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Chapter Three

Chapter Three | Secret Not-So-Secret

Theo

"Hey, look! That guy peed on his bag!"

Someone called out as I stepped out to the hallway, passing other kids by who were also snickering at my wet bag.

I bent my head down, slouching so that other people won't notice my embarrassed, reddening face.

To tell you the truth, there's nothing new here, actually. This kind of thing happened every single day ever since first year, when I walked in at school and made an embarrassment of myself by bumping into a big, hulking senior who threw me head-first in a trash can.

I still wince every time I remember that uneventful day.

There's nothing I could do about it. I'm a Loser, bound to be the biggest failure in life, as what students at West Morgan says.

"Ooh, here comes the Loser!" Dave, the biggest, meanest bully (who was also responsible for my dripping bag) sneered when I passed by him.

Dave Wichinsky was, once again, with the Top Dogs of West Morgan. He had been hanging out with them lately, tagging along like a loyal dog.

I scoffed at him internally. Does he really think that being seen with the popular kids would make him look cool?

"He's a little pansy, don't you think so Jake?" he said, eager to impress.

Jake, or as what others call as the King, shrugged nonchalantly with a bored look.

"I like jokes, but that's just mean, Dave." Robbie Mitchell, a happy-go-lucky jock and Jake's best friend, said.

"Yeah, I know." Dave grinned, oblivious to the frowns of the people around him. "If there's anyone who should get ragged, that's this dud here."

"Please stop that." The blond, angelic girl with them said.

Amy Collins, a cheerleader of West Morgan and the most beautiful girl in the world (at least to me), sneaked a look of empathy towards me.

I looked away immediately, speed-walking to get pass them.

Once I got out of the school gates, I released the breath I had been holding back.

So much for the first day of classes.

---

Erin

"Erin Michaels, please proceed to the principal's office right now."

I groaned after hearing my name on the school's P.A. system. My classmates 'oooh-ed'. I even heard someone say 'someone's in trouble' at the back.

Jeez.

"What is it this time, Ms. Michaels?" my chemistry teacher, Ms. Anderson, asked exasperatedly as she gave me a hall pass.

"I don't know!" I said defensively, grimacing.

I racked my brain for anything that will land me in the principal's (evil dominion) office.

Well, it's been two days since school started, and so far, my slate's clean.

Hmm.

Okay, pretty much clean, except for the detention Mr. Stowsky gave me.

"Hey there, Erin." The school secretary, good ol' Mrs. Newman, greeted as I passed her.

I smiled nervously at her, knocking on the office's door.