Last of The American Girls

Chapter 1

Summer is the epitome of everything that her name is not. In fact, the irony of her name originates from the deeply satirical and pessimistic ways of her mother, Rain Andrews, who was also left stuck with a hippie name that only works when one is genuinely a carefree, outgoing and happy person.

Rain was most certainly not any of these things, and her eighteen year old daughter took after her in the sense that there were very few people within the known universe who were willing to be subjected to her crude, rude and rigorous stances on almost every aspect of life.

However, Summer did follow one convention that might have been originally associated with her happy, hippie name, in that she was a cheerleader.

Head cheerleader of Maybeck High School, Berkeley CA, to be exact.
The sole reason for having opted for this superficial position in society was not for her benefit, nor for the fame of being able to stand on some other people that were also standing. No, Summer had a plan when she applied for the position, which she had slowly accomplished over the three years she had been at the high school; to kick out almost every person and replace them with the fellow members of her out of school rebellion, creating some sort of outstanding rebel group where every person had a different shade to their hair and multiple piercings and tattoos.

Just something different to the everyday cheerleader convention.
Unfortunately for Summer, she no longer attends Maybeck High School on 2727 College Avenue, rather a new school across the University of California Berkeley campus. St. Mary’s College High School, 1249 Albina Avenue, is an equally average High School, with equally irritating students and teachers, with equally poor structure and equally restrictive rules.

Summer knows all of this from thirty seconds of standing in the centre of the High School’s sickly green corridor, the fractious scowl she was born with fixed in place on pale pink lips and charcoal rimmed eyes. What a shit hole.

“We’re going to have to ask you a few questions before we give you your new schedule and map,” the man behind the reception counter told her straight, giving her the once over through his wide rimmed spectacles before licking the dry skin of his upper lip slowly.

Summer stared back at him, her arms crossed on the high bench in front of her as she cocked her head to the side with a condescending smirk.
“Question one,” he began, looking down to the laminated yellow card in front of him, “a mandatory question. Why were you expelled from your old school and, if need be, will you refrain from doing the same here?”

Summer chewed the inside of her cheek for a second, shaking away the short spikes of her fringe away from her eyes before responding, “I got into a fight with a girl during a football match.”
“A member of your team?”
“No. The opposite.”
“Was there a reason for the fight?”
“Yes.”
“What was it?”
“Does the question say explain your life in full detail? Next question,” Summer retorted, careful to avoid telling the receptionist that the girl she had gotten into the physical encounter with was in fact St. Mary’s very own sweetheart and Head Girl, Jennie Bovey, before she had even been offered a concrete place.
“Question two,” the receptionist continued, tugging slightly at his poorly adjusted tie while his eyes darted between the girl and the paper, “What are your aspirations for after High School?”
“Is this the part where I say University? Or Doctor? I can’t remember...”
“Three. Will you keep to all rules and regulations specified within the Student Handbook?”
“Can’t make any promises, babe,”

Summer winked down at the man, watching him sweat as he fumbled with her papers before passing them over to her as if they were on fire. She smirked before granting him a small parting salute, and leaving the office.