In her entire three years at South Pacific High, Bella Rose Richardson was never late, until the first day of her final year in high school arrived.
It was a lovely day, with sparse clouds rolling in gently across the clear, vast blue sky; the green grass twinkled with morning dew, while birds sang harmonious melodies in the cool August air.As the earth started a perfect day, Bella Rose turned a corner, gasping for air with every step. She held her bag tightly, sprinting on the dry cement floor as patches of sweat formed on her uniform.
It was preposterous to be this late in her final year, considering her impeccable school record. This morning's tardiness threatened to tarnish it all because of one stupid alarm. She cursed herself, vowing never to rely on her phone's alarm again.
Three blocks away from school, she glanced at her watch and shivered. It was already quarter to seven. The morning commencement at the school was over, and the first class had started. This meant the gates were likely closed off, guarded by annoying school prefects and mean-looking security guards.
Detention or community service wasn't on her to-do list for the day. There was no way she would be spending her afternoon in such a manner. There was too much at stake.
Out of breath and out of options, she turned away from the school and gambled her reputation by sneaking her way inside, like other delinquents had done. After all, it was her last year, and nobody would know or care, right?
"C'mon, Bella Rose Richardson? A delinquent? A student who would risk her perfectly manicured nails and grades for something so minimal? No one would even think." She reassured herself.
As she approached the side of the school wall where tall grasses and trees lined up, she walked towards a bald patch of dead grass that had been squished on the ground, looking like the perfect place to sneak in.
She beamed excitedly, tossed up her perfectly blow-dried hair, and patted the sweat on her face with the back of her hand, feeling lucky. But her confidence started to wane as she gaped at the ginormous block of wall standing in her path.
She took a deep breath and sighed loudly, looking at the monstrosity in front of her. The red brick wall with heavy grass veins covering it was twice her size. The only thing visible was the tips of trees on the other side.
It was impossible to imagine herself climbing that wall. She wasn't exactly built for sports or exercise, and she had just gotten her nails done. Still, she shook her head, trying to brush off the excuses forming in her mind.
"There are a lot of delinquent students who do this kind of stuff... all the time. I can totally climb up there," she thought to herself.
"Totally," she swallowed.
Staring at the wall again, she imagined what the headlines would be tonight.
"Sixteen-year-old student dies because of stupidity."
Her mind raced with ways she could climb the wall without tearing her uniform, messing up her makeup, or hair, or her freshly pink manicured nails, or hurting herself, when a deep, raspy voice asked, "Are you climbing or just planning to stare at it all day?"
YOU ARE READING
A Definitive Guide to Boys
HumorBella Rose has always fantasized what love is ever since she was a little girl. Seeing her mom and dad show their love and affection publicly, she always admired that about them and dreamed that one day she'll find that kind of love in the future. A...
