Welcome to Oceanside High: Revenge of the Bully

Chapter 1

All day, hell, all freaking weekend I've been a jumble of nerves. I feel it in my feet and I can hardly keep them still as I wait for the dryer to get done tumbling dry my clothes. Dad hates it when I leave them in there, and I hate it when they get wrinkled because I left them in there. As soon as the buzzer goes off I yank them out, and carry the huge pile, double-checking behind me as I run upstairs to be sure I don't drop anything.

Who am I kidding? I always drop something because I like to carry everything at once and I'm not lugging the tall laundry hamper from upstairs, down here. I throw my clothes on my bed and I run back down the hallway, scooping up panties and socks before I head back and do the worst part of doing laundry: folding clothes and putting them away.

I look at the time. Still not time yet for what I've been waiting for all summer. But it will be, and it'll be here before I know it. I just have to keep telling myself that! Once my clothes are folded and put away, I sit back on my bed and grab my Kindle off the nightstand. I swear to myself I won't look at the time.

Nope, not at all.

I scroll down on my Kindle and I'm only a couple paragraphs into a book on Greek Mythos when my phone starts to beep with a text message. I pick it up and see it's my best friend Annabelle.

Annabelle - It's so DUCKING hot out!

Brittney - Ducking? Are you duck hunting again? I haven't stepped outside my house. I'm still enjoying the A/C! South Florida heat is a killer.

Annabelle - Uggh, damn autocorrect! You're freakin lucky! I'm trying to get my car started.

Brittney - Does that mean we're gonna be late to Billy Bowen's end of summer bash?

Annabelle - yeah...please don't kill me.

Brittney - Take your time. I just farted reading.

Annabelle - Ew.

Brittney - Started* sorry.

I lay my Kindle down on my nightstand and with a heavy sigh I sit down on my bed. I tell myself it'll be fine even if we get there late. I just hate walking in and everyone looking at me but at least I'll have my best friend, Annabelle Watkins, to help ease the ridicule.

Somehow she never lets shit get to her. Sometimes I think if it weren't for her I'd have curled up into a ball in the corner and never come out. She's helped me deal with some bad situations, and my anger.

I have a little bit of an issue with getting real upset and using my fists instead of my words, you know, like most girls.

If it weren't for her I'd never have gotten the idea to join the Girl's Boxing League. It really helps get the anger out, which means no more suspensions due to fighting, and my dad is thankful for that.

Most girls know better to keep their distance and not mess with me. Maybe it's why Annabelle's always tagged along, but not all the girls leave me alone, and there's a small clique of guys who aren't intimidated, in the least, of me. I think they really love to see how far they can push me. If it happens one more time then I'm done, expelled, and then that'll be it for me at Oceanside High. But I'll get to deal with that one day, I'm damn sure of it.

Bowen's end of summer pool party is usually a huge bash and it is always near the end of August and the best way to the end of summer before school finally starts. As for being late, I can't get too mad because Annabelle's the first one to get a car between the two of us, and even though it's a yellow 1981 Dodge Omni, it gets us around from place to place. I got my license to drive when she did but I haven't exactly got the job to pay for a car. Annabelle is the only one of us who has a decent enough mom to give her an allowance for doing house chores. But she's saved all of it up since she was nine and only had enough to buy a car from her next door neighbor, and he owns the local junk yard.