The Haloed Disease

Chapter 1

"Just a year more. Just one last year." I told myself as I stood in front of the mirror to calm my already anxious nerves. None of the self-healing yoga crap could prepare me for the nightmare, that is, high-school. What didn't help much was the person looking back at me in the mirror. I couldn't even pass off as a model for bathroom cleaning advertisements. Anyhoo, with that in mind, I wore my favorite black and red plaid shirt and jeans. Nothing can go wrong with that(Hopefully). But no amount of professional hair styling could tame my wavy dirty blonde hair.

"Staring at the mirror all day ain't gonna turn you into a beauty queen, sister," commented my brother who was leaning at the door.

I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore him. He has a knack for annoying the life out of me and there is nothing I can do about that. I gathered my bag and my keys and headed downstairs for breakfast. The smell of freshly made pancakes and bacon making my stomach churn.

"Morning Dad."

"Hey there sweet pea. First day back, huh? How are you feeling?"

I took a seat at the kitchen counter and dug into the plate placed in front of me. "Let's just say I haven't run screaming into the hills yet," I replied with my mouth filled with food.

"I'm sure it's not going to be that bad."

"Dad, you don't even know the half of it."

"Yes, dad" agreed my dimwit of a brother, Brian. "Smeagol has nothing over our dearest Elle." He flashed one of his fakest smiles at me.

If looks could kill, Brian would have disintegrated by now. "Dad, could you please say my goodbyes to everyone 'cause I'm going to jail for homicide."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we sister dearest? You can't even kill a bug."

"That doesn't say anything about killing you now, does it?"

"Enough both of you! Finish your breakfast and get going or you'll be late," my dad interrupted us before either of us could commit a crime. He was probably the only sane person in this familia and the sole reason I haven't succumbed to mental instability. Yet.

My mom thought she was too cool for us and one night she took off without any prior notice or so much as a letter. But we weren't stupid enough to not put two and two together. I was only 8 and Brian, 12. My father was in the navy but when mom left us, he left Navy and stayed home instead spending the rest of his life making a living from our garage. Although there never was a womanly influence on us, he made sure we never missed the motherly affection. He juggled with his office and personal life and yet managed to excel at both but never spared enough time for himself to go out on dates. Whenever he had a day off, he would relax or take us to the beach or simply have a barbecue. And for all the sacrifices that he made, we were indebted to have a father like him.

I angrily dug back into my plate while Brian glared at me. I will never understand his obsession with making my life miserable. Like I don't get enough of that in school already.

I finished my breakfast and sat on the porch waiting for my best friend, Leslie. In spite of my father owning a garage, I never got around to have a car to myself so I had to rely on her. Soon enough, a blue Chevrolet Nova SS appeared in front of my driveway. A ginger haired girl stuck her hair out and shouted at me, "Well? Move your gigantic ass!"

I chuckled and made my way towards the car. "A very good morning to you too Leslie," I replied as I took the shotgun seat. She squealed and pulled me into a tight hug. Suddenly my anxious nerves from before calmed down knowing at least my best friend would be by my side in that hellhole. She pulled away and squeezed my shoulders in reassurance, "It'll be fine, Elle. Don't worry."

I gave her a small smile and looked out the window as she started driving. It was a twenty-five minute drive when the gates of hell loomed upon us. Welcome to Longhorn East High or 'Doomsville' as I like to call it.

Leslie parked her car and we headed inside the building, towards the office to get our schedules. The hallway was crowded with students, mostly freshman, frantically looking for their classes while the other half were typing feverishly on their phones.

We approached the lady sitting behind a desk in the office with her reading glasses perched up on her nose as she went through some files.

"Good morning Ms. Connor."

She looked up at us and her eyes beamed with joy. We were probably the only ones who acknowledged and respected her. Maybe that is why she was excited seeing us. "Hey there, girls. I've been waiting for you. I've already kept your schedules out and ready. Didn't want to keep you waiting on the first day back at school." Underneath the pile of files, she took out two sheets of paper and handed them to us.

"Thank you very much Ms. Connor. How were your holidays? Mr. Cooper popped the question yet?" Leslie asked matching her excitement.

Ms. Connor blushed and I couldn't help but smile at her reaction. "Not yet but hopefully soon."

"Don't worry Ms. Connor. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. Take care."

We said our goodbyes to Ms. Connor and headed towards our locker.

Leslie looked at our schedules and said, "So looks like we are sharing History, English and Math. I'd say that's a good start."

Unfortunately Leslie spoke too soon because shortly, we were graced by the presence of Her Highness, Queen Bitch of Doomsville herself.

"If it isn't the loser squad," Klaudia gestured towards Leslie and me. Her minions sniggered like the losers they were themselves behind her.

"Ignore her," whispered Leslie for just the two of us to hear but Klaudia was a little too quick to notice that.

"Are you scared to even talk to me, huh Lane?" she addressed Leslie by her last name. I could see Leslie boiling inside.

I decided to come to my best friend's rescue, "Klaudia, could you please leave us alone? We need to head to our classes."

Klaudia somehow seemed pleased by my reply which I wasn't quite hoping for. Leslie, on the other hand, looked at me with wide eyes as if I just shoved down molten lava down her throat.

"Sure Slimy." Klaudia sneered and walked away, her minions tailing behind her.

I, on the other hand, had my mouth open in disgust. " 'Slimy'? Oh, I'll show her slimy when I ingest her pathetic fake ass." By now I already devised a million ways I could kill her in my mind but Leslie still hadn't moved a muscle.

"Les, are you oka-"

" 'Please'?! 'PLEASE'?!"

Oh boy! It's going to be one long day.