Teenage Fever

Childs Play - Chapter 1

Wednesday, September 6th

The constant beeping of the alarm clock awoke Rory. She grumpily hit her alarm once she became conscious from her sleep and brushed away the sleep from her eyes. Once out of bed, she had a quick shower and put her glasses on. After, she changed into a pair sweatshirts and sweatpants and kept her face clear of make up like most week days.

She never put any effort in her appearance when it came to school. She didn't see the point in it. Sure, it came with people making assumptions and picking on her but she was strong and knew that they had no idea what they were talking about.

She brushed her hair out and then grabbed an apple on her way out the door after saying goodbye to her mom, Michelle King.

On her walk to school there were puddles on the sidewalk from the rain last night and a white car that she knew all too well, pulled up along the sidewalk and all the windows were lowered showing Drake, the most popular guy in their school, driving with his friends, Josh, Robert, Ashley and Maya. He continued to stare straight ahead not giving her the time of day as well as ignoring his friends that continuously picked on Rory based on her appearance, unaware of her beauty.

"Hey four-eyes, how are you this fine morning?" Josh asked but she continued walking ignoring him. "Oh, we playin' the silent game, are we?"

Robert then pushes her books out of her arms and the land on the concrete she attempts to pick them up but he kicks them into a nearby puddle. Everyone in the car laughs.

"You wanna talk now?" Ashley asked from her seat.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM? JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" She yelled.

Drakes attention is caught by the raising of the normally conservative Rory. He found her reaction slightly amusing. It was very unusual for 'fat Rory', as she has been called at school, to stand up for herself or even speak unless answering teachers.

He never participated in the teasing's. He just allowed his 'friends' to do it so he could fit in. As a child, he had been teased about being Black and Jewish when his mother and he moved to this area but then in middle school he found his athletic skills and immediately became popular. He knew what it was like to be teased but he never intervened because he needed some people to hang out with at school and so he made these so-called friends to do that with but when it came to outside of school he hung out with his actual friends that went to a different school.

They didn't leave straight away as they wanted to watch her pick up her books. They watched as she bent down collecting her books. Along with the books she picked up a poster that had been all hand written and drawn. Drake could tell that it was for the science assignment due that day was now completely ruined.

Drake felt a tinge of guilt as he watched her walk off.

"C'mon dude, let's go!!" Robert said nudging Drake

"Oh, yeah right." Drake said snapping out of his thoughts.

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It was now period 1, Science. Although Rory loved the arts such as drama, music and home economics she always found science interesting. The science teacher Mr Gilles, a Caucasian male in his mid-30's, was checking off assignments she sat in the second row of desks nervously waiting for her name.

"Rory King, where is your poster? It isn't like you to not hand your work in on time." Mr Gilles said.

"Oh, um... well you see Sir I had completed it and this morning on my way here it got wet from a puddle, so I am unable to hand it in." She replied nervously. She didn't want to get a bad mark.

"And how did it get in a puddle may I ask?" Rory looked behind her at Ethan, Josh and the rest of them. They all either had their heads hanging low, avoiding eye contact with her or fidgeting. She gave them a fowl look and shook her head while turning back to face Mr Gilles.

"Me being the clumsy one I am, tripped and dropped it into the puddle." She said using her acting skills that she had learnt in drama. She looked back again and they had all shot their heads up in her direction with confused but relieved looks. She returned her attention back to the front of the class when Mr Gilles started to speak again.

"Well accidents happen and you are the hardest working student here so I am willing to give you an extension till Thursday and if it is handed in by then there will be no record of this."

"Really? Oh, thank you so so much Mr Gilles! I promise I won't let you down."

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After school, she walked home and took her Mom's car downtown to meet Jessa and Harper at the gym downtown. In her yoga pants and hoodie, she met up with her best friends and that have always had her back.

"Hey honey boo!!" Jessa shouted as they walked over from Harper's car.

"Hey girls" I replied.

They went inside and worked out while chatting about our days. They gave her some encouraging advice to do with her bullies which included a lot of "Screw and fuck them!"

Once home she went to bed only to have to wake up the next day and suffer through the negative and untruthful comments from her peers.