It's Jo.

Hawkins

"Jo, get your ass up."

That was my wake up call this morning, from my dickhead of a stepbrother. It's nothing I'm not already used to, that's how he wakes me up every morning, because our parents don't give a flying fuck. They basically leave us to raise ourselves.

No, that wasn't what was new this morning. What was new was waking up in this shithole of a town that we moved to 2 weeks ago. Hawkins Indiana. Could there be a smaller or shittier town to move to? Out of all the amazing places in this whole god-forsaken world, my parents picked Hawkins, the bathroom stop on the way to something much more exciting.

Jesus.

To make things worse, I actually have to go to school today. I considered just blowing it off again, but Billy didn't give me that option this time.

Oh no, not because he cared about my education or wellbeing. But because he knew that I would rather go anything else than walk through the doors of Hawkins Middle, and that I was going to be miserable. Asshole.

So here I am, driving to school at 75 miles per hour, absolutely hating life.

"Stop making that face." His voice breaks through my thoughts, shattering the blissful bubble of negativity and self loathing. He's glaring at me with that look of disdain, the same one he always gives me.

"What face?" I ask, gripping the arm rest a little tighter.

"That bitchy face you're making. Wipe it off before I decide to smack it off." He turns back to the road, smirking. Fucker.

He screeches to a stop in front of a dumpy looking middle school, with hordes of annoying looking kids crowded in front of it. Without a word to my so-called brother, I get out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

"Hey asshole!" He screeches after me "you're late coming out, you're walking home. Got it?"
I don't answer, instead throwing up a middle finger as I walk away. I can hear him muttering curse words and insults, but they don't bother me in the slightest. In fact, a glimmer of satisfaction rises up in me, stemming from the fact that I've gotten under his skin. It's a gratifying feeling, and the first positive feeling I've felt today.

The school is just as shabby looking on the inside, looking like it hasn't been fully cleaned in about 50 years. I can feel eyes on me, the piercing stares of curiosity burning into my back. The new kid stare. They must not get too many new people in this hellhole.

I can see why. In the 2 weeks I've been here, I've only found one good spot. The arcade. I've spent all my free time so far in there, beating all the high scores on the games. Another thing that sucks about this town, there's no competition for video games.

If I had had a choice, I would have been out of here before the first box was unpacked. Hell, as soon as I saw our street. We live in the crappiest part of Hawkins, which is saying something.

But I didn't have a choice, and I still don't. Even stupid Billy didn't have a choice, which made him angrier than usual.

I stop by the front office and pick up my schedule and locker number from a sickeningly cheerful secretary. It's Monday morning, what the fuck do you have to be happy about?

I glance at my schedule. My first class is science, with a Mr.Clark. What a boring, vanilla name. The principal has a boring ass name too, Mr Smith. I only know his name because he insisted on walking me to my first class, for "comfort reasons."

Now he's walking beside me, blathering on and on about the history of Hawkins and shit. I'm not putting anything into the conversation, and yet this man is not deterred. How can one talk this much?

I'm actually relieved for a split second when we reach my classroom, because the incessant talking stops. But that feeling disappeared faster than my hope for life. As soon as we walk in the door, all talking ceases, and every single person is looking at me. Suddenly, there's nothing I want more than Mr. Smith's useless jabbering, because it might draw some of the eyes away.

That fucking new kid stare again. Jesus people, is this the most interesting thing that's happened to you?

"Mr.Clark, you have a new student. This is Miss.Mayfield." The principal smiles at me, pats my shoulder, and leaves the room, like he didn't just put me in the most awkward position possible. Sadist.

The teacher turns to me, looking unbelievably happy. You're a middle aged science nerd making a teacher's salary, what's the smile for? He's worse than the secretary.

"Ah, you must be Josephine." I wince. Jesus, my full name. I've changed my mind, the principal isn't the sadist. Mr. Clark is.

"It's Jo." He looks confused. 

"Excuse me?" I scowl.

"I don't go by Josephine, it's Jo."

"Well Jo, welcome to our humble house of learning. Why don't you take your seat?"
Gladly. Nothing would make me happier. But, did this man just call this classroom the humble house of learning? What the hell kind of cult have I just walked into?

I make my way toward a seat in the very back corner, plunking my stuff down and doing my best to look indifferent to all the stares that were currently aimed at me. Particularly from a group of 4 boys in the very front. They're whispering excitedly to each other, and one of them is even pointing at me from under the desk.

What the fuck...

I make eye contact with one of them, the smallest one. He has brown hair, cut into this god awful hairstyle. Like a bowl was put on top of his head and his hair was cut according to that. He looks pale and shaky, almost scared.
What the shit happened to this kid?

Almost as soon as he makes eye contact, he looks away, a blush coloring his cheeks. It's not really a surprise he looks away, I've been told I have a very intense stare. Oh well.

I hear the word "follow" come out of one of their mouths.

Well, this should be fun.

Hey guys! Thank you for reading my chapter. This is my first story, so I'm just trying some things out. Any constructive criticism or words of encouragement are much appreciated. Thanks, have a fantastic day!
xx,
Lover