Teenage Antichrist Book One: A Journey of a Sister's Hatred 1991-1992

Chapter Eight: A Secret Victory

The weekend didn't improve for John and he thought by Sunday night the gushing would have stopped. John couldn't have been more wrong. On Monday morning while he was having breakfast with Michelle and their parents the gushing continued.

"I still can't get over how amazing you were," Mrs. Slater. "Do you know when we can get a tape of your performance?"

The idea of his parents and Michelle watching the performance over and over again filled him with frustration and dread. That was all he could stand he'd had enough.

"Oh, for Christ's sake!" he shouted. "Is that all you're going to fucking talk about?"

"Excuse me?" Mrs. Slater asked offended.

"Oh, didn't you hear me?" he asked sarcastically. "Would you like me to yell it louder so the fucking message gets through?"

"John, watch your mouth!" Mr. Slater warned.

John couldn't have cared less that he was in trouble because he was sick to death of all the attention Michelle was getting.

"No, I'm not going to watch my mouth," he said. "I've been working my arse off all year and I won ten awards! Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Of course it counts for something," Mr. Slater said. "Talent has always come naturally for you but not for Michelle."

Michelle couldn't believe her father just said that.

"Gee, thanks Dad," she said sarcastically. "It's nice to know you think so little of me."

"Of course we don't think so little of you," Mrs. Slater said. "It's just that you and John have different talents."

"So you think her talent is better than mine?" John asked.

The four of them continued to argue and the four of them finished their breakfast feeling very angry.

*****

Mrs. Slater tried to get John to drive Michelle to school but she refused the lift. As he drove past them Michele was glad that she had Natalie to walk to school with.

"You were so cool on Friday night," Natalie said.

"Thanks," Michelle said flatly.

It was obvious to Natalie that something was wrong.

"Hey, what's with the bad mood?" she asked.

"Blame John," Michelle said. "He's being an arsehole."

"What are you talking about?"

"At breakfast, John went nuts about how he's not getting enough attention,"

"He's probably just jealous,"

"Gee, ya think? John always gets attention and as soon as I get some then I'm the worst in the world."

"Well, you deserve the attention you got," Natalie said. "You were so cool on Friday night,"

"Thanks," Michelle replied. "Now if only my parents would let me join a band life would be sweet."

*****

When John got to school he didn't feel like talking to anyone. So he got some books out of his locker but he overheard some girls he didn't know talking about Michelle.

"Can you believe the song Michelle sang on Friday?" the first girl asked.

"No way," the second girl said. "It was so dated."

"That song was big two years ago," the first girl said.

Knowing Michelle was being criticised was enough to make John smile because he didn't like the idea of Hinton High School being Michelle Slater crazy.

*****

When Michelle got to school she really thought that life would be easy but that didn't prove to be the case. As she sat with Natalie, Julie, Veronica and the other girls they were talking about their boyfriends and sex. It was a topic Michelle was uncomfortable with as she didn't have a boyfriend.

"Larry was so great with me the other night," Julie said. "Now that's a guy that knows what he's doing."

"Really?" Veronica asked.

"Oh yeah," Julie said. "Larry's a fucking stud."

Michelle smiled uncomfortably and Julie knew why.

"Aren't you going to join in the conversation?" Julie asked.

"No thanks,' Michelle said. "I'd rather just listen."

"You'd rather just listen?" Veronica asked sarcastically. "Spoken like a true virgin."

Michelle hated that about herself and hated it more when people threw it in her face.

"Shut up," Michelle said.

"Nah, we're not going to shut up," Julie said. "Not until you lose your virginity."

Michelle didn't know what to say. Julie smiled at that.

"You can't think of anything to say?" Julie asked. "What a shock,"

"Fuck you!" Michelle said.

"No, you have to get fucked," Julie said. "Otherwise you won't be cool enough for our group."

Michelle felt very nervous about this as she wasn't ready for sex yet and couldn't think of anyone that wanted to have sex with her.

"I don't have a boyfriend right now," she said hoping it would be enough but knowing it wouldn't be.

"Who says you have to have a boyfriend?" Veronica asked.

"Yeah, and Martin's end of year bash is coming up," Julie said. "You could lose your virginity there."

"I'm not invited to that party," Michelle said quickly. "Only my brother has been invited."

"Then get your brother to take you," Julie said. "Or else,"

"Or else what?" Michelle asked nervously.

"Or else we'll think you're gay again," Veronica said.

Michelle didn't think there was anything wrong with being gay. It's just that she didn't want to be bullied again.

"Michelle's not gay," Natalie said. "Just like I'm not."

"Natalie, you've proved you're not gay," Julie said. "Now Michelle hasn't been able to prove jack shit. So Michelle needs to step up or she's dead."

Michelle felt sick of the idea of doing something she wasn't ready to do. Natalie was grateful she wasn't in her position but she did feel sorry for her.