Jodie

Chapter one

   Jodie was never a very talkative girl. She barely even spoke to her own family. The only time she spoke to strangers was if they spoke to her first. Because no one talked to her at school, she remained silent and friendless.
   The day came along when summer finally ended and school was starting again. Jodie groaned at the thought of being asked about her gages or the cuts on her arms by ignorant children. She nibbled on her toast. She noticed her mother looking at her with a worried look. "Honey........will you please try to make some friends this year? Your father and I are worried."
"About what?" Jodie sat up slightly, expecting the same answer from them as usual.
"About you, honey!" There it was. Jodie rolled her eyes. They didn't understand her so how could they be worried?
"Why?" Jodie went back to her breakfast.
"Because we love you! So much dear! And we want you to be happy!" She opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm already happy!" She wanted to say, but if she did, she would be lying. She stayed silent. "I'll try my best, mom."
"Good!" She smiled at Jodie. She turned to leave the kitchen, but stopped. Her shoulders tensed. "Sweetie...........I forgot to tell you. I found one of your razor blades in the living room...." Her voice was quiet.
"Thanks..." Jodie could sense her discomfort. Her mother left the kitchen. She finished breakfast and left for school.
   As she waited at the bus stop, she moved her finger through one of her gages. This was how she entertained herself when boredom struck. She looked down the street. The bus was rolling up to the stop sign. When it stopped, the door opened, and she walked on. She looked over the sea of kids. Walking down the isle, she tried to find a spot to sit. She could hear murmurs and she could feel stares, making her stomach churn. There was an empty spot next to a chubby boy. She sat next to him, and the bus started moving. The first ten minutes were quiet, but the boy finally spoke. "Hi." He said shyly. She could tell he was uncomfortable.
"Hi..." She answered quietly. She caught him staring at her arms.
"D-Do you h-have a cat?" He asked.
"No." She moved her arms to her lap. He finally stopped staring.
"I-I like y-your earrings..." He said, trying to be polite.
"Thanks." The bus stopped at her school and she stood up. While she was walking down the isle, someone stuck out their foot and tripped her. She fell, scowling in the direction the person was sitting. Jodie stood up and walked off the bus.
   The school yard was buzzing with students, tall, short, thin, fat, and with various other characteristics. And then there was Jodie, with her short black hair, snake bite, and gages. Her green eyes scanned for an opening in the crowd. She pushed her way into the building. Walking up the stairs, she looked at a slip of paper with her locker number and combination. As soon as she got to her locker she put her things away and prepared for her first class, science.
   Mr.Penbur, her science teacher, spoke slowly. His voice barley caught her attention. Her finger moved in a circular motion around the inside of her left gage. She felt a cramp. "Probably time to change my tampon..." She thought, raising her hand.
"Do you know the answer?" Mr. Penbur asked.
"N-No I just needed to ask you if I may use the restroom..."
"Yes, make it quick." He continued talking as she stood up to leave the room.
   The bathroom was empty. She opened a stall and sat down on the toilet. She quickly changed her tampon and started to wash her hands. She dried them and looked in the mirror. A few feet behind her.......was a girl. She thought the bathroom was empty. She quickly turned, surprised.