The Ugly Duckling

Chapter 1: First Day Jitters

Bookbag, Check.

Earphones, Check.

Phone... where the heck is my...

I stand in the middle of the parking lot upturning pockets in search of my phone.

Where the heck could it be?

As soon as the thoughts left my head a well-manicured hand with an oddly familiar object appears in front of my face. I look up slowly to see my sister, Gina, smirking at me and my frantic display.

"You left it on the kitchen table." She chuckled putting the phone in my hand. "I believe it was because you wanted to check your bookbag for the third time this morning," she said still chuckling in amusement.

"Haha very funny," I reply connecting my earphones and shoving it in my pocket. I had no time to think straight it was way too much going on in my brain. Next thing I know I feel a smack on my back hard enough to snap me out of my thoughts and stumble a little. I playfully glare at my sister over the rim of my glasses and push them back up as I stand straight.

"No need to be nervous Thea," she said avoiding my look and staring straight at the top of the school where a flag waved tall and high, the Shark Mascot saying Go Team with pom-poms in its fins. "We were only gone for two years. What could've changed?"

I scoffed a little. Coming back to Riverview High was nerve-wracking. When I first arrived my Freshman year it was a hell hole. I was bullied every day. Called ugly, fat, disgusting. People made my life suck, so why the hell would I want to come back. But I am, we moved away because of my parents' divorce. We started with our mom but she had a job offer in France that she just couldn't miss, so we had to come back to live with our dad.

Gina could tell I was nervous. "Don't worry," She said putting her arm around me. "Even if this is the same hell hole it was back then, it'll still be fine. Because we are not the same people we used to be."

Easy for her to say. Before the move, she was a girl with braces and matted hair who was a little on the chubby side and all. Now she lost all the weight, the braces have come off and she looks stunning. When we moved to New York her world opened up and she became a completely different person. The once shy and easily afraid girl was now an independent woman who could not give a monkey's butt about anyone else's opinion. Me, on the other hand, came back the same. I mean I lost like 5lbs but it isn't that noticeable. My freckles still were noticeable and I still can't touch my eyes so contacts are useless to me. The only change that occurred with me is that I finally was able to learn how to manage my curly hair which has grown out. Gina always told me my hair was one of her favorite things about me among many. I just don't see it, but I manage. I look up at my sister. The youngest of the two of us, yet she is taller and has way more confidence now. She looked like she could take on anything while I looked like all I wanted to do was hide in a corner.

"Let's get this over with," I tell her taking a final breathe to calm my nerves.

"That's the spirit," she says taking one step forward leading me with her arm that is still over my shoulders as we enter into hell.

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Entering the school brought back flashbacks. I remember each corner and hall and the events that happened there.

"Brings back memories," I say with a chuckle hoping she would take part in my sad excuse for humor. I looked back at her to see why she didn't respond only to see an expression I never thought I would. She was angry. This school used to be a living nightmare for both of us. I may have gotten the worst end of the stick but that still didn't mean she didn't feel hurt too. She spent all her time in New York training in gyms and taking part in boxing classes. She was a champ in matches. When she got the news that we were coming back, she made it her life's mission to get revenge on her tormentors. I followed her evil glare to the source of her rage. There they were, the "it" crowd. The school was never about cliques, but this group was in a league of their own. They were the rich kids of Highschool and practically whatever they said went. They were all served with a silver spoon and weren't about to stoop down for less.

I could feel Gina's body tense up as she stared down one girl in particular, Carly Burnick. She was the Regina George of the school and was proud of it, but unlike your stereotypical Queen B, she was smart too. Class president, Valicvictorian, Homecoming Queen 3 years in a row, and to our dismay, the Leader of the Welcoming Committee for all New Students.

As we walked forward I felt Gina's arm fall from off my shoulders. I didn't even have to look to know that they were balled up into fists. As we moved closer I could see Carly smiling with her lackey's in tow. Probably freshman that wished to be like her and did all her dirty work.

"Well, well, well," Carly said with the biggest and fakest smile that she could offer, "If it isn't Thea and Gina. You know I almost didn't recognize you for a second Gina you changed so much." Then she looked at me still holding her smile but her eyes filling with disgust. "Your sister, on the other hand, is what gave you away."

I could tell Gina was ready to pounce her right then and there but I hurriedly grabbed her hand to hold her back, "Ha ha ha," I laugh weakly "I guess I did."

I hated that I did that. I always seemed to play it off like those looks don't bother me but everyone knows they do. But I just let it happen. I haven't changed one bit. Gina looked at me with sadness, knowing I only did that so there wouldn't be any confrontation and loosened her fists.

"Yeah well, can we hurry this along." Gina said annoyed "I don't want to be late for my first class"

Carly looked back to Gina, disregarding me completely. "Sure but there are a couple of routines that I have to do first..." I blocked out there conversation and studied the school,  and Gina could fill me in later. It was the same as when I first came. Blue lockers, tan tiled floors. The walls and bulletins covered in fliers that the students have to go through to tell which ones are the old ones or the new ones. Everything was the same. It almost felt nostalgic. In a good way. I looked around and saw the little door under the steps. I used to go in there to read on my breaks. It was always quiet, and no one would bother me. The one place I felt truly comfortable at in this school. I wonder if I could go back there sometime.

"Oh and Thea," I snapped out of my trance and looked back at Carly. We were already in front of my classroom,

"Yeah?" I responded wearily of what was to come next.

"Good luck this school year," she said her once fake smile now turned into a very real smirk. I looked puzzled and opened the door to the classroom. As soon as I did I froze at the doorway. Carly and Gina were walking off to Gina's classroom and right as the door was closing I could here her final words for me.

"Your gonna need it." and I sure as hell was. In the back staring in my direction, was Armstrong Needle, the one who made my life a living hell.