Not Your Expectation (#Wattys2015)

2. Do Your Own Work

As I sat down at the cafeteria table for lunch, beside my best friends, my energy was totally drained for the day and my face was like thunder.

"Oh, let me guess...The Evil Aunt Strikes Again?" Kylie, my best friend asked me.

I nodded my head, tiredly.

"Oh dear, what happened today?" Sally, another best friend of mine, sighed.

"What always happens when she comes. She keeps on praising about the angels she has for daughters and whatever brilliant, out-of-the-world thing they had managed to do. This time she picked a lot on Jenna and from today morning, I think she told my parents about 20 times to make sure I don't turn out like Jenna. That was when I was having breakfast at home." I spat out, letting out all the anger I felt.

Kylie and Sally just looked at me sympathetically. They always knew whenever Aunt Marie came home with her angelic 'brats'. Those were the days, I had a thunder- like face and a horrible temper. They were used to this behaviour of mine since Year 8, that was the year when Aunt Marie started making Jenna and I feel like mere beggars in comparison to her daughters. 

"Calm down sweetheart, you know those so-reverred daughters are actually bitches under their nun facade. No matter how much that evil witch you have for an aunt tries to compare Jenna and you to her daughters, the whole world knows who are the real angels." Kylie said, soothingly.

"Yeah, so just erase that frown and wear a smile or you'll be old in no time, hun!" Sally said, making us giggle. 

"I am so blessed to have you guys in my life. If not for people like you, I probably would be a very different person by now." I said, honestly.

Before either Sally or Kylie could answer, a voice cut in. "If you guys are finished with professing your undying love towards each other, could I just talk to Nerd Extraordinaire for a minute?" 

The three of us turned around to face my former best friend and current arch enemy, Kayla Winston, Deputy Head Cheerleader, Captain of the Mathlete Team and my fierce competitor for academic grades. 

"Kayla what do you want?" I asked, trying not to sigh. Kayla used to be nice but now she was a real pain in the neck and loved to insult me every single day. 

"Are you done with the English Presentation we've got to do?" Kayla asked me.

"What? How could I be finished when you and that other plastic doll in the team weren't willing to help? Now, don't tell me I didn't remind you to. Since last week I've been cornering you guys in school and sending you at least half dozen IMs reminding both of you to help. I sent one last night and called both of you but no one bothered to answer. I left voice messages too." I said, annoyed.

"Oh so that means you didn't make the presentation?" Kayla asked, snobbishly.

"No." I said, defiantly.

"Wow, what a miracle! Normally you, Miss. Nerd Extraordinaire, finish any group project on time with help or without. What was the difference this time? Don't tell me you couldn't do it on your own. I know you can unless your intelligence had seeped out of that big brain of yours." Kayla said loudly, attracting the attention of the whole cafeteria.

I stood up angrily. "Yeah, I might've done that before but not anymore. I am pretty sure I didn't get partnered up with a bunch of idiots, so both of you could have helped. If you guys were hoping that I would do all the work like a slave you are very much mistaken, Kayla Winston plus you, fake Barbie. I did my part, if you guys want a grade; work for it yourselves or forget about it and mind your own business."

"Oh so the Nerd has some nerve and she finally knows to stand up for herself. It's unfair that we have to lose our grades because you are being childish and selfish-" I cut the fake Barbie in mid sentence.