Freshman

Girls are cruel part 2

Mel's POV

The movie was terrifying. Like I actually got scared, and I'm usually pretty good with scary movies. But I found myself hiding in my own arms during most of that. I guess I'm not as okay with demons and that kind of stuff as I thought I was.

On top of the nightmares, I'm so incredibly nervous for school. I don't get nervous all that often, but I still can't believe what they did to me Saturday. I thought that we were all friends, and we had our own group. I know my true friends are Jason and Eileen, and that's good. But I'm still so hurt. I can't believe they did this to me. What did I do to them? I never gossiped or was rude. I never said anything mean about them, so why are they doing it to me? Girls can be so cruel.

I shuffled down my narrow stairs, and walked into the kitchen.

'What's up with you?" she asked. She was standing at the oven, making pancakes. "Is it about Josie?"

I nodded and took a seat at the table. I could see my Dad sitting on the couch with his plate, and watching the news.

"Look" my Mom started, she flipped a pancake. "She, excluded you. They all did, they're the ones who should be feeling ashamed not you."

Dee Dee throws her sippy cup on the table and laughs. The juice is headed straight for my plate, till my Mom comes over and hands me a paper towel. I wipe it up, and toss it in the garbage can.

Mom comes back over with a plate of pancakes, and hands them to me.

"I know" I told her. "I just feel so, bad"

"They left out Jason and Eileen too" She points out and takes seat beside me. She cuts up the pancakes for Dee Dee.

"I never liked Josie anyway" says my Dad from the couch."She's a skank"

"Thanks for the encouragement Daddy" I said sarcastically.

"I'm just kidding" he says. "You know I love you, now hurry up and get to school"

I smiled at him and jogged over to the coat closet. I grabbed my jean jacket, and pulled on a pair of sneakers.

I live across the street from my school, so it isn't exactly a long walk. Dee Dee's going to be in kindergarten next year, and I can't thank God enough that we won't be going to school together. No offense to Dee Dee, but saying Sharkboy is your boyfriend isn't exactly normal. Or adding that he takes you to planet drool when you go to sleep at night.

People think I'm joking when I tell them about her, but I'm not. I'm dead serious.

I take a deep breath, and head for the same section on the pavement that I always meet Eileen and Jason on. Far enough that we won't get hit by basketballs, but close enough to the door that we get in on time.

Jason is waiting there for me, but there's no sign of Eileen. I see Lydia walking over.Great, the biggest gossip is coming over here. Gee, I wonder what she wants to talk about.

"Hey" she greets us in an overly cheery voice.

"What's up?" I ask her. I'm going to be nice, I need to stay on everyone's good side.

"Okay so you like didn't hear it from me" she starts. The same line we always hear.

"But everyone knows it's from you" says Jason and she rolls her eyes at him. Now she's only speaking to me.

"So like, Emily feels kinda bad she ditched you guys. Josie says she knew you were going out and didn't invite her that's why she didn't talk to you. And like Mark had no clue, he thought you were coming. And Ryan didn't either"

"Couldn't they tell me that themselves?" I ask and she shrugs, popping her gum.

"Yeah, it's totally a whatever thing.But you should definetly like not even pretend anything happened and totally be nice to her". Something intelligent came from Lydia's mouth, hm.

"I just might do that" I tell her, and she smiles. She walks away. I can't help but wonder. Where's Eileen?

_____________________

Class went okay, I didn't look at them once. But Mark came up to me to apologize so that was nice. Ryan just said sorry from across the room, bear hugged me and fist bumped Jason. Good to know he got his bro's back.

I just have to remember what my Mom said, I have nothing to be ashamed about. Josie is the one at fault here, not me.

I was late getting out for lunch recess, I had been talking to my teacher.

"I know it's too early in the year to be telling you this, but Mel, I just wanted to let you know you're in high consideration for valerdictorian. I don't think you have much competition." Is jumping up and down screaming an acceptable reaction to this? Most likely not.

"Thank you sir" I said quietly and smiled at him. Grabbing my books from the nearest desk, I headed for my locker.

I'm so happy! I can't wait to tell everyone. My family will be so thrilled!

After getting my jacket on, and not switching my shoes (yeah they still try to make us do that in grade eight). I headed for the stairwell, I was about to step down when I heard hushed voices coming from the hidden section behind the stairs. Voices I recognized.

"Yeah" said the voice of a particular bimbo, Josie. "I never liked her anyway. I just hung out with her cuz I didn't want to be rude"

"Tell me about it" said someone who's of equal stupidity, Emily. "She's so lame, and she's dating Jason. Ugh, she totally doesn't deserve him. I bet she'll be pregnant by the end of High School"

I froze. Then I took a leap of faith, and walked down the stairs. They stopped as soon as they heard the footsteps I guess.

"Hey ladies" I said as I passed them, but then I decided to stop and look them dead on.

"Hi Mel" stuttered out Josie. "You didn't-?" she starts but I interrupt.

"Anything else you want to confess?" I ask and she shakes her head. I can feel the anger radiating off of me.

"Mel, I" Emily says, but I walk past them.

"Have a nice recess girls, I'll see you after recess" I said and walked out the door. That way they can't see the tears, and I can't punch them.

I'm not feeling well, I think I should call home.