Things Change & People Change

Chapter 1~Labels

        Labels. Jock, popular, drama geek, bully, nerd. In high school, there is really no way to escape them. Once you’re labeled then you can either get stuck with it, get labeled lower then you were, or, on an extremely rare occasion, get promoted in your label. Some don’t even know they’re labeled; while others do everything they can to keep their label in tact. You see labels are like the hierarchy of high school. The populars and the jocks are on top. For the bullies that are excluded from the populars and jocks, they are ranked just under them. Then there are the fine arts geeks; following them are the nerd fandom groups. After that are the nerds, the freaks, and lastly are the outcasts. I’ve never really understood how people are placed where they are, but I’ve just accepted how it is just as kids have for generations. The problem is that I don’t seem to have a place in this ranking.

        School is different for everyone. For the populars and the jocks, it’s their kingdom where they’re on top and can rule the kingdom. For nerds, it’s their favorite place to be and their way to be on top, through GPAs. Then there are those who find school as a safe haven where they can just be invisible; and then those who dread school and can’t wait to get home to their safe haven to escape their life at school. For me, school is a place where I go to be taught stuff that seems pointless to learn, because let’s face it, when will we actually need to know things like what the Mayans invented unless we become a history teacher. Anyways, it’s also a place where I met my friend group.

        Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is Annabella Jasmine Parker and I am the second child out of four in the Parker family, but you’ll meet them later. I’m 15 years old and just starting my sophomore year of high school. Being my second year of high school you’d think I’d have this whole thing down, right? Wrong.

        My best friend is Paige Harper, younger than me by 3 months, and I’ve known her since Kindergarten. I am a little taller then her, with me being 5’ 6” and her being 5’ 5”.  She has long, chocolate brown, wavy hair that flows down her back and gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. She’s always been my other half; and even though we have opposite tastes in some things, that somehow seems to makes us work even better. She has always been bolder and more daring in her fashion, where as I am more bold and daring in my attitude.

        Aside from Paige, there is Monica, the athlete of our group, Samantha, the shyer one, Tessa, the jokester, and Delia, the actress. Our group is tight-knit, but by no means exclusive. The thing is, we don’t exactly fall under the social hierarchy of high school. Our group is more diverse and reaches into several different rankings. This resulting in a non-existing social ranking that is unofficially called the O.O.A.K., otherwise known as the One-Of-A-Kinds. Some people talked to us, but some talked about us. Some people liked us, but some didn’t. But the one person who despised us the most is Myra Lockwood.

        Myra Lockwood is head cheerleader and currently seeing the captain of the football team and the star quarterback, Justin Tyler. The reason for Myra’s hatred towards us is unknown, but all we do know is that she has hated us since we’ve first met her. Myra’s family is super rich thanks to her daddy being one of the best lawyers in the country. Not to mention, the founder and CEO of the Lockwood Law Firms.

        I wish I could say otherwise, but Myra isn’t an exception from the stereotypical cheerleader. Myra has blonde hair that is almost always in a ponytail with her cheerleading bow in. Typical attire for her is an expensive top and pair of shorts that are three sizes too small, a designer handbag, and a pound of make-up. Oh, and how can you forget her two sidekicks, Lindsey and Bianca, who are also cheerleaders. Lindsey and Bianca’s attire doesn’t stray far from Myra’s, except that they can never out-do Myra’s outfit otherwise they’d regret it.

        Hmm… I feel like I’m forgetting to mention something, but it seems to have slipped my mind. Well, I’m sure I’ll remember whatever it is later. Oh, I have to run! Delia just texted me saying she’s outside waiting with everyone. Delia is the only one out of all of us who can drive with her being the oldest in our group. Delia is 2 months older then I am. So, I get my license in 2 months.

        I took one last scan over my outfit before I left. I chose a white tank with a long sleeve mesh cardigan and a pair of light, distressed shorts with opaque, black tights and my black, leather, ankle boots. To complete the look I had put on a little bit of eye shadow and mascara and some red lipstick. For my hair, I wore my hair down with my gold leaves hair chain headband. Satisfied with my appearance, I grabbed my tan backpack and ran downstairs yelling, “Bye mom! Bye dad! I’m leaving!” On the last two steps I jumped over both and ran out the door. Jumping into Delia’s car, I exchanged my ‘good morning’s before we were off for school.

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