The Ghost of Elizabeth Rose

chapter two

~Chapter Two~

“Mum! I'm sick!” I yelled from my cozy bed.

“Get over it, Clemmy! You're going!” she yelled back. I groaned. Today I had to get out of bed early and leave for the unfriendly school. Being as shy as I am, it's terrifying.

I wore my black leather pants with the chains, my claret blouse, the black and red pinstriped tight-fitting, trench coat, and my knee-high, Gothic suede boots. To top off my goth look, I swiped black shimmery eyeshadow over my eyelids, and lots of eyeliner. I would have worn my black lipstick, but it was “lost” in the move. I know my mum took it and threw it away.

I can't believe it! Buses are yellow here, too? The color aside, not very exciting... I'm the first person on the bus. Just like back home. When people started to board, they stared, pointed, and snickered. All I did was ignore them and read my book.

Ah, books. My obsession with books. Now I'm reading an exciting book called Evernight. It's about a girl named Bianca who starts at the Evernight Academy. She's like me, shy and whatnot.

The bus pulls up at the school, and I know as soon as I step down, I am not liked very much. Like an overwhelming wall of negative energy hitting me all at once, and radiating around me. Eyes bore through me leaving raw irritated holes in their path.

I pass lots of students who just look miserable. I now believe that my appearance is starting to stick out. I guess I'm the black crayon in a box of others all colored neon pink and green. All I can do now is keep my head high and think happy thoughts. Whatever those are anymore. Ah, watching them bleed... Happy thoughts indeed.

A bell blares out and everyone goes inside. I follow. Not sure what to do or where to go, I search out the Headmaster's office. When discovered, I enter and meet a secretary named Linda. Long story shortened, Linda didn't like me or my “funny voice,” as she put it. She didn't know what I meant by headmaster, but she sent me to speak to someone in power here called a “principal.” Another long story shortened, he didn't like me or my “freaky foreign accent.”

I finally left knowing (vaguely) where I should be; A classroom ruled by a certain Ms. Davids. I don't know if she is nice or not. I'm hoping for nice, but in vain.

Upon entering Ms. Davids' class, I entered an abyss where self esteem went to die. I appear to be the only “outcast” or “reject” in the class, at first glance. All of the girls cliquish and catty, all the boys juvenile and smug. Apparently American girls are into that sort of thing.

“Well, first day tardy?” Ms. Davids asked jeeringly.

“I beg your pardon?” I ask, a bit puzzled.

“You are late to my class! What is your excuse?”

“Excuse? I have a reason, but no excuse,” I say, still puzzled.....

Ms. Davids shook her head and sighed disapprovingly. “This better be a good reason, Limey.”

“Once again, I beg your pardon! I am a proud Scot! Now, I was late because no one told me which class I was supposed to be in,” I cautiously explained.

“Just sit down.” I did as I was told, and listened to the giggles and hushed conversations about my argument with Ms. Davids. No one was surprised that she wasn't a Mrs. Davids.

“Hey, Scotty Dog!” someone whispered kind of loudly. I looked up to see what he had to say.

“You're like brave to stand up to Ms. Davids like that,” he said.

“Oh, I guess so... I'm Clemmy.” I said.

“Clemmy? That's short for something right?” he asked.

“Yeah, it's short for Clementine.”

“I like that name. I'm Ümlaut.”

“Are you Romanian or something?”

“What? I-I don’t get it...”

“Romania is a European country, it's where Dracula was born.”

“Supposedly born.....”

“What's that supposed to mean? That he didn't exist?” I didn't find out what his answer was, for Ms. Davids yelled at us for talking.

Ümlaut turned out to be one of many goth kids at Hawthorne. I actually met a few students I could talk to and be friends with. Friends who half-understand me.

There is Cynthia “Cyanide” Nelson, Attikol Jatekii, and Pixie von Holdt.

Cyanide is the poet. She could reduce someone to shreds just by insulting them with her twisted, razor sharp words. She has a little sister named Tillie.

Attikol is the super sweet Japanese kid. The ONLY Japanese kid at Hawthorne high. But he's the HOTTEST emo kid at Hawthorne. Perfectly straightened black hair, snakebite piercings, and red eye contacts. One word: sexiness.

Pixie is a small statured girl with short choppy green hair. In reality, she might be a pixie.... I wouldn't be suprised She's very cheerful and bubbly. Everyone loves Pixie.

The entire first day of school I didn't learn a thing. But I did make friends, a thing I'd have never guessed I could do. All I wanted at this point was to go home and sleeeeeep... Which I couldn't do because Kirsten was there when I got home.