Ditto || l.p

Ch.1- rule breakers

I sat at my desk, tapping my pencil against my notebook, waiting for the bell to ring to go home. It's the last day of school, and I want nothing more than to go home and be with my family. I've gone to the same school for the past 4 years, and every day I've spend inside it, I feel like I lose a little bit more of my sanity.

No one pays attention to me. I'm an outsider. But when I do catch someone's eye, they never have anything good to say.

After a few moments the bell finally rings. I stayed seated until everyone else had already left the classroom. I've found it easier that way.

"Ashley," My teacher, Mr. Stoll, looked up from his desk at me. "I have something for you. Come here." He was still rather young, probably in his 30's. He had blonde curly hair and he always wore a formal-like suit and tie.

I nod my head and stand up from my seat, walking towards his desk. "You enjoy reading, yes?"

"Yes, sir." I say quietly.

"Would you be interested in these?" He leans down beside his chair and brings up a small box that contained a variety of books that I've never read before, but looked interesting.

"Yeah, I'd definitely read them." I nod my head and give him a hint of a smile.

"They're all yours," He says with a bright smile and holds the box out for me. "I don't want them anymore and I can't think of anyone else that would take good care of them."

"Wow, thanks so much, sir," I say, taking them from him.

"Don't mention it. Now, get on out of here," He aims his thumb towards the door, "Be responsible this summer but don't forget to have fun."

I nod my head and give him one last smile before leaving his classroom. I entered the empty hallway and went directly to my locker to grab my belongings. I didn't have much. Just a couple notebooks, pencils, and my mobile with ear phones. I neatly put everything into my pocket before closing my locker door and exiting the school.

There was a group of students sitting on the concrete steps outside of the school as I walked out. They were the ones I call the "Rule Breakers" because they always go against school policies and never go a day without getting called out by a teacher. I usually try my hardest to avoid them.

I made it to the 3rd step out of 7 when I heard my name. Or well, 'Psycho', but around here, that's what my name is to everyone else. My mind was telling me to keep walking but I turned around to face the Rule Breakers. "What do you have in the box?" One of the girls nod towards my newly received books.

"Books." I say with a small smile. Maybe being nice will make them let me go.

"Books?" A dark haired boy snorts, and the rest of them begin laughing. "No one reads books anymore."

"I-I do." I shrug, taking a step backwards. I glance to my right at the bus I usually ride home. I guessed I had 2 minutes before it left me behind. I turned back to the Rule Breakers as they began more fits of laughter.

"Can I see one of those?" The other girl asks. She didn't wait for my answer, she took one out of the box anyways. I watched her as she read the front and opened it to the first page. She scowled, then gripped the front cover in both of her hands before ripping it down the middle. She then threw it on the ground a few meters away from them. Everyone was laughing except me.

I walked over to the book and picked it up, sliding the ripped piece inside it to tape later, before replacing the book inside the box. I began walking (again) down the steps when one of the Rule Breakers stuck their foot out and tripped me. I fell nose first onto the concrete, letting go of the box and causing books to go flying everywhere.