The Blessed Curse

Mirror Mirror

Inhale,

Fluorescent lights beam down on me and I look down toward the checkered floor so that I'm not blinded. The halls feel like endless tunnels. They're huge but claustrophobic, especially when you're caught in a flood. Bumping into countless shoulders: hard, bony, soft. Laughing at the other end. Are they mocking me? Slamming lockers left and right. Out of the corner of my eye, a girl and a boy lock lips, tongue included. After what feels like an eternity, I view my classroom and shoot straight for it.

Exhale.

Eyes still glued to the floor, I'm taken aback when I see a pair of slender, golden legs in my seat. It takes all my strength, but I raise my head past her denim mini skirt, to her tattoo of a centaur holding a bow and arrow on her right arm, to her beautifully sculpted face, staring right at me. My heart pounds. Diana Marietti. "Is this your seat?"

As if mumbling to myself, "Yea..."

"I'm sorry, I'll move now."

"Thanks."

Diana hops out of my seat and her friends all look disappointed when I sit down and she goes back to her seat across the room. Someone behind me taps my shoulder and when I turn, I'm greeted by Mandy. "Don't take it to heart, they're a bunch of wannabes."

"Nah, it's fine, I don't care."

Mr. Pear walks into class and begins to take attendance. "Sam."

A hand at the front shoots up like a rocket, "Here."

"Jason."

Head planted on the desk and hand raised half heartedly, "Sup."

Pointless chuckles.

"Rose."

I raise my hand, "Here."

I'm anything but that. There's nothing significant about my face except for how freckly and pudgy it is. My hair is filled with knots and the only thing I can do with it is twirl it around in a messy bun. I have all the curves but in the wrong places.

Class drags on. Time feels longer. When will it end?

"Rose."

My mind snaps back.

"Yes sir?"

"What is the symbolism of the conch shell? Don't say I don't know."

"Uh, I don't-" Mandy whispers, "It's a symbol of unity that brings the boys together." I repeat it back to him.

"Good work Rose." He goes on with his lesson. I unfold my gum wrapping, write on it, and pass it back to Mandy. She unfolds and whispers, "You're welcome dork."

My lips curl up and I chuckle softly. Mandy's the only good part about coming to this hell hole. Her hair is jet black and bushy along with her eyebrows and she always wears a shawl with her outfit. Her eyes are a chocolate brown and always painted with plum purple eyeliner and coal black eyeshadow. We've been friends since first grade. People avoid her because she's obsessed with the occult. That's why no one fucks with her. That and because everyone knows about the deep red marks on her wrists. 

The bell rings and I sling on my backpack, shooting straight for the door before Mr. Pear can lecture me; however, right as I'm a step away from the door frame, he glances in my direction. "Rose, can I have a word?" I hold back a sigh, "Yes sir, what is it?"

"You did a great job in class today. If you put this much effort in class everyday, then you wouldn't be failing."

"I'll try."