✔︎ Simple Beginnings || Zach Herron

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Getting out of bed today is more difficult than average- lucky for me I finally have motivation. "PAIGE! PAIGE! WAKE UP!!" Isla screams while thundering around my room and forcing me out of bed with her strong grip. "Okay, okay I'm up. Now could you please leave Isla?" She finally leaves, and once again, I'm alone. It's hard to focus knowing that Jack is across the country and not with me. Since we're just so close to each other, I feel like a part of me is missing. And yet I deal with it every day, so it's not like today is much different.

I'm up leaving the door to Suhani's house in no time.
"There's my little shit!" She exclaims, thinking it will cheer me up like it used to. Although it doesn't, I put on my fake smile that tricks everyone.

Twenty minutes of walking later and we've finally made it to this hell hole called the school. I've always been a good student yet none the less I still hate it here. Not the homework or gym, but the people in the school. Every day I live with the constant fear of when I'll be shoved into my locker or given a swirly. I'm never prepared even though I've gone through it for years now. "I'll protect you, Paige, there is nothing to be worried about today," Suhani whispers into my ear as we reach the doors. To my surprise, at the gates waiting for me is Joey and his new girlfriend. He knows how much it still hurts me to see them together so from my perspective his goal is to flaunt her around me. As he glared right into my soul, I tried my best to look like I was over his dumb ass. Of course, he knows me inside and out, making it hardly believable. Then I walked away from my first problem of the day.

Stepping into my first-period class with Suhani by my side I see her. The devil incarnated, Sarah. Not even ten seconds later I hear a sudden roar of laughter coming from around her friend group as she's looking right at me. Probably making fun of my "childish" clothing as usual. As Suhani and I make our way to the back of the class hoping not to get tackled by spitballs Ms. Jones walks in. She was as happy as could be, her presence lights up even the saddest of people, she doesn't judge or call people from their mistakes, she just smiles at everything and anything. I love having her first period just to make it seem like the rest of the day won't be as bad as it naturally will.

The first half of school goes by in a blur making me a tad bit more confident for the rest of the day. Sadly, all ups must come down, as I see Joey and his "gang" waltz into the lunchroom. I try and make myself invisible by slumping a bit as I eat, but again I'm unsuccessful as the group of popular kids creeps ever so close to me and Suhani's table. I very quietly pray that this is another one of my dreams. It's not. Suhani puts an arm around me, making me feel ever so slightly protected, and lets the swarm of people surround us.

"Look who we have here guys, the two autistic girls of our grade! Paige. Suhani. How are you today?" Evelyn says in her annoying sarcastic voice "Fine, but I wonder how you're still alive considering the weather, don't vampires shrivel up in the sun?" Suhani exclaimed making me internally shake wondering what's going to happen to her. I close my eyes in fear of what will happen. Instead of hearing a comeback from Evelyn, I hear the sound of shoving and punches. Without thinking, I just stand up and run over to where Suhani is, laying on the floor. I try and cover the already bleeding lip but instead get thrown up to face Evelyn herself.

I've never been one on one with Evelyn before, she usually takes out most of her rage on Suhani, but since she's knocked out, I'm her new victim. I try my best not to make eye contact, but it's hard, considering we're only one foot apart. "Okay, let's make this as simple and fast as it should be," Evelyn says extremely fast not giving me enough time to process anything before a sudden hardness hits my face and before I know it I'm on the ground shivering while Evelyn laughs and my vision goes dark.

I wake up slowly in Suhanis car while she just stares at me, "Are you ok?" Suhani half whispers in a worried tone. I give her a reassuring smile and say "Yeah" before I start choking on my spit causing me to sit up. She lets out a small chuckle and turns to start the car.