The Treehouse Society

Chapter One: First Day

August 20th, Junior Year

  My hands were tight on the steering wheel as I drove to school for the first day of my junior year. Mom said I have no reason to be nervous, but first days in the past have never gone too well for me. My track record wasn't great.

  "Maybe this is your year, sweetie." Dad said over his morning paper. I'd glared at the headline page, something about this congressman, blahdeblah..

  "You've said that for three years, Dad." I'd scoffed. He'd glanced apologetically at me, and I took that as my cue to leave. I grabbed my protein shake and headed out, unlocking my little blue Neon and cranking up the AC. Summers in Oklahoma were always stupid hot, even at 7am.

  When I neared the parking lot of Blair High School, I swallowed hard. There was Claires car, a pristine white BMW convertible that her super rich Daddy had surely bought her after one round of puppy dog eyes and pouting. I frowned at the crowd surrounding her car as I pulled into my parking spot between an old Trans Am and a newer Chevy pickup. Both guys had learned the year before not to park too close to me. I'd banged up their doors more times than I could count. I cut the engine and sat there for a minute, composing myself. 

  Today would be like any other first day. I'd walk in alone, unnoticed. My head would be down as I made my way to the office to rent a locker, and I would go straight to first block.

  Just like I did for the past two years. At least this year I was able to drive myself the first day. Sophomore year I was sentenced to the school bus for the first two weeks. As if I weren't already a loser, I was even more of one after that.

  Mr. Jennings, the vice principal, greeted me at the front desk. The administration here loved me. I was quiet, kept my grades high, and was always available for fundraising and other extra curriculars.

  That may be because you don't have a social life, doofus... My brain chimed in. I ignored the internal chatter.

  "Locker 269 please?" I asked him, a slight smile on my mouth. 

  "Five bucks, kid." He replied while writing my name down in a chart. I noticed the locker beside mine was taken, but I couldn't tell who had it who had it before he closed the notebook. I groaned. I'd possibly have to interact with some jerk this year? The thought was nausiating.

   Fantastic. I handed him my money and I went on my way, to quite possibly my favorite class; calculus. I'd always loved math, because there was always a sure, solid answer. As long as you can remember the rules and formulas, it's straight forward.

  Unlike life. I rolled my eyes and found my locker. I'd kept the same number since junior high; for some reason the number just stuck. I debated using the combination, but the hallway was filling up, and the commotion would cover the noise of me opening with force. I jammed my shoulder into it, and it came loose. I grinned smugly and broke an eraser off one of my new pencils and stuck it into the hole. My locker was officially re-rigged. I stowed all my binders and headed to class. 

  Of course I was the first person in the room. Mrs. Calen waved at me as I took my seat- very back, far left.

Yes. I'm a creature of habit. So shoot me.

 I sat down, choosing a playlist for today. Today seemed like a lo-fi kinda day, I decided, and put my headphones in, waiting for class to start.

  Claire and her cronies came in, on step, hips swishing, heels clicking. As per usual. 

  They ignored the girl sitting in the very back. No surprise there. I was at the point I didn't care anymore. I rolled my eyes and doodled on the front of my notebook. I wondered if Claire would ever realize that she was going down the wrong path. Partying, drinking, and sleeping with anything with a .. ehhem.. I'd also found out through random gossip she'd taken to stealing. She used to be so innocent. Guess that's what popularity does; goes to your head.