Blackmailed Into The Band

The Day I Offended Them

" Just do it!" Emily yelled.

The rest of our friends turned to look at me, wondering if today was the day I would say no to one of Emily's challenges.

" Put on some music," I said.

Emily laughed and fumbled with her phone before turning the volume up. The first notes of Would You Still Be There by Of Mice and Men came on.

I waited for the screaming to begin. As Austin Carlile replaced Aaron Pauley's voice, I started screaming along, watching my friend's reactions. When the song was over, I took Emily's water bottle and drank every last drop before crushing it and throwing it at her, wishing someone would of recorded their faces.

" That was awesome," Emily said, wiping imaginary tears from her eyes.

" Thanks," I said, bitting in my comment about charging her for making me do this.

The bell rang and we walked back to class. The rest of the day crawled by normally. In fact, everything was normal until the last bell rang. I stopped by my locker to throw in my history book and grab my jacket when a small group of guys with long hair and dark clothes approached me.

One of them, the tallest one, slammed my poor locker door back in place.

I gave him the I don't know who you are but you better start writing an essay with a perfect thesis on why you just did that look.

" You thought it'd be funny to make fun of us?" He yelled.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Before I suggested that he had the wrong girl, I pictured his face hiding behind his hair. Was he glaring at me? Was this some sort of prank? Was the student council in on this?

" Who are you?" I asked, crossing my arms as I looked around for a camera. Maybe this was for the yearbook.

" Don't play stupid with me," He yelled.

" Excuse me?"

This was definitely not for the yearbook, unless they wanted to show a fight to introduce this year's theme.

" You heard me, you pathetic bitch!"

One of his friends. who realized that I was totally clueless as to why emo kid number one was yelling at me, placed a hand on the guy's shoulder.

" I told you she wasn't making fun of us," He said. He had a softer and more inviting voice. I liked him better than emo kid number 1.

" Look, Josh," Emo kid number 1 yelled. " I heard her during lunch, she was trying to scream-"

" Is that why you're here?" I asked.

Almost in perfect sync, they turned to look at me and I lost it. I started laughing at the parallel swish of their hair as they turned to face me. The more I thought about it, the funnier it got. After three minutes of bliss, I looked at them, picturing the fear and disgust behind their hair.

" Are you done?" Josh asked.

I heard a smile in his voice.

" Yes," I said before turning to leave. That was enough entertainment for today.

" Hey," Emo kid number 1 called. He wasn't angry anymore. " So you weren't making fun of us?"

" I was not," I confirmed before walking away.

They started following me.

" Why were you screaming then?" He asked.

I stopped walking. " What kind of question is that?"

" You're a girl," He said, stating the obvious.

I needed to have a word with student council. I turned around, letting my inner feminist tear her way out from the depths of my soul.

" Are you saying that because I'm a girl I can't scream along to music I like? Is it weird to you? I'm sorry if I offended you and your clique but I was screaming because I'm fucking good at it, okay?"

" You were pretty good," A third guy said.

" Like I said, I know. Ever checked me out on YouTube? My fifth grade graduation video isn't the only clip of me on there," I snapped before leaving.