RAIsed of Drama

Chapter 7

The Perfect Ruin

"Miss. la Rue..." says a voice far, far away. "Miss la Rue..." repeats, but nearer. "MISS. LA RUE, I'M TALKING TO YOU!" sounds the voice slamming my desk and taking me out of my daydreaming. It's Mr. Moore, the Physics teacher, a topic I can proudly say I suck at.

"Uh... yeah?" I whisper, intimidated.

"I was asking you a question as you were doodling in your notes. Are you even aware of the topics you'll need for the test?" he asks in an evil voice.

"Um..." I try to think. Thankfully, just then sounds the bell, announcing the end of the class and the start of the lunch, which I can't be happier about. I smile as I pick up my things and with confidence gained, I answer "well, what a shame... it seems it's the end of the class, but tomorrow I'll answer your questions Mr. Moore!"

He only puts a face and let us leave. I hate Physics. It's the only class in which I'm left alone, friendless, and adding the fact that I know so little about this subject and the fact that the teacher likes to point it out lately, I tend not to talk too much here. I try to pass inadvertent all the time, but here is where I put all my efforts. Yeah, in case you didn't know, I tend to be an invisible girl most of the time when I'm in school. That's why I only had one friend, Molly, and people didn't make a big deal about me hanging with her, since I barely make a presence in the classroom. That's why the radio was perfect for me, because nobody knew it was me the one talking, why the radio got so popular and why I at least had another person to call "friend", although Jenna and I have spoken like ten times in our lives.

But lately, people notice me. They don't know my name still, but people stare at me all the time, ever since I introduced Antonio in this school. No... it started when Chris gave me that horrible glare the day Chad, Lea and Antonio sat with us, non-popular guys.

I go out of the classroom, feeling the eyes on my back, happy to be able to find my friends and feel safe for a while. I think I'm getting crazy and they must be feeling like that too. After all, we are the ones to carry the weight of unapproved stares coming from our classmates. I know the school hierarchy here is important and although I've battled it as much as I could, I don't think I handle it when people know who I am. That's why I like to do stuff in fraganti.

Anyways, I'm heading to my locker. I only have three classes left and one of them is History, which always gets me in a better mood. Then my optimistic thoughts melt. In my locker is written in big red letters "NERD". It had never happened to me! Why would someone write something like that? I thought people was supposed to be smart enough to know that's against rules AND law. Why bother? Why me? Wait... the words start in mines and end in Ian's locker.

"Huh... so it started" I hear an unimpressed voice behind me. It's Ian.

"What?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you didn't think things would be nice and good all the time, did you?" he asks me, looking at my eyes as if I was crazy. When I don't respond, he adds "Riley, the people at school don't like us to be friends with the popular crowd if you said the hierarchy is the most important thing here."

He is right and I know it. Still, it feels horrible, to know they do not like you at all.

***

Ian and I cleaned the words before Molly could see it, so only the two of us know the warning. I am sure she would take it badly, so it is fine. Better, actually. I wonder who'd have the guts to do it... But it has something to be with Chris, I think. He moves the crowd to do what he wants, and the popular crowd only gains that power. Antonio has that power too, and although he uses it for the good, I don't want him to know. It's going to be tough, but it's the safer option, for Ian and Molly. I don't want to affect her now that people notice me. I should draw less attention for a while and then I'll return with her, when I'm invisible again, which means I won’t join the radio this time. I’m not quite sure I want to draw more attention than I already have.