FINMP09

Chapter 1: A Rocky Start

"MISS. PORTER?? HELLO?! EYES UP HERE! IF I HAVE TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN, YOU ARE GETTING SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE!" said Ms. Bradford.

I sat in the dingy, unusually smelling Algebra room listening to Ms. Bradford nag on about function tables. It smelled like children's tears mixed with Ms. Bradford's broken dreams and a hint of stale Goldfish. I sat there in my uncomfortable plastic seat, doodling on my set of notes trying to block out all of the useless information that was being shoved down my throat by her sharp voice that felt like blades. Algebra was never a favorite of mine, probably the reason why I got in trouble so often in that class. I just wanted to escape it. It was just about every other day I would either get screamed at or I was kept hostage after class having the old bag lecture me on how my little doodles were irrelevant to her wonderful teaching. Surprisingly I wasn't a terrible student, I got straight A's and was practically a saint in all of my other classes. Just something about this lady just rubbed me the wrong way but either way I still managed to maintain an A average in her class.

R IIIIIIII NNNNN GGGGG!!!

As soon as the piercing bell of freedom reached my eardrums I ran out that classroom faster than The Flash ever could. "FINLEY PORTER, YOU GET BACK HERE!!" Ms. Bradford screeched as a sped through the door.

I knew I would regret it later, but I ran and dodged through the enormous groups of people that crowded the small hallways of Roman Jean High School. I just wanted to get out of this hell hole and go home and be by myself. I ran down the last flight of stairs to the main lobby, so close to the sweet freedom of the outside world until it was tragically was ripped away like a band-aid. There in front of the final double doors stood the bane of my existence, Missy Williams, and her group of fake plastic underlings. Missy Williams could only be described as the Regina George of Roman Jean High. She was cynical, mischievous and the spawn of the devil with silky blonde hair and fingernails as long as pterodactyl claws. Surprisingly back in the day we were best friends with we had playdates and almost spent every waking moment together when we had the chance. That was until junior high when she became even more popular than she already was because her parents became the best realtors in the state and inherited a large sum of cash from her great-grandfather's will. As time went on, Missy gained more of a popular following and gained her Boons in the process. She just seemed to cut me out of her life like a weed from a garden. I gradually became the shadow to her large, amazing sunshiny life.

"Well, well, well isn't it the trash beneath my feet, Finley Marie Porter. Where are you going in such a rush?" Missy said with a sweet undertone in her devilish voice.

"I'm going home, Melissa. Please just step out of my way so I can leave."

"Since when did I give you permission to use my real name?!" Missy said with the most appalled look on her Mac-makeup plastered face.

" Ever since you you started calling me the trash beneath your feet. Since when is it not allowed to call someone by their real name? Get out of my way, I'm going to miss my bus!" I retorted as I shoved the girls out of my way. I started to channel my inner Flash again and ran as fast as I could to the bus before it left. My anxiety fueled my tired and aching body as I ran and used the remaining energy I had to try and reach my bus. Of course with my luck, the bus started to pull away from the school as I got closer.

"WAIT! NO! STOP, PLEASE!" I yelled as I flailed my arms around like a pinwheel trying to gain the bus driver's attention. Luckily, I got the driver's attention, and he quickly halted to a stop and opened the door.

"Oh my god, thank you, thank you!" I said as I attempted to catch my breath.

"Mhm.." the bus driver grunted and nodded. Then he motioned me to make my way to my seat. I sighed a breath of relief as I leisurely strolled my way to the back of the bus to find the next open seat. Next thing I knew the bus driver jerked to a stop again, and I flew full throttle to the ground. I opened my eyes to realize I was face down on the disease infested bus floor with the taste of dust in my mouth. I sat up and scrapped the disgusting taste out of my mouth. While at the same time a group of my surrounding peers laughed and pointed as I tried to pick up the last pieces of my dignity that were shattered on the ground next to me. I struggled to pull myself together and shuffled to the farthest seat in the back of the bus. I plopped down on the seat and yanked my headphones out of the front pocket of my bag. I took my phone and jammed the cord into the correct socket and tried to unlock my phone. My emotions flooded my head and eyes. All my anger, anxiety and stress filled my mind with horrible thoughts as my conscious continued to insult me.

"Gosh Fin, you are really stupid..."

"I can't believe you fell in public"

"You're such a klutz!"

"You wonder why you have no friends.."

All these thoughts overpowered my ability to control my emotions. Quickly, my emotions turned into water droplets and slid down my cheeks as I wept quietly in my seat with my comforting music in the background.