The Secret Life of Penelope

Chapter 1: Secrets

The writer Roald Dahl, once said, "Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places." I live by that quote, mostly because of how true it is.

I've recently started my senior year in high school. Before I continue, I probably know what you're thinking. Great, another story about an out of place girl who just wants to fit in. Well...you're partially right. But I'm not looking to fit in, especially in the social stratosphere of high school. I really just want to graduate, maybe go to prom and live a decent life. Too bad the latter won't be happening any time soon. You see, I have this secret. I've been doing a good job of keeping it under wraps but recently...it's been exposed. This is the story of how my life unraveled.

Chapter 1: Secrets

The hallway was always crowded before lunch, making it impossible to reach my locker. It was like drowning in a sea of students, crest-embroidered blazers and unrecognizable B.O. Holding my breath; I dived in and braced myself for the game of human bumper cars.

"Sorry, uh excuse me...sorry,"  I said to various people as I pushed my way through. It was moments like this where I wished I could magically transform into a bulldozer. Just a few more steps and I would make it to the adjoining and virtually empty hallway close by.  I was home free, or so I thought. You see, the universe decided to screw me over and before I knew it, I had bumped into Alyssa Nelson.

Now this shouldn't have been a problem. Usually if a situation like this arises, both parties involved apologize to one another and laugh it off. Sadly, Alyssa was a pretty little incarnation of Satan.

Our shoulders had knocked against one another hard. The force caused our books to fly out of our arms and I immediately dropped to my knees, retrieving all my stuff that adorned the hallway floor. When I caught sight of my note book, I proceeded to grab it. Silver ballet pumps stomped onto the book and I retracted my hand away. Surely enough, my eyes met Alyssa's ice cold ones. Currently she was looming over me, a smug smirk plastered onto her  face.

"Watch where you're going, freak show," Alyssa hissed as she crossed her arms.

"I'm really sorry but I need that," I stated, swallowing my anger. I had noticed that people were watching us now. It's like I parted the freakin' red sea because there was a split in the crowd, their gawking eyes drawn to the small spectacle unfolding.

"Oh, you'll get it back...once you pick up all of my stuff," she exclaimed in a sing-song voice. She was enjoying this, demeaning me in front of the entire student body. I hadn't moved to fulfill her demand and contemplated what I could possibly do. My mind shifted to that little nursery rhyme "What Are little Girls made of?"

"What are little girls made of?

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice

And everything nice,

That's what little girls are made of"

Well not freakin' Alyssa. A bottle of pure evil must have gotten into that concoction.

"Well Penny...I'm waiting," she said, pulling me out of my reverie. She illustrated her impatience with an annoying foot tap. I really wanted to punch her in the face but that wouldn't have done any good. Plus I would have gotten into so much trouble. So instead, like some pushover, I picked up her books and held them up to her.

"Good girl," Alyssa praised in a patronizing tone of voice. Ugh, why am I not ripping out the strands of her luscious brown hair? This is how our encounters usually went. She would say something totally belittling and I would cop out and just take it. I was getting sick of it.