Agnes in JackieLand

Chapter 2

Wanting false bravado and having it are two completely different things. As people open mouth stared at me, I tried to shrink inside myself by wrapping my arms around my middle. As a loner, I had never had people stare at me. Tease and ridicule, yes, but never this. It was unnerving, and I wished I had my best friend by my side. It would have made things a lot easier for me.

"Nice jacket."

I looked up and found Jackie Franklin smiling her million-watt smile at me. I'm not accustomed to this pleasant side of Jackie. I didn't know what to do so I looked at the ground and mumbled. "Thank you.'

Jackie is the head cheerleader, the most popular girl in school, and the second place academic student. My being number one infuriated Jackie to no end. The "it" girl had never been friendly to me in my whole high school experience. I was odd, so Jackie ridiculed my oddity and ensured no one hung out with me. Graham being the exception. No one tells Graham Evans what to do.

Here was Jackie standing right in front of me. Her long black glossy curls cascaded over her shoulders. Her mossy green eyes scrutinized me from head to toe. She cocked her head slightly and asked, "Do we know you?"

I took in the two drones on either side of Jackie. Cindy and Leeann, the pair, were almost twin-like in looks and actions. Both had the blonde Barbie doll look and very low IQs. Sometimes I thought Jackie only kept them around to make herself look even better.

"I've only been going to school here for the last three years," I replied as I shouldered my way past the three girls, done with the inquisition.

Jackie grabbed my bag, and I turned around. "Wait. I know you," her eyes squinted slightly as she assessed me. "Agnes?"

"Agnes, who?" Cindy asked.

"You got it. It's me, Agnes Bumstead. The loser loner in the flesh," I said, exasperated with the whole scene.

"Wow, you look great," Jackie replied, the tone of her voice mirroring her shock.

I stood there dumbfounded, not believing that Jackie Franklin had just paid me a compliment.

"No way! You're Bum face. Get out! Who did your makeover?" Leeann demanded.

I smiled, showing nothing of the vexation I felt about this confrontation. The bell rang loudly above our heads. Thank goodness, saved by the bell. I said, "Sorry, but I have to get to class." I took the opportunity to hurry out of there before drama ensued. I'm not one for drama.

In class, Mr. Clark didn't recognize me either. "Agnes," he called out.

"Here," I said.

He looked up at me and said, "Agnes Bumstead."

"Here," I said. This time I enjoyed his shocked expression, and I let a small smile escape before I realized it.

All around the room, murmurs arose at the shock of weird Agnes Bumstead turning into a real teenager. Not that I wasn't real before, but I was more of an alien to them. As the class went on more people became accustomed to me, and the more confident I became; the small smile that appeared, rested quite happily where it was.

The same thing happened in the second period. More people approached me, saying mundane things like "Hi." Words they would say every day to other people but not to me. It was a good feeling. It was very lonely in school, not having any friends.

All my life, I had watched all those teen movies about the lone loser becoming popular and always thought they were garbage. Nothing like that could ever happen in real life. But, just maybe, I could find a couple of people to be friends with being this, Agnes. It was worth a try.