Back to Reality

~Chapter One~

Why did my life never go like I wanted it to?

School is supposed to start in ten minutes and I couldn't find my homework. Yes, this wouldn't matter to most people, but school was just about the only thing I cared about. I don't have friends or family to focus on, so I focus on my work. I had never, EVER missed a homework assignment, and I didn't want to start now, but I also couldn't be late for school.

I sighed and picked up my bag. "I guess I'll just have to see if I can make it up."

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the way out.

Plain and unpopular, great combo.

I walked out the door and started my daily walk to school. The walking wasn't bad, it gave me time to think about things, and try to lose some extra pounds because, frankly, I wasn't skinny either. Just something else to tack on my unfortunate list. Since my life revolved around school and work as I had a waitressing job at a local diner because I could hardly live on welfare, I didn't generally have much to think about. Other than the jerks at school, and the past, which I dwelt on as little as I possibly could.

~.~.~.~

There was a note on my locker again, that made it the third this month.

It was a picture of a pig with glasses. These people were never very creative.

I got my books out for my first class. I shut the door and turned around and someone slammed into me, my books went flying. It was Adam, from the football team. I tutored him once, so he could stay on the team. But that was then. It didn't seem to matter what I did now, though.

He grinned, "Guess you're gonna be late for class".

I sighed and started to pick up my books. The bell rang as I picked up the last one.

Now I was late and I didn't have my homework . . . great.

My English teacher was shocked when I told her I misplaced my homework.

"Are you feeling alright Samantha? Is everything okay at home?" She said, looking concerned.

I am only human, people seem to be forgetting that.

She should have known not to ask about the second part. Everyone knew my family was gone.

"I'm fine Mrs. Simon", I said, as I turned to go to my seat and prayed she would just forget about her second question. From the look on her face, she didn't forget, but she didn't ask again, either.

"Alright class, we're starting a new book today. It's Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird."

Everyone groaned, including me. I'd already read it. It was a good book, don't get me wrong, but the beginning is a snooze-fest. And no matter how many teachers have said it's all about race and this and that, to me it will always just be about Boo Radley. He makes it interesting.

As she began to pass out books I turned to watch the squirrels run across the courtyard. It was going to be a long day.

~.~.~.~

I was scheduled for work right after school, so I had to go straight to the diner.

I worked at Tony's Place, which was the only place to eat in my small town. I got quite a few people that I knew come in. That wasn't always good because most people I knew either hated me, or just pretended like I didn't exist. I had never actually given them a reason to, but it was high school; people worshipped rumors and gossip like they should worship the Bible. Then they might actually have learned something.

I changed into my uniform in the bathroom -- we all wore different colored pastel dresses, mine was blue. It really was an old-school diner. Jukebox and everything. I looked in the mirror and frowned.

Maybe I should figure out how make-up works.

I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and went out to punch my card. I gathered my tray and apron and headed to the first table in my section.

It's going to be a long night.

At my table was Seth Ashwood . . . jerk extraordinaire. He was the epitome of the word bully. It was cliché, I knew, but I actually pasted a yearbook picture of him under the word jerk in one of the school dictionaries -- the only bad thing I really ever did at school, but boy was it worth it when his friends saw it and laughed. He teased me and knocked me down at school, but the strange thing was; I had no idea why he resented me so much. I never did anything to him, and he was the kind to start rumors but pay no attention to ones that weren't about him.

I sucked it up and took a deep breath before I walked over to his table.

"Welcome to Tony's, do you know what you would like to order?"

He looked up at me and huffed a breath, his eyes showed a look of contempt.

"Not from you I don't," he replied.

I could feel the blush creeping up on my cheeks.

"Well sir, I'm sorry but you are sitting in my section, so I will be your waitress tonight. Do you know what you would like to order? Or do you need time to think . . . I can order your drink now and you can give me your order when I come back." I said.

"And why would I want some bloody scum like you to handle my order?"

I never said one mean word to him or anyone else, but he knew just where it hurts.

I could feel my eyes tearing up, and I refused to let him see me cry. I turned and rushed into the kitchen. I threw my tray back into its spot and ran out of the diner.

I ran all the way home without looking back. I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep, trying so hard not to think of times when my family would've been there for me.

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A/N

Don't judge too hard 'cause this is my first book, and I don't have much experience writing . . . just reading. I am going to start asking questions at the end of every chapter because I love reading comments, so:

Do you have any book suggestions for me to read?

Anyways, more goods coming. I'm not sure how this story is going to go, I just know how it will end and some stuff in between.

Keep reading my lovlies

"Fall down seven times, stand up eight" - Confucious