Teenage Monster

Chapter 3

"So, dude, what brings you East Lake?" The guy I had met today, Kyle, asked me.

"Don't really know. We just packed up and left New York."

"Sweet." He nodded appreciably.

Kyle was the classic skater guy. Black hair past his ears, constant sweatshirt, and weird necklaces around his neck.

I looked at Mo, sitting at the head of the lunchroom by the cheerleaders and jocks. Strangely enough, I felt my heart deflate. So she was popular.

When I finally worked up the nerve, I asked Kyle, "So, what do you know about Mo?"

"Mo Johnson? Dude, why do you care?"

"Just wondering."

"Well, if I gotta say so myself, she seems really awesome. Even though she's a freshman, she hangs out with everyone. Seniors, freshman, doesn't matter. She's, like, super nice. And she's the most popular girl in the freshman class. Pretty much every guy has liked her at one point."

I looked at her wistfully. "And she's really pretty."

"Yeah, she's pretty hot."

"Who are the girls sitting next to her?"

"Those are her friends, Sara and Dawn. They're cool, too. See the tall blond one? -that's Dawn, but she's like, super intimidating. And the short brunette, Sara, she's almost as nice as Mo."

I took a while to examine Mo. Luxurious, shiny black curls cascaded down her back, held together with a hairband. She had a pale, flawless complexion. But her eyes... They were phenomenal. Imagine the biggest, brownest puppy-dog eyes you've ever seen. Hers were bigger, and framed by the longest lashes you've ever seen. But one thing nagged at the back of my mind.

"Why does she look so sad?" I asked Kyle.

"That is a good question. No one knows, but everyone wants to know. No one has ever asked her. Rumors are always flying around about why. Apparently her parents are, like, weirdos. And their constantly disappointed in her."

"Why?" I asked incredulously. I've heard of her accomplishments.

"Don't know. But, dude, she's like, class president, captain of the volleyball team, co-captain of the cheerleaders, she won a national essay contest- which is cool now - and has a 4.0 GPA." Kyle leaned forward like he was sharing a secret.

"So why-"

"Dude, can we stop talking about Mo Johnson? It's creepy how much you're stalking her."

"I"m not stalking her!"

"You totally are, dude."

"Can you say one single sentence without the word dude?" I threw hands up in the air, exasperated.

"No way, dude."

***

I slammed my locker, surprised to find Mo walking towards me through the throng of kids.

"Hey," She smiled at me. "Believe it or not, Mr. Stern assigned me to show you around."

"Who's Mr. Ste-"

"The principal." It looked like Mo tried to put her hands in her nonexistent pockets, even though she was wearing a skirt. She noticed me staring and blushed. "Some kid took my jacket, and I always put my hands in the pockets."

C'mon, doofus! I urged myself. Give her your jacket! But I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"So-" She started to open her mouth, but abruptly stopped. "Do you hear that?"

"Yeah." It was faint echoes coming from farther down the hall.

"Oh no." She groaned and looked at me. "A fight."

She took off, me following close behind with shouts of "Hey, wait!"

"Just as I thought." Mo growled when we reached the tight circle of students. "A fight."

She looked at me, and I felt like I saw something I shouldn't when I looked in her eyes.

"Yeah, but what's the big deal?" I still couldn't tear myself away from her eyes. Even when she was happy, she looked sad. And she was just plain mad now.

"My brother is the one fighting."