sunshine (richie tozier) ✓

彡 chapter one

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I. SUMMER IN DERRY

CALLIOPE THOMPSON was quite an over-the-top, talkative, outgoing girl. She was extremely friendly, and loved making everyone (no matter who they were) feel welcomed. Though, unfortunately this resulted in her being known as the 'annoying girl' at Derry Middle School. She didn't pay much attention to the name-calling, as she had gone and goes through much worse at home.

Calliope's home life wasn't the best, is an understatement. Her brother had died when she was eight, him being six. He was hit by a car, driven by a drunk driver. A few years after, when Callie was eleven, her father committed suicide. Devastated, Callie's mother turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, which Callie thought was ironic. Barbara took her anger and sadness out on her daughter through verbal, and sometimes physical attacks. Callie stopped caring after a while. It still hurt, of course, but she remembered her father saying 'always look on the bright side, even if it is the hardest side to look at'. She lived and breathed by this motto, as through it she felt as though she could keep her father and brother's spirits alive. That, being the reason why she never told anyone about the way her mother treats her. She reminded herself to be thankful for still having a mother, and she knew deep, deep, deep down she still cared for her.

Calliope walked down the school corridor, sending a bright bubbly smile everyone's way. Some gave her small smiles back, some ignored her, and some glared. As they always did. She headed straight for her locker, a skip in her step as she did so. It was finally summer! The perfect weather for skating, a hobby that she had taken up a few years back and absolutely adored. It gave her a sense of freedom and peace, which she needed.

    Along with her skateboard, she grabbed out her yearbook, shoving it into her backpack, and closed her locker door softly. Turning around, she bumped into Greta Keene, a school bully that loathed Callie for her perky attitude.

"Oh, sorry Greta!" Callie gave the girl a smile, "Didn't see you there."

"Watch it, annoying bitch." Greta spat, stomping away from the redhead, towards the girl's bathroom.

Callie didn't bat an eyelash as she began her walk out of the school. The corridor was way too crowded for her to skate out, so she patiently walked behind a group of four boys she had seen around a few times, but hadn't had the chance to talk to.

Stepping out of the school was like a breath of fresh air. No more sweaty bodies, no more cigarette stench. Calliope breathed in deeply, dropping her skateboard onto the ground and skating down to the end of the footpath, where she reached for her earphones and portable cassette player.