The Girl In The Back Row

Chapter 1

Hi! Here is my first real story I'm actually trying really hard on. So I hope it isn't too bad that you hate it. I'm open to constructive criticism though

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Autumn POV

I wake up smiling to the chorus of "Semi-Automatic" by Twenty Øne Piløts, but as I open my eyes I groan and realize I fell asleep with my glasses on and my face in my book. NO! It is not a problem. It's not like I go through a book every day. I mean it took me at least 2 nights to read The Order of the Phoenix. And yes I am a bookworm.

I have glasses, I love to read, I have good grades, I'm anti-social and I'm not very pretty. I know some of those things were rather nerdy and, yes, I am also a nerd.

I dress in a gray sweater that says Hufflepuff (yes, that is my house. Do you have a problem with that?) and skinny jeans which make me a bit uncomfortable as I'm not skinny like the girls in my grade. I have a stomach that sticks out a little bit and I have a little bit of a waist but not much. Which means I have kinda thick thighs and that makes me uncomfortable. Then I look into the mirror and into my own brown eyes.

I see the scared nerd I am.

Unacceptable.

I think of my neighbor Josh the one I've had a crush on since the 5th grade. I think about how I can drop my mask when I'm around him. I think about his jokes and his smile when I make a joke. I think about how when he smiles his eyes sparkle a little so you know it's true.

I smile.

Better.

I quickly run a brush through my short brown hair and chew on a Granola bar as I knock on Josh's door.

A couple seconds later he answers with a "Hi, Autumn. You're early today." I smile back at him and reply "I wanted to see my favorite neighbor." "Of course. I am the best," he replies same as always as we begin walking the 2 blocks to the bus stop.

I always enjoy these walks with Josh because he became semi-popular and I stayed an anti-social nerd. He usually stops talking to me at the bus stop because his other friends talk to him and he can never break away from them. I've even seen him try to get away and talk to me but no avail.

When we get there he is taken by his other friends and I'm alone and read my book until the bus comes.

Then I sit with Julian who is nice and we talk.

When I get to school it's always the same motions and the same thing "repeat yesterday's dance" I think quoting Twenty Øne Piløts in my head.

Algebra, English, Spanish, Earth Science, Italian, Home Ec, History, French, and Art. Same order. Everyday.

Even the popular kids insult me in the same way "bookworm", "nerd", "ugly", and "know-it-all". In my mind, I push up glasses with one finger and yell "YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT?". That part I don't show to even Josh. So, of course, I'm not just gonna say that to Ashton, his girlfriend Becca and their entourage instead, I just give them hurt looks over the rim of my glasses, to which they usually respond to with more verbal beatings.

But, lucky me, today I get my books thrown on the floor.

That's where I draw the line. You can hurt me, but NO ONE hurts my books.

I kneel to grab them and when they walk by I trip one. It's Becca, Ashton's girlfriend, and to my surprise, Ashton stifles a smile but then sees me smiling and gives me a kick. Hard. So, I just lay there until I feel well enough to go to my next class.

I think the highlight of my day was walking outside and meeting Marley and Clarissa, my only friends.

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I talk with Josh on the way home he asks me "Do you like anyone?" "N-no," I say a quickly hiding my face behind my hair. He looks suspicious so I quickly say "You?" He actually responds honestly with "I might have a crush on one girl." I gasp "Who?" Please be me I pray silently "I'm not saying until you say." I groan loudly as he smirks at me thinking now I'll tell him. He's wrong about me telling him but I trick him by saying "Ok but you say first." He falls almost falls for it but says "We'll say at the same time." I smirk "Fine."

"3" Please be me.

"2" I'm ready.

"1" Please.

"William Herondale!" I shout "Autumn Summers!" He shouts.

I gasp and run.

He's too shocked to follow.

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I hope that wasn't too bad. See you soon, bye!