying. She was hoping she could get through the semester with me.

"You want to sit with me, Jenkins?"

I smiled politely. "No thanks. I'm going to go sit in front."

He looked surprised. I bet he was expecting me to want to cause trouble. "All right. I'll see you around then."

I nodded and sat down in a seat next to a girl that looked nice enough. Mrs. Peters walked to the front of her class and gave a lesson. I tried to focus on what she was saying but I couldn't avoid the looks she gave me. And I knew the rest of my day would go the same way. Class ended and I saw Zack waiting for me. I was about to walk to him when Mrs. Peters stopped me. I knew what this conversation was going to be. I had it many times before.

"You can leave, Zack. I need to have a talk with Miss Jenkins."

Zack nodded, waved goodbye and left. I turned to Mrs. Peters and she put on that little fake smile of hers. The smile that let me know that she wasn't angry or disappointed but deep down, I knew she was.

"I'm not going to lie..."

Yeah you are. You're going to lie straight to my face.

"...you're brothers were a little troublesome. It wasn't that they weren't good kids but they disrupted the class a bit. I want to tell you that I don't think you'll disrupt the class or anything..."

Really? Then why are we having this little talk then?

"But I just want to let you know now that I do have a zero tolerance policy on any kind disruption in this class. I hope we understand each other."

The first few times I had this conversation, I had almost cried. I was upset that someone could on day one, judge me as a 'bad kid'. But I had it so many times that I just didn't see the point in crying. It just became routine for me. Just a normal day in class.

"Yes, ma'am. I understand."

"Good. Well, I can't wait to have you in class."

She put on that fake smile once again. She didn't want me in class and we both knew it.

"Hey, Jenkins."

I saw Zack at lunch. This was the hard part.

"Hey, Zack."

"So, what was that talk about?"

"Don't worry about it. So, listen, I kind of want to focus on school so I don't want to have any distractions."

"Ok? And?"

"And, I don't think we should really hang out."

"Why? Because I'm a 'bad kid' or something?"

"No, of course not."

He scoffed. "Yeah, I can see the lie all over your face. Whatever. I guess I'll see you in class, freshman."

He got up angrily from the table. I breathed in, trying to get control over everything. Zack seemed like a nice guy but the less distraction, the better. I heard a teacher yell and looked to see J.J flinging food across the room. I sighed and threw away my tray before leaving the lunch room. I spent the rest of my lunch period hiding out in the bathroom. Trina's words came back to me. 'We are going to have a great four years'. Yeah, right.