Change

Chapter Eight

'Yes, thank you.'

8:30 and I'm in school.

I take my hall pass and stroll to my locker.

I yank it open and books fall at my feet.

Bingo.

When I bend to pick them up, I hear snickering behind me.

Oh no.

'What do you want?'

I turn my head to see three girls, all dressed up in cheer leading uniform.

But they weren't wearing skirts. They were wearing full-length pants.

Weird.

'What do we want? We want nothing.'

'Then why are you standing behind me?'

'Your beauty radiates to us, Skylar.'

Blargh.

'Hahaha. Very funny.'

Trinity Northwood pushes me.

The hard, metal surface of the locker pierces my back and I grunt softly.

'What's the matter, jerk? Had enough?'

I place a hand against the locker and my attempt of standing up fails. I slide down again.

The trio, are heart-less bullies.

Trinity, Candace, and Lanarda.

These three would give anything to see me tortured.

They go by their nicknames, but I call them by their full names.

Normally it's Tina, Candy, and Lana.

I always find their 'short' names disgusting.

Tina rhymes with tuna.

Candy is sweet. But the person Candy is the total opposite.

Lana was the name of a lion. Sure enough we have a heart-less lion in our school.

'Don't ever talk back to us, Skyler. Understood?'

'Yes, mommy.'

A merciless kick in the stomach. I groan loudly in pain.

'BACK OFF!'

A familiar voice crashes and Candace shrieks.

When I look up now, the three of them are jumbled up like cats.

At the corner of my eye I spot a black haired girl, nerdy glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.

I love you, Flame.

Flame smoothens out her shirt and extends a hand.

I smirk at her. 'You should do that often, you know.'

I take her hand and push myself forward.

'You okay?'

I give her a shaky thumbs-up.

'There's nothing in those girls you should be scared of.'

I grab a handful of my hair.

'I'm not scared. I'm just......creeped out.'

Flame clears her throat.

'Oh, um, by the way...'

'Yeah?'

'Don't be scared of what happened last night.

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'Well, well, well, look who decided to bunk chemistry.'

'No, sir, we weren't bunking chemistry. Plans were........delayed.'

The whole class burst into a fit of hooting laughter. My eye roll is clearly visible.

Even my charming Sir Tararo is guffawing.

'Plans? What are you, the president?'

I look at Flame and mouth, 'Is that even a thing to laugh at?'

Flame's shoulders go up and down.

I find myself a seat, and politely take the test, despite the fact that the whole world was laughing at me.

Q: What is the empirical formula of a compound comprised of 1.8% hydrogen, 56.1% sulfur and 42.1% oxygen?

It would be better if you could translate it into English. I'm not a descendant of Einstein, you see. I'm human.

I shoot a hopeful glance at Flame. She frowns and shrugs.

Even she doesn't know.

I put down my pen and look out from the window.

My eyes flow along with a black form moving in the trees.

I shift uneasily in my seat.

'Vanessa Galaxer? Are you ill?'

I keep staring.

A wave of warmth flows through me.

A spark of familiarity.

Do I know that thing? Do I?

Do I?

'MRS. GALAXER.'

My face jerks up to see fiery eyes.

'You've been staring for five minutes.'

Really? What?

'Um....sorry.'

'No need to apologize.'

With that, he rudely snatches my paper, tears it, and strides to his desk.

'That was connected to your final exam. Too bad.'

Trevor Blackbury hoots and shouts 'AW SOMEBODY GOT HER TEST STOLEN...!'

The whole class starts to boo at me. I corner my shoulders, rage boiling inside me.

My gaze is on the teacher, who, may I add, is also laughing.

And he started all this.

My fist curls up in anger. I grit my teeth and never take my eyes off the teacher.

HOW......

COULD.....

HE.......

EVEN....

My fist starts to shake, and my death glare drops.

All the desks in the room start to shake violently and the room is now echoing with screams.

Flame frantically gets up and runs out of the class.

When I stand, the shaking immediately stops and all the students are scattered like moths around me.

20 intense stares.

Directly at me.

Because I was the only one standing.

I sweep my gaze around.

'I....uh...I have to go.'