Worth It

Chapter 4

Monica like every other teenager loved sleeping. Unlike other teenagers, Monica loved sleeping because it was her escape. For a short time each day her problems could be forgotten, she could feel safe, secure.

With great reluctance, Monica woke to her blaring alarm clock. Reaching over for her phone, she checked her email, the brightness of her phone nearly blinding her in the process.

"At least it's a Wednesday. I can go to youth group later," mumbled Monica to herself finding no motivation to crawl out of bed. Why get up when every day was like the previous one. Why go to school when no one would miss you if you didn't?

With gritted teeth, Monica forced herself to throw back the warm inviting covers in exchange for the day that awaited her.

Throwing on comfy clothes, not caring how she looked that morning, Monica skipped makeup and headed down to the kitchen. Her dad had long since left for work, and she found the empty kitchen a lonely place.

Grabbing a banana and a cinnamon bagel, Monica sat at the table. Her backpack caught her eye, and with a gasp of horror she almost choked on the first bite of her warm bagel. "Crap! My essay is due today! I totally forgot about it!" she cried shoving the rest of her breakfast down her throat and scrambling for some notebook paper. "I was going to write it last weekend, but I forgot about it in the midst of spending a whole day with Autumn and Kelsey!" Monica fumbled for a sharp yellow pencil and furiously began to write glancing at the ticking clock on the kitchen wall; a time bomb of Monica's own making.

The seconds ticked precariously turning into minutes far faster than normal until Monica had to leave if she didn't want to miss the bus.

A page and a half of chicken scratch was Monica's reward as she stood up, shoved everything in her backpack and dashed out the door.

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"Maybe I won't wait for you next time," growled the bus driver.

"Sorry,"squeaked Monica breathless from chasing the bus half way down the street.

I need to manage my time better, Monica thought to herself as she grabbed a seat near the front of the bus the kids already on staring at her.

Monica's hands began to shake as she tried to continue her essay, but her motivation had left her despite the fact that her English class was first hour. The wild bouncing of the school bus didn't help either.

Monica settled for leaning her head against the seat in front of her mentally preparing herself for the stress and anxiety that left her feeling crippled after every day.

Why is everything so hard for me? What did I do to deserve this?

North Woods High School came into view from the bus window as they rounded a sharp corner. The school was massive! Her own town, Warroad, was too small for its own school so all the towns nearby sent their children to North Woods. Monica supposed that made it easier for the budget of the small towns, but that didn't make it easier for her.

The bus came to a halt and all the children stood up and pushed toward the front of the bus. Monica departed quickly and hurried toward the school's front door. Teenagers were everywhere. There were more people attending this school then all the people in her town combined. She hated it.

Autumn and Kelsey apparently attended this school, but in the crowds of people, Monica had never seen them and they didn't have any classes together.

With a pounding heart and shaking hands, Monica entered the school. Most people only felt this nervous on the first day of school, but for Monica, it was a daily occurrence.