Silent Pain

When I started Middle School

That night, I had another flashback. This time, I was eleven years old and going into 6th grade. I was so nervous, I was pacing in the hallway the night before and even threw up the next morning. Allen admitted to peeking out his bedroom door at 2:28 in the morning, watching me pace for a few minutes. After I washed up, he took me to his room. "Sydney, I know you're nervous, it's very normal for new middle school students to feel anxious." "Did you feel anxious"? Allen just smirked at me. "You don't remember? I spent ten minutes looking for my book bag...''''and it was on your back the whole time" I said, finishing Allen's sentence. "But the point is, you have nothing to worry about, your grades are always great, you're not afraid to ask questions or stand up for yourself, you are going to do fine." "My grades aren't 'great' Allen, just okay". "Well, if you're not sure, then just ask questions. If you don't want your classmates to laugh at you, then ask your teacher after class. Always stay organized too, you're hopping from room to room every hour so you're going to need to be on top of that." "What about exams?" "For 6th graders, you take practice exams. They're not graded the way they are in high school. They count for 25% of your grade in 7th grade and 45% of your grade in 8th grade. They will prepare you for that and you're going to do fine." I hugged him just as my mom called me downstairs. "Thanks Allen". I said.

Middle school is where I met Rebecca. She was one of those kids who envied anyone whose grades were better than hers. She heard that I got a 98% in English by the end of the first semester in 6th grade and she apparently got a 74%. That is when she got on top of me and became my rival in academic achievement. I told Allen all about her when I got home from school before Christmas break that year and how she was pestering me. "If I ever see this Rebecca person, she's gonna be sorry she ever messed with my sister"! I laughed when he said that, mainly because he was in fight-mode and pretending to punch someone. I always knew Allen would watch out for me, I believe that's what older brothers are supposed to do, but some girls my age who have big brothers say that their brothers act like they don't exist, hate them, or wish they were boys. Allen is nothing like that, so all those girls call me lucky. Maybe I was, but I'm not so sure about that now.