Our Differences

Chapter 11

Felicity's POV

Life at school keeps getting worse and worse. "Keep it together, Fe. Everything's going to be okay. Everyone will eventually forget how stupid you looked that day and what a big fool you were." I would tell myself. 

But with each passing day, that tiny glimmer of hope slowly starts to fade. Chloe had just turned from my friend to my enemy in less than one and a half months. I was hoping we'd be friends for longer than that. 

Ha, as if Chloe would ever cooperate with me enough to make it last. An apology was never enough to mend the damage. But she wouldn't know that.

I got ready for school that day. I could tell my mom I was feeling depressed because all the kids at school bullied me. Hopefully that'll convince her. I wasn't sure if it would work though but I'd rather not risk it. 

As usual, kids were making fun of me. A picture of me covered in spaghetti with food stains on my shirt was taped onto the door of my locker with the words 'LOSER' written across the pic. A bunch of kids behind me laughed. They were literally laughing behind my back and I felt like dealing a blow to each and every one of them.

I went to class. My desk had a piece of paper taped onto it. BIG FAT LOSER. I feel sorry for your parents. I mean, they must be so ashamed of you. DISGRACE. LAME-O. That was what was written on the paper. 

I saw one of Jill's friends, Grace, stand at the doorway and look at me with a sad look on her face. I turned away the moment I met her eyes. I couldn't face anyone. Everyone laughed at me. Maybe even Grace. I felt like I couldn't trust anyone after that incident. 

I sat all alone at lunch time. As usual. I saw Chloe. She looked different. She looked a little less.... Glamorous. She was wearing a simple graphic tee, jeans and black leather boots. I've never seen Chloe dress so simply before. I've never seen her in pants before either. What's going on? 

She looked kind of quiet and wasn't sitting with her usual friends anymore. Instead, she sat with Anna, Drew, Mia, Luanne and Vixen. 

Why is she sitting with average kids instead of those high class jocks and mean girls? I wondered. Is she finally letting her nerd side show? 

Vixen said something and everyone laughed. Including Chloe. Well, I'm glad Chloe's not being friends with that dreadful Kristen anymore.

Speaking of Kristen, she walked up to Chloe and said (in that loud, haughty voice of hers), "Look at our darling Chloe Jefferson, trying to make friends with the losers. Ew, what are you wearing? Gosh, Chloe. You've changed a lot. Well, at least you're not in our clique anymore. Seriously, you were so boring. Good luck living with the commoners. You'll find that you can't live with them and then you'll come crawling back to us. You're just so pathetic." She flipped her hair and walked away. 

Chloe looked down at her boots and bit her lip. I wanted to comfort her until I remembered what she did to me. No. I thought. I won't give in. She did too much to me to gain my sympathy. I have to hold my ground. 

I was on my way home when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Chloe right in front of me. 

"Listen, Felicity. I know you're still mad at me. But can we please just talk this over?" 

I glared at her coldly. "After all you've done to me, I've only got two words for you; You wish." 

I walked off, feeling no better that Chloe cared about us and wanted to be friends again. When I finally cooled off, I just realized what a jerk I've been. 

What have you done?! I yelled at myself in my head. How could you have been so mean? I reached home and flung my bag on the couch in frustration. 

I sat on the couch with my face cupped in my hands. I heard footsteps as I saw mom descend the stairs. 

"Oh, hello there sweetie," she greeted, ruffling her curly auburn hair. "Lunch is on the counter. Had a good day at school today?" I shook my head and went to eat my lunch. 

She gave me that look that she always gave me whenever she sensed something was wrong. She just kept quiet anyway and went to watch TV. I finished lunch and continued to write my story in my bedroom. Mom walked into my room just as I was finishing my fifth paragraph. She laid her hands on her hip and glared at me as though I just committed a crime bad enough to land me in jail.

"And what are you doing here, young lady?" Mom inquired. 

"Just.... Writing." I replied. 

"Before doing your homework?" she asked, suspiciously. "I'm disappointed in you, Felicity. You should put your priorities first. Like your homework. Not your stories." 

"But mom.... My homework's already done." I lied. 

"Oh yeah?" she said, glaring at the open workbook on my desk. "Then what's that? Looks like homework to me." 

I bit my tongue. Darn it. I thought. Why didn't you realize that your homework was right in front of you, you dummy? 

"That's it, Felicity." she said, coldly. "You'll get two punishments. One for not finishing your homework when you know very well that you have to before doing anything else. And the other for lying. Now finish up your homework and come see me in the living room right after." She walked out of the room and close the door with a little roughly. I sighed and turned off my computer.

It was hard for me to do my homework. I don't know why but I felt really, really sleepy. I kept falling asleep when I tried to finish a sum. I was too tired and couldn't think properly. 

A little nap wouldn't hurt, would it? I reasoned. I'll make it quick. By the time I wake up, my mind would be fresh and clear. Then I'd be able to answer the questions properly. I laid my head on the desk and drifted off to sleep. When I opened my eyes, mom was glaring at me. 

"How was your nap, Felicity?" She asked, sarcastically. I caught sight of the green wall clock and was shock to see the time. It's 6 already?! I've been asleep for 2 hours! I yelled in my head.

 "You had better finish your work now. As for your two punishments, I decide to give you just one." I sighed with relief in my head. 

Phew, thanks mom. I said in my head. 

"No gadgets for a week." She said. My mouth hung open. I clenched my fists as she walked out of the room. A massive wave of anger washed over me. My mom has been getting mad at me for the smallest things without waiting for me to explain. This is why I don't tell her anything. I pounded my fists on my bed angrily. My life is so ruined.