Isolation (Book #1 of the Taylor Series)

Seventeen

I remember one time when I was younger, I got suspended from school for two weeks because I kept correcting the teacher when she told us the wrong information. To this day I still believe that was an unnecessary punishment, especially for something as incumbent as that. If I'm being honest, Ms. Gregory didn't make a good teacher anyway, which I'm sure could be assumed if a seventh grader knows more about a subject that she majored in than she does.

However, my viewpoint has definitely changed, or would it be more understandable to say that I regret getting expelled this time. From two hours ago. I don't regret getting expelled when I was a kid, as that was not my fault, however, this expulsion definitely was all mine.

Eve Nicholson is not usually the violent, disrupting person. However today, I guess I made an exception for myself. Why would I do it? Well, perhaps I'd just had enough of Sienna feeling like she has the right to treat me like garbage, so I snapped on someone else. Or maybe I felt like if I continued to take the crap from the people in this town, that they would take it as an invitation to continue acting the way they act and thinking the way they think.

I walked into my Literature class, prepared to do my presentation all by myself. When I sat down in my seat, I wasn't at all shocked to see Sienna already sitting beside Birdie with a large colorful poster on their desks. I smiled to myself, and thought rather condescendingly, 'At least my project looks professional.'

After taking a week to read our second book of the year, 'The Catcher in the Rye,' by J.D. Salinger, Dr. Daniels decided that it was time to do a presentational analysis. To be honest, when he'd announced that we would be reading such a book, I was genuinely surprised. Especially considering the sensitive, book burning dicks that live in our stupid town. I had never actually read the book until now, but I do remember my Grandpa Walsh's ex-wife, my mother's mother, talking about how that book is the epitome of sin and the devil.

Of course, after coming out as an atheist, I instinctually bought it out of spite, hoping Mom would get pissed at me. She did and said that I needed to get that book out of the house because I'm inviting evil into our home. I instantly realized where Mom got her superstitious attitude towards everything. Her mother, Alexandra Emelia Montgomery, who, thankfully, I stopped seeing in person two years ago.

After I'd come out as Atheist, she'd absolutely refused to ever see or talk to me again, unless Jesus came back into my soul. I guess even being named after her wasn't enough, I just wish I didn't have to carry it around for the rest of my life. I mean, come on, Eve Alexandra Nicholson. At least Amelia got a different spelling, then again we all believe that bit of luck was due to Mom being absolutely baked up on anesthetics.

Regardless, when Dr. Daniels asked who wanted to go first, I gladly volunteered. Some of the people who sit in the back of the room snicker quietly amongst themselves as I walked up to the front of the class after plugging my hard drive into his computer. Dr. Daniels glares at them and they shut up at once. He is known for talking to Coaches about student athletes that misbehave in his class.

"Alright, so I'd like to start off by saying that I appreciate being given this project, as my peers have no choice but to listen to me," I narrowed my eyes at Max Fuller, who narrowed his eyes at me with a smirk fresh on his face, "So, thank you, Dr. Daniels." He nodded with a proud smile on his face.

"Originally I was going to stand up here and argue from experience that the idea of parents and baby boomers being more intellectual than kids is so morbidly incorrect that it'd make your ears bleed, but I know how annoying that can be to hear. Instead, I'd like to say that this book really, truly captures the feelings and mindset of a teen who absolutely hates his adults and his parents. As a girl who is despised by many members of her family, I believe that this book shines a light on the hypocrisy of adults in this society."