Never Forget

-School's Expectations-

"#Everything's gonna be alright, she whispers to herself...#" My alarm rang quietly then gradually got louder like it does every other morning. "Ugh..." I hit snooze and snuggled back under the warm covers, hoping that time stopped for atleast an hour so I could sleep. But it didn't.

After 5 minutes my alarm rang again so I slowly opened one of my eyes, shutting it immediately as the morning sun blinded me temporarily. I tried again, opening both. This time, actually keeping them open for a few seconds longer. I sat up in bed, yawned, stretched and got up silently. I went to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face, preparing for the horrific day ahead. When I showered, brushed my teeth and my hair, and got dressed in my favourite black hoodie and dark blue jeans, I looked at my calendar. 'Monday' I sighed. I hated Mondays, no need to explain why because I bet you already know.

I walked downstairs grabbed an apple, my backpack, a coat and shouted "Bye mom! I'm going to school!" as I left (my dad's at work), slamming the door behind me. It was the second week of school after summer vacation, so I wasn't in the best mood. To be honest, I never was anyway. "Sh*t " I thought, I walked out of the house without a scarf. I felt the strong wind bring shivers down my spine as I slowly walked to school, freezing underneath my thin coat. I watched as dark grey clouds floated over my head, not a bit of blue sky showing through. I payed no attention to rude comments that came my way. "Nerd", "Freak" I heard them say, but i've learned to ignore that by now.

As I approached 'BlackWell High' I spotted someone sitting on the front steps, I walked over to see none other than Brooklyn McRandy and her 'posse'.

"Oh god! Look what the cat dragged in. The freak!" She laughed her evil little laugh I hated hearing everyday. "Why don't you go die in a ditch with all your nerdy books?" Brooklyn's best friend Stephanie sneered.

I quickly walked past, not saying a word. Not being able to find any words as I'm busy trying to stop my tears from falling.

"What? Too scared to speak?" Brooklyn's other best friend Maddie sniggered.

I ran in the big school building before they could say anything else.

When I got to my locker my friend Rachel was standing by it, 'Weirdo' was spraypainted on my locker but I didn't care anymore. "Hey" she said " Are you okay?" I didn't answer. I just shook my head as I quickly got my books for class and got there before I got tripped or got spit balls in my hair again. I daydreamed through most classes and when it came to lunch I ate outside with Rachel like always. She didn't mention the morning incident and the day went on like normal. I was insulted by Booklyn's 'posse' a couple of times but I guess I'm used to that. I'm 16 now, I should probably learn how to stand up for myself but I can't seem to find the strength to.

I walked to the forest after school, dropped my bag down quickly on the grass and sat down by the oak tree as I listened to music with my earphones. I closed my eyes and remembered how me and Toby met...

*FLASHBACK*

"Look at the nerdy outcast drawing by the oak tree" I heard Brooklyn say. She was a b*tch even when she was 9. She and her 'posse' walked over, pushed me into a muddy puddle and took my sketchbook, holding it up high so I couldn't reach it.

Suddenly someone took the sketchbook off Brooklyn and she turned around glaring at him. "It's n-not nice to bully people" he scolded shyly. "Well what are YOU going to do about it?" Stephanie asked smirking. "Just stay away from her.." he whispered a little braver then before, and a little darkly. "Pff!" Maddie sneered. Toby took a step forward "I'm warning you.." Brooklyn looked kinda scared for once, I smiled at that. "Fine, whatever!" She replied signaling for her 'friends' to follow her as she walked away.

I turned around, shocked that she would leave like that without putting up a fight. I smiled to myself but soon stopped as I saw Toby come over to me. He smiled warmly and held out his hand so I could get out of the muddy puddle. I hesitated for a second but then slowly reached my hand out and he took it gladly while pulling me up off the ground. I brushed some mud off my jeans and smiled.

"Thanks.." I thanked quietly, as I stared at the ground. "No problem! Are you ok?" Toby asked with a genuinely concerned look on his face, as he passed me my sketchbook. "Uh huh" I quickly replied, taking the sketchbook and hugging it close to my chest. He looked at it, then back at me. "Can I see that?"

I wanted to say no. It was one of my favorite things and I didn't like people looking at it. And it's not like I even liked my drawings, thinking that I wasn't good at art so I avoided people who wanted to see it, hoping that question would never come up. "Sure" I said as I mentally facepalmed myself.

He took my sketchpad and said my drawings were really cool as we talked and laughed for what seemed like forever. After that day, we met up at the same spot almost everyday talking, laughing and simply enjoying eachother's company. I finally had found a friend, someone who could be there for me and I was really happy.

*End of Flashback*

I opened my wary eyes as I took in my surroundings. I unlocked my phone and looked at the time, 6:30. "Crap, I have to get home" I thought as I got up and left. Tomorrow will be the same thing, i'll wake up, go to school, visit the forest, go home, sleep and the cycle will start again. I thought, sighing. My life sure is great...