The Misfits' Toy

Chapter One

    I stared at the blackboard intensely. The equation my algebra teacher had scribbled in cheap yellow chalk arranged itself in my head, replacing X with twenty-seven, Y with forty-two, and solving for N before I even had time to raise my hand. Mrs. Bandler rolled her eyes.

"Yes, okay, I know you've solved it already, Ava, but I literally just finished writing. Can you please give the other kids a try?"

   I sighed audibly. My eyes flickered across the room to meet those of a smirking Naomi. She winked when she caught me staring at her, and I rolled my eyes, causing her to burst into a fit of hysterics.

"Is something funny, Miss. Greene?"

"No, nothing, sorry." she said, suppressing her giggles.

   Mrs. Bandler glared at Naomi for a few seconds longer, before shifting her gaze towards me. I knew what she was going to say before she even opened her mouth, but let her begin her question anyway.

"Alright, Ava, Wha-"

"Negative three and two tenths."

"Yes. Correct." She said with an almost disapproving tone. I cocked my head slightly and raised an eyebrow, but held back my usual snappy comment.

   She picked up an object off the desk, her white Mary Janes making an extra-loud tapping sound as she stomped to the blackboard. Just then, the bell rung. A look of relief flooded over her wrinkly features as she placed the chalk back on her desk triumphantly.

"Okay class, don't forget, Textbook pages 23-26 are tonight's homework!" She looked at me and I just raised my eyebrows, as if I didn't understand her actions.

   Her hatred towards me started when I corrected her on the supposedly 'difficult' problem she had been working out for us on the first day of class. That was over two week ago, and she still clung to her dignity like a small child. I gathered up what I had sprawled out over my desk, which was just my textbook, pencil, and sketchpad, and hopped down from my chair. Naomi rushed over to me, an ecstatic expression on her face, like always.

"Hey shortie!" That caused me to narrow my eyes at her.

"Naomi, how many times have I told you? Do not comment on my height." She just grinned and rested her arm on my head.

"Awe, come on Ana! Don't be like that!" I rolled my eyes and walked away from her, causing her elbow to fall back to her side.

"Hey! Wait for me!" She skipped over to me, and we exited the Advanced Placement Algebra room and walked to our dormitory.

   To say our room was festive would be an understatement. Naomi had insisted on stringing multicolored lights and school banners along the walls and around the perimeter of our bunk. The whole thing looked like an advertisement for 'Bonewraith Bording School: Home of the bats!' as it read on the large banner hanging from the small kitchen entrance. It was only fitting, I suppose, being that she's the schools head-cheerleader, and has been for the three years she's been attending.

   The two of us could not be more different, she was extremely perky, with medium length brown and blond hair, dark green eyes, tan skin, and a perfectly curvy body. Not to mention she was a good height, five foot four inches, as I had measured one night as she slept. She was your typical high school cheerleader, minus the stereotypical bad attitude. I, on the other hand, was short. Four foot ten inches, to be exact. My long waist-length black hair and choppy fringe framed my body in a way that made me look even shorter, but I couldn't bring my self to cut it. My dad always used to tell me that it brings out my eyes, which were a "stunning electric blue," according to him, and contrasted nicely from my pale skin. Not only this, but I had a skinny, petite frame, with no curves once so ever.