Love, Josie

Chapter 1: The New Girl

My life is miserable.

I hated my new school right now. I hated it more than ever.

I was drenched with milk and covered in spaghetti bits. Who did it to me? The 'popular girl', Gleesa Famee.

The most popular girl in school smirked, took out her white smartphone and held it up. For a minute, I thought she was texting someone..

But she was recording a video of me.

I dropped my tray and miserably ran away. I wanted to get away from all those people.

Unfortunately, someone was still following me.

I heard that 'someone' call my name. She was chasing me.

"Lyla, wait!"

But I didn't wait. I kept on running. And she still kept on calling out my name.

"Lyla, stop! Let me help you!"

I still didn't care. As soon as I reached the girls' toilet, I went into a stall as quick as possible and locked myself in. I hoped whoever chased me would think I was gone and just go away.

"Lyla..?" But she was still there.

I decided to answer her. I didn't want to be rude.

"I'm in here," I said weakly.

She gasped, and then she knocked on my stall door. "Open the door.."

I opened the door, my hands shivering. I was expecting to see a girl with expensive new clothes and a smartphone to record a video of me. But there wasn't any in sight. Just a friendly, looking girl looking at me.

She took my hand and took me to the sink. "Are you okay?" she asked, taking the spaghetti bits out of my hair gently and throwing them away.

I just shook my head in reply, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked like a mess. I looked like I've been in a good fight.. And lost.

"Those girls are just stinkin' crap," she smiled, gently washing my hair. Then she took out her phone and handed it to me.

"Huh?" I said, puzzled.

"Dial your mum," she said. "You're going home."

I looked at her one last time, and she just smiled back.

I dialed my mum's number and put it to my ear, waiting for my mum to pick up.

"I'm Jody, by the way," she smiled.

I nodded. "Lyla."

Then my mum was on the line for a few minutes, and when the call ended, we both walked to the gate.

"I have to get to class now," Jody said, hearing the school bell. "I guess I'll.. See you tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

So she walked off, and I smiled all the way until I went home.