Sweet Dead Sixteen

Chapter 1

As I slipped in through the backdoors of my high school, to avoid the chaos of the main entrance, my bag caught in the door. When I finally wrenched it free books and pencils came tumbling out, I gave a huff of exasperation and shoved them into my backpack. I hurried into the halls fearing I’d be late for class. Other kids and classmates who were chatting loudly suddenly became hushed and giggled softly to each other. I’m a social outcast. I have frizzy blonde hair and mild acne, but I’m also very skinny and abnormally pale. Maybe they don’t like me because I’m quite shy and mostly keep to myself—around here that’s enough to make people assume you’re some kind of alien. To make things worse I suck at sports, and that’s the only thing that seems to matter in high school.

At my locker I carefully gathered my books, and prayed I wouldn’t accidentally drop one. I frowned slightly just at the thought of the embarrassment it would cause. I was hopeful the day might go differently, because today was my sixteenth birthday. My arms were full of thick books and I was lost in my thought as I tripped on someone’s backpack lying next to my locker, the books flew out of my arms and I slid about a foot from where I had tripped thanks to the recently polished floor. I quickly got up, re-gathered my books, and cautiously made my way to the classroom. I heaved my stack of books onto a desk at the front of the room, I sat alone.

While waiting for the teacher to take attendance I absentmindedly doodled in my notebook and daydreamed about Johnny. Johnny was the hottest and most athletic boy in my class. All the girls were after him and I knew I didn’t even stand a chance, but hey, who says a girl can’t dream? Suddenly, hushed giggling broke out between a group of girls in the far corner of the room. I realized that while I was so deep in thought about Johnny the teacher had to repeat my name several times. She called out for probably the third time, “Angel Allgood!”

I heard a guy snicker under his breath, “Her name sure does suit her.”

Sadly they were right; my name does NOT suit me. At all. But of course my poor mother probably never thought I would turn out to be such an ugly duckling.

The day dragged on, with more stifled laughter and whispering, until finally the lunch bell rang. I loaded my tray with salad, a big slice of pepperoni pizza, and some apple sauce. Typical cafeteria food. I walked out into the lunch room and scanned the tables only to find them mostly all filled. I glanced at the table where a group of girls were seated— Kaitlin, Leah, Monica, Sarah, and last but certainly not least, Chloe, their posse leader. They were talking about something gossip related and flashing their manicured fake nails all about. I loathed them and sadly envied them, because they had what any teen girl would want: friends, boyfriends, and popularity. Finally I spotted a tiny empty table where I’d sat before. Oh how lonely my life was.

I made my way over to the table, but before I even saw the foot stuck out right in front of my clumsy legs, I was already falling. I did a direct face plant into my tray and laughter sprung up all over the cafeteria. I was humiliated. I picked myself up and I could feel a pepperoni circle plastered to my cheek. Lettuce was tangled in my hair and apple sauce was running down my face. I looked around frantically with anxiety and embarrassment. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was staring at me and laughing. Even the lunch monitors were trying to hide their amusement! I could feel my cheeks burning crimson. I hastily ran to the restrooms; gazing into the grime covered mirror I saw a mess of a person. I quickly washed my face and pulled the lettuce leaves from my frizzed hair and waited for the bell to ring. Nothing, not even my pitiful empty stomach, could make me go back into the cafeteria again.