Here I am, and Here I'll Stay

A collaborated story by Olivia Bentley and Rachel Fisk

Chapter 1: Like anyone would give a crap

I stared blankly at the wall in the hallway of my beaten down school. I knew this wall well, as I have been outside Principal Jenkins office many times awaiting my "punishment." He and I were good friends; I could predict most of our conversations by now. He would start with, "Ari, we meet again," a big goofy smile plastered on his blotchy face. I would just stare at him. Staring is my favorite form of passive resistance.

The white pearl door to Principal Jenkins office slowly creaked open. The secretary shot me a sympathetic look before announcing that Jenkins was ready for me. I staggered to the door tripping over my untied laces. I caught myself at the door and peered into the room. Jenkins looked up from a huge stack of papers and smiled, "Ari, we meet again." See, I told you. This time, I decided to change things up a bit. "Greetings Earthling." I wiggled my eyebrows as I plopped onto a cushy chair.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise with his mouth open slightly.

"Let's get this over with, shall we?" I grabbed a donut out of the open Krispy-Kreme box and started munching as I motioned for him to start.

He sighed, "Actually, I've already dealt with your situation. This is the 13th time you've gotten into a fight with another student. I'm afraid that this time there is nothing I can do for you."

I stopped chewing and nervously swallowed, "Wait... are you expelling me?!?" My voice rose higher with each word.

Jenkins nodded slowly, "This was the last straw for the school board. You are getting transferred to another school where you don't know anyone and can't cause trouble. It's either that or Juvie."

I gasped, "That is ridiculous! He assaulted me!!"

"Gerald Hammerstein protests the opposite; he states that he was trying to make friends with you."

I growled, "Yeah, because shoving me into a wall is an act of kindness."

Another long sigh escaped Jenkins mouth, "It's just what everyone else witnessed, ok? Case closed. Goodbye, Ari."

My mouth gapped open as he escorted me out. He closed the door behind with a loud thud. I stood there for a couple of moments and then kicked the wall in frustration.

The door opened behind me with the secretary's small head popping out, "Your new school is Anderson High by the way. Report there tomorrow at 7 am to be signed in." It thudded closed again.

Like she gives a crap.

Chapter 2: The Know-it-all

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My bed creaked in protest as I turned on my side to hit my ecstatic alarm clock. Apparently it was excited about my new school. I looked at the time through squinted eyes. 6:30am. Just enough time for me to get dressed and eat what my mom called a "hearty breakfast".

I still haven't told her about what happened yesterday. I looked up Anderson High when I got home, it's a pretty nice campus, but all the kids look fabricated in the pictures, fake smiles, plastic surgery faces. I mean come on? THAT is where they were sending the trouble maker? Apparently, Jenkins hasn't looked at the school's web page.

I jumped out of bed and braced myself for the smell of tofu, but was happily surprised with bacon instead. I kept sniffing to make sure I wasn't dreaming then changed into my favorite pair of jeans and some high-tops with a plain black tee. I pounded downstairs and stopped mid step as I saw who was in my kitchen. My dad. What the crap. My parents have been divorced for about eight years now; it happened when I was 7.