Loser

Chapter 1- Jane

I kept my head low as I passed through the hallways, dragging my backpack behind me. The wheels squeaked as they rolled across the linoleum. My cold had me breathing hard through my nose as I trudged my way to lunch. All the popular people (and even some of the not so popular) cleared my way as if I smelled... which I probably did. But I ignored it and got in line to buy food.

There were a group of girls in front of me, who didn't notice me at first. But the smell must have given me away. One by one, they scrunched up their faces and turned around to face me. I wanted to say, "don't look at me" but I knew that speaking to them was against the laws of teenager. So I ducked my head and sniffed loudly as they erupted into poorly concealed giggles. As the lunch line progressed I flipped through the spare money my Mom gave me to get lunch. But it was hard to concentrate with the whispers behind me and in front of me. Finally, the cute girls collected and paid for their lunches, walking briskly to their respective tables. But not before letting me hear, "He's so creepy." And the "Sssshhh he can hear you." And then more giggles.

 I got my lunch (some milk, an apple and a bowl of half cooked Mac n' Cheese) and then headed outside for the apple tree that I usually ate lunch under. My mud caked athletic shoes stained my navy blue sweats as I sat cross legged under the tree. No one sat outside because of the immense cold and wind this time of year.

The ground beneath me was soggy and soaked into my clothes. I didn't care though. I was used to it. The sky above me rumbled darkly, threatening to punish me. For what, I didn't know. For existing? For coming outside because I was too much of a coward to stay inside where there was light and it was warm? For not being normal?

I took a bite of the runny Mac n' Cheese trying not to puke it up. This would probably be all that I had to eat until I could get my Mom to cough up some money for groceries so I could make dinner. It was always the same every day. I would tell Mom that I was hungry and she would reply "Well then go eat something." and with a grunt she would turn back to the television. I would explain that there was literally nothing to eat in the kitchen she wouldn't believe me. And then I would insist that she give me money for food. At that point one of two things would happen. Usually, she would throw money at my face and say "Fine! Jesus just go!" and as I'm trotting out the door she'll mutter something under her breath like "Fucking kid." But sometimes, she would just sigh and say "Joe, I'm trying to watch my show just give me a second." Then I would retreat to my room because I knew that she wouldn't be feeding me that night.

As I finally finished my food, (although it was like keeping down battery acid) I tossed it in a nearby trashcan, and headed back towards the double doors of the school. The school was packing their things into backpacks and even a couple gym bags. The hallways were the same. Everyone avoiding me and pretending that I didn't exist, yet still wrinkling their noses as I passed. Geometry was almost a relief. If it weren't for Haley Nash.

Haley Nash was the most popular girl in school. She wore short shorts and skirts, shirts that rode up to show small slivers of stomach, and shirts that were made of ridiculously see through material. She was the President of the Community Service club and was chairman of the ASB. She was also a second baseman for the school softball team. And she was gorgeous.

She had full pink lips, a sun-kissed tan and long blonde hair that was usually flipped slightly. She had a beautiful body and she was also planning on applying for Princeton next year. But right now, she was the biggest bitch in school, and also one of my main bullies. If I were ever to have one wish granted to me, it would be for Haley Nash and I to have one day, where she didn't hate me and I was allowed to touch her... and do more...

I shook my head. The last thing I need right now was to get excited in class. Luckily right now, Haley was busy copying down the daily problem. She breezed through it no problem and then sat leaning away from me and talking to her best friend Ashley. I looked down helplessly at the problem before me. It read, Find the angle bisector of angle 1 and construct a congruent complementary angle. Name this new angle, angle 2.