I am the Spark

The Girl on the Highway

I fiddle with my pen, drawing intricate and extremely difficult doodles on my math homework, the zen-styled sun emitting rays all over my Pythagorean theorem. I scrunched my eyes, trying to read the theorem itself, but I should have stopped trying ages ago.

"Page 406 is due for tomorrow! I make no exceptions!" My teacher, Mrs. Elliot, hollered over the skittish sixth graders, who were already putting away their things. I sighed. What did I learn today? I stared at the clock, the hands marking that there was five minutes and twenty-two seconds until the bell rang. I took my planner out of my bag, scribbling gibberish on it, but it was better than nothing. I had three hours of homework to do now. But at least I have History, which is by far my favourite subject. I took my journal out of my backpack, taking my pencil, and drawing some more. I've been recreating the Greek pillars in my textbook for ages now. I shaded some more, knitting my eyebrows together as I tried to add more depth. The bell rang.

My name is Robin Levy, and I'm thirteen years old. I live in Parry Sound, Ontario, and if you don't know where that is, that's your own problem.

"What's this, Levy?" Avery asked, waving my journal in the air like a flag as he snatched it out of my hands.

"None of your business," I say as I take his wrist and wrench my journal out of it, shielding myself away from him.

"Looks like someone would rather draw than get a life," he said through more laughs.

"Looks like someone doesn't have one, and has to pick on people to feel better about themselves." I say coldly as I slam the door behind him. My ears were ringing in anger, and if I didn't run, then I knew I would miss the bus.

I walked down the stairs two steps at a time, counting how many flights I ran down. Deep down I knew I wouldn't make it. I wrenched the door open, nearly breaking my nose on it. I went into a jog, scanning the crowd for a head of blonde hair.

"Hey!" I yelled as my backpack started to fall off my shoulder. "Liam!" He finally stopped walking to the bus as I caught my breath, wheezing slightly.

"What took you so long?" He asked me as I walked up the steps and down the aisle to my seat.

"Avery," I muttered.

"Oh," Liam moaned.

"I heard my name..." Avery said as he swaggered into the bus. "Was it really you, Levy?"

"I was talking about how much of an uncivilized brat you are." I snap at him, turning away. He yanked my backpack, stopping me in my steps.

"You know it's not nice to gossip, Levy." He cooed to me.

"Who are you preaching? You do it all the time," I scoffed. I tried to free myself from his grip, but it was iron tight.

"Is that a challenge?" He said darkly. My heart rate quickened.

"No, It's a fact. Get used to it." I say coolly. I ran onto the bus, quickly getting to my seat. Avery was right behind me, as usual.

"You should learn to respect your superiors," he said to me.

"Last time I checked, I'm taller than you, and I respect myself already." I stood up, proving it. I towered over him by four inches, or more.

"Says the girl who doesn't even have an MP3 player." He said coolly.

"Says the boy who doesn't have the smarts to use one." Liam chimed in. The bus engine roared to life, and I jerked. To make matters worse, Avery pushed me into my seat, and casually walked to his own, as I fell to my impending doom. Liam piled on top of me, making me smack the ground. I banged my head, screaming in pain. "Robin! I'm so sorry!" He said on top of me, and our eyes locked. "You're bleeding," he announced.