Didn't you read the fine print? (On Hold)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Vanessa POV

I sat in my usually seat, two seats in front of the second door of the bus. The noise level was as loud as it usually was, seeming too loud for a bus that was mostly empty even with most of the people having a seat to themselves. I could still vaguely hear the senseless chatter under the sound of Short Stack but I wouldn’t have it any louder. I looked blindly out the window, not taking anything in and concentrated on the words that I was blasting into my ears. I had a song for everything on my iPod and it seemed that ‘We dance to a different disco, honey’ was going to be for this moment. Tapping the beat on my knee, I was careful not to hum or singing any of the lyrics, I was not going down that road again. I was not going to drag anymore attention to the singing skills that I, apparently, have. Probably, wouldn’t show if I was singing along with Short Stack anyway... I’m still going to keep my mouth shut.

I withdrew my attention from outside, if there was any there to begin with, and looked around the bus for Mary. Mary the blond year sevener who usually sat in the seat in front of me the short bus rides we have together in the morning and afternoon. Where could she be? I quickly panned my eyes across the bus, trying not to take in people’s faces or what they were doing. I didn’t want to start over thinking about what they would be thinking about me right at this moment. That was a trouble for another day. My eyes got to the back of the bus where there were more people than usual sitting. I squinted, trying to make out what all the fuss was, regretting not packing my glasses in my bag. My eyes went wide when I notice Claire at the back of the bus.

Claire, Miss Pretty ‘n’ Prefect was at the back of my bus, the girls around her trying to soak up the blond perfection. I snapped my head back to the front of the bus; I was not going to bring her attention down on me today. Claire and I had been the best of friend at one point, a long time ago. Inseparable, pretty much joined at the hip and for a little while we actually looked alike, not that she would admit to any of it now. We both had platinum blond hair that was dead straight, hanging down to our shoulders if we would ever let. Claire used to love to play with my hair, pull it up into a high ponytail to match her or pig tails that stuck out from the sides of my head. Now my hair was red and hers had darkened into a lovely sun-kissed gold. Her eyes were still an emerald green but what lay around them had changed.

All she ever wanted was sparkles at the corner of her eyes but coming to school every day with a brightly coloured star in the corner of one eye was all her mother would allow. Now, Claire caked her face with foundation that was slightly too light for her skin and her eyes rimmed with black eyeliner and thick mascara. Baby pink lipstick made her look of a Barbie doll complete. This had all started in year seven. Year six was great; I had friends and was happy every day. But, I didn’t truly have friends, I had Claire. Claire had the friends. When Claire changed into year seven so did everyone else and left me behind. I dyed my hair and started wearing Goth make up. Now in year ten, she was still the ring leader of the ‘popular’ group and I was still the outsider, considered a freak. I had no one. Mum had made me get rid of the black make up, ‘stopped me scaring people away’ she said.

I kept my eyes on the dash board of the bus and hoped – no, prayed that I hadn’t stared at her for too long. I prayed that I hadn’t gotten her attention or any of the girls around her.

“Nessa?” Claire’s pitch-perfect voiced sounded, “Vanessa, zombie chick who sits in the back of English class picking her nails?” oh no, it’s too late – she found me.

Dear God, why are you doing this to me? I turned to look at her. Keeping my eyes at her feet, I smiled weakly and tried not to offend her. Trying not to give her any more reasons to taunt me, or worse, I turned back to the front of the bus and wrapped my arms around myself. I was trying to holding myself together so I wouldn’t break anymore than I have already because of her.