Straight Lines, Not a Straight Spine

Chapter 3:

Song choice: "Because Of You" by Kelly Clarkson

It's July 18th, finally my thirteenth birthday. Mimi (Mom's mom) had taken me to the mall for clothes. I needed bigger things for the brace, of course.

I was bringing Tati, Anna, and Alika (my friend whose family was from Nigeria) to the pool my family belonged to. This was not going to happen next year, so I decided that I should enjoy it.

After we all sun screened, I dragged them to the five feet deep section (they still needed a band to get in the deep end). Anna was a bit hesitant, but I scared her from behind, and she jumped in.

"See! It's really refreshing!" I yelled.

"Pool temperature: REFRESHING!" My sister Helena's voice spoke from behind me. It was our family's inside joke. One day, the lifeguard's had written the pool temperature was "REFRESHING" (I'm not attacking you, that was how it was written). Now Helena fit that joke into every trip to the pool.

"Go away!" I scoffed, shooing her away with my hands.

"Don't be mean to your guest!" Ellyn, Helena's friend joked as the pair walked off.

Tati, Anna, Alika, and I talked more about nothing until Tati remembered something.

"Oh, you know who I saw the other week?" Tati asked.

"Piper?" I replied. Piper used to go to the same school, but decided she wanted to live with her mom more before sixth grade, so she had to switch schools. Alika, Pranvera (my friend whose family was from Albania), and I were Piper's closest friends.

"No, I wish I did though," Tati answered. "I saw Thomas."

Thomas was a boy I had been crushing on since third grade. I didn't like him in fourth grade, but I liked him since fifth grade. I realize that's confusing, but that's what it's like.

"Did he say anything about Pearl?" Anna giggled.

"That's the reason I wish I hadn't seen him." Tati frowned. "Because he called her annoying."

My heart, with its strong walls, crumbled and cracked. I didn't know how to react. I wanted to cry, and scream, and kick and punch, and be sad. I thought I'd eventually get him to be mine.

I sunk under the surface of the water for a second, and felt my hair float around me. This is all the fault of that stupid hand mirror I broke at recess in fifth grade. Nothing good is coming out of it. I didn't want to believe in so-called "seven years bad luck". I was getting a back brace, and now my crush had talked badly behind my back when the person who'd been my best friend since kindergarten or first grade could hear.

No, this was not going to bother me. I had to show that stupid boy that I was much stronger, smarter, more serious, more responsible, more resilient (comment for Mr. G, my language arts teacher), braver, more unique, way more beautiful (meh), bolder, fiercer, more caring, more loyal, more passionate, more determined, more confident, and stronger (again) than "annoying". He was never going to get away with that. This "Little Beast" (my soccer nickname) was going to kick his butt so hard that he'd never forget whose feelings he hurt. (I actually cannot cuss)

I resurfaced. I assured them, much to their disbelief, that I was now going to forget him and prove him wrong.

"Pearl! Don't you dare go to any extremes!" Anna, who had known enough from scrimmaging me in soccer, shrieked.

"You can't stop me!" I shouted, because that was my plan. Like I said, his butt would be kicked hard.

"Let her go. I actually agree, and I will help her as best I can." Alika smiled, looking over at me.

"You don't have to! I can take him on my own!" I protested.

"Attention Hideaway Swim Club, it is 1:00 and time for a twenty minute adult swim," A voice informed us in a bored voice while I scrambled to have one last jump into the pool. "At the sound of the lifeguard's whistle, all children under 18 must clear the pool and pool deck area. Thank you!"

I watched the lifeguard's slowly raise their whistles to their mouths. I ran from the edge of the grass the edge of the pool and took a long jump into the cool, clear water. Underneath the water, the whistles screamed. I stayed under the surface and slowly swam to the "nearest" ladder (there was one closer, but I didn't want to get out so fast).

Tati, Anna, and Alika all asked to try to get a deep end band, since you can test for it during adult swim. They all made it, of course, so we went back to our little set up to relax and eat some lunch.

Ten minutes later, whistles cried for the end of adult swim. Until five, it became routine. We ate pizza and cupcakes then. I had a pretty good day, and I barely even thought about how my spine had curved to 26 degrees and I was getting a back brace.

So, you may noticed last chapter that I listen to Hamilton. I just had to say that my new earbuds are (as I call them) "Jefferson Magenta".

Also, I have this Dinner With the Dead at school for Social Studies. I'm super annoyed because I have Henry Knox (he's alright, but I can't find any info about him) AND I could have taken Abigail Adams. I'm so stupid. At least my costume is easy and I'm making no bake nutella peanut butter bars (AKA junk food heaven). Yes, GemGirlLiberty, I can make them. And yes, puppiesaremagic, you're missing out.

Speaking of those two, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR VOTING FOR THIS STORY!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH JOY I HAVE THAT SCOLIOSIS MIGHT BE RECOGNIZED!! GO FOLLOW THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T WRITTEN ANYTHING!!

As far as scoliosis, June 1st (today for me) begins SCOLIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH!! BE PROUD OF THIS!! SPREAD THE INFO AND THE LOVE!! (Sorry I'm a bit crazy)

Sorry, I want to thank everyone so far who has read this. I am so happy for that.