The Label Maker

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: BEHIND THE BOOKSHELF

Christmas was approaching. With only one week of school left before break, Gwen was putting in hours of homework and studying along with the extra hours she spent on her blog. SHe's been losing more sleep with each blog she wrote. Her blog was becoming more popular each week. Everyone wanted to know who the label Maker was. Everyone wanted to know who the Label Maker was. Everyone wanted to know where she lived. Everyone wanted to know what kind of person she was. Everyone wanted to know what she would label herself as. But she couldn't give anyone what they wanted. She needed to keep it a secret. she couldn't let anyone find out. If someone found out she would get in a lot of trouble. But not from her parents, but from her friends and the people at her school, and anyone who has ever read her blog. People would be able to put two and two together and figure out who was labeled as who. Some labels were more clear. Others were harder to figure out. But that, that was the fun of it. It was no longer about stress. Sure, Gwen used it as a stress reliever, but at the same time turned out to be a new obsession.

At the same time, it's risky. But even one word could give her secret away. She always tried to be careful. But there were times when even Gwen herself questioned if what she wrote was safe or not. Ever since Thanksgiving the snow has been falling almost nonstop. Most days it came down like a blizzard. Other days it was a simple sprinkle throughout the day. The temperature never reached over 40°.Everyone wore winter jackets. Everyone wore Uggs and other forms of bots that were made for winter.

As Gwen walked from her car and to the school's main doors on Tuesday morning, she reached the doors and was welcomed by a blast of heat. Conversations focused on winter sports such as snowboarding. Circles of friends talked about new tricks to try and when they were going to do so. Gwen though, Gwen focused on her blog. She curled up by the fireplace everyday after school with a mug of hot chocolate in her hands and her laptop in her lap. Since the snow started it was Gwen's new favorite spot to write and do homework in. With Christmas right around the corner, Emma chatted about nothing but gifts for one another. Gwen still hadn't gotten her gift for Emma. She told her friend they would exchange gifts after break for Emma was going away again for the holidays.

Gwen's morning went by fast. Lunch was eventless for once. The start of her week was starting of relaxed and laid back. She was happy about it. She hated homework over the holidays. Especially over Christmas break. Christmas was Gwen's favorite holiday. She loved the decorations and the food and the gifts. But she hated the homework and tests teachers piled on. That's why her mood dropped when she stepped into spanish sixth hour after lunch. Written on the board in capital letters were the words: POP QUIZ. And pop quizzes in spanish always were weighted heavily in the overall grade. Gwen sat down in her seat, not bothering to talk to anyone. She simply didn't have the energy for it. The bell rang and everybody returned to their respectful seat. Senora Prenso stood in the front of the class, her glasses pushed down on the edge of her nose.

"Take out your homework. Put it out on your desk and then we will start to quiz," she commands. Everyone opened their binders and got out their homework papers. Gwen pulled her sheet out, but she didn't understand. Both sides were blank and unfinished. Not even her name was scribed on the paper. She scowled at herself. When she showed Senora Prenso her paper, she frowned at Gwen.

"Gwen why isn't it done?" She asks.

"I guess I forgot about it," Gwen answers truthfully, looking down.

"Detention, Thursday, after school in the library," she states, walking away.

"Are you kidding me! Others don't get their homework done and they get a 'bring it by the end of the day.' And I get a detention? That isn't fair!" She protests. Everyone was looking at her.

"I expect more from you Gwen. If you want to argue over it any more I'd be more than welcome than to discuss it in the office." And that was the end of the conversation. Gwen had her first detention, Thursday after school. And as Senora Prenso finished checking everyone's homework, it turned out that Bryce, Aaron, and RJ were to join her. And she didn't know how to feel about that at all.