Chapter 2: The not so new girl

Physic 101, my not so favourite subject. Why do I need it, because my parents said I did? So here I am sitting in the back of the class, hoping to disappear into the walls. A few of the student were still talking about their summer vacation.

Apparently, Suzy Yong, spend it with her dad in China but mostly with her bodyguard Yin. Brenda, B number 3, spent it spent in Clyde’s bed, and Clyde spent it with all the Bs and a few other names I know and didn’t know.

You must be wondering how is it that I know these things? Well, when you sit in the back and pretend to be invisible, everyone else starts to believe you are. The things people will say when they don’t know you’re there. Clyde and a few other members of his gang were in my class. However, they never once looked at me, so I guess that means I’m in the clear.

Mr Franks walked into the class carrying more books than he can handle. He set them down with a loud thud, making a few of the students groan. He adjusted his glasses on his nose and smiled. “Well students, welcome back. I hope you all enjoyed your summer?”

The class began to cheer, with, “Hell yeah” and “You know it.” I, on the other hand, was not so cheerful. When the class settled down, Mr Franks explained what we would be covering over the year. He started to hand out projects. Putting a stack on the desk in each front row table, telling the students to take one and pass the rest down.

Well, like I said before, I pretend to be invisible, so people tend to not see me. Well, guess what? This also applies to my teachers. All the projected was handed out and invisible me was the only one who did not get one.

“Ok, so you have your first project of the year sitting in front of you. So let’s begin. As you can see, we are going to experiment a little. We are going to be looking at Estimat...”

“Um, Mr Franks, sorry to interrupt Sir, but... I, um, I didn’t get the project sheet.” I cut him off mid-speech.

Mr Franks pushed his glasses up his nose and cleared his throat. “And who might you be, young lady?”

Ok seriously, is he really saying he doesn’t know who I am? “Juliet, Sir. Juliet Daniels.”

He stared at me a little before he spoke again. “Well, Ms Daniels, are you new? Is this your first day?”

My what? You have to be kidding me.

I started to laugh but stopped when I saw that he was serious. “Um, no Sir. I’ve been in your class since junior year.” Mr Franks looked slightly perplexed. “Are you certain young lady?” I wanted to roll my eyes, just as much as I wanted to disappear from all the eyes that were on me. “Ah, yes Sir, I’m sure.”

Mr Franks shrugged, “Hmm, I seldom forget a face.” Well, I guess that means that my face is pretty forgettable. He handed me my project sheet and continued teaching the class. How sad was that, to not be remembered? A whole year in the man’s class and he doesn’t even know who I am. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How many of my teachers actually know who I am? I might just have to test that theory.

The rest of the class went on pain-free. A few of the students were giving me looks and snickering, but apart from that, it was normal. Well, as normal as can be.

I retrieved my books for my next class and began walking in that direction. The hall was empty, so I was pretty sure I was alone. I popped my iPod into my ears and began to hum the tune, before long I was full out singing. Something I would never do in public. One of my favourite songs started playing, and I was lost in the music. I began singing; I didn’t even realise I was passing the music room, and the door was wide open.

“Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere. Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit. He took the midnight train going anywhere.

A singer in a smoking room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume. For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on.

Strangers, waiting, up and down the boulevard. Their shadows searching in the night. Streetlight people, living just to find emotions. Hiding somewhere in the ni...”

“That way incredible.” OK, ok, don’t freak out, just pretend like you didn’t hear him and keep on walking. So that’s what I did, I kept walking. I only got like ten steps in before I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“You’re the not so new girl, right?” So you know what I did? I freaked the hell out. What if he did saw me spying on him earlier, and wanted to make sure I was going to keep my mouth shut. What would I do if he asks me about what I saw? Deny. Yep, I’ll deny seeing anything. That should get me off, right?

I turned to face him, white as a ghost and shaking like a leaf, my heart was trying to beat its way out of my chest. My traitorous heart was trying to run for cover, leaving my body to take the heat.

“Uh, h-hi. Um, I was just... Um, that wasn’t me. Well, of course, it was me, I-I’ll just leave now, bye.” With that said, I ran. Ok, so that could have been handled better. I just made a total fool of myself in front of Clyde Davis, ugh, could this day get any worse?

I reached my next class in record time, taking my usual seat at the back. This class is one of my favourite class. English literature, Ms Avery makes learning fun. I was just getting into my Romeo and Juliet reading assignment when in walked Clyde. He gave Ms Avery a teacher’s note and took a seat upfront. This cannot be good we had Physics together and now English Lit. Please God, be good to me.

“So, Romeo and Juliet. Yes, yes, we are doing Romeo and Juliet, so stop your whining.” Ms Avery said, rolling her eyes, laughing, when a few of the students, mainly the guys, started complaining. “What I wanna know, is what you guys think about the love between Romeo and Juliet? Would you say they were too young to know what love is, or do you think that the grown-ups should have let them explore that first love?” She looked around the class for Volunteers but got none. She sighed and chose one anyway.

“Henry, what do you think about Romeo and Juliet?” Henry Wigmasters, best friend of Clyde and a fellow crew and Glee member. Henry put his hands behind his head and leaned back smirking. That can only mean one thing. Nothing good was going to come out of his mouth. As if on cue, he spoke.

“I think Romeo was a fool. What he should have done, was tap that and move on. Ain’t no real man gonna kill himself for some chick.” He high five a few of his friends who started cheering. I inwardly snorted; those assholes wouldn’t know love even if it crawled up and bit them on the ass. I pity the women foolish enough to fall in love with them.

Ms Avery just rolled her eyes and moved on to the next person, which was Samantha Hills. A girl who is a little less shy than me. Samantha fidgeted with the stuff on her desk, dropping her red hair into her face, then answered.

“I, um... I think that true love is a figment of our imagination. Something we all hope is out there and will one day find. But what’s really out there is heartbreak and lies, that comes from the mouth of a bunch of hormonally charged idiots. Had the grown-ups left them alone, they would have eventually found that out and probably kill each other instead of themselves.”

Wow. That was... Scary. Who broke her breadstick? I know I’m weird, but that was epic weirdness. The class was silent, everyone was looking at Samantha like she just killed their cat. Ms Avery cleared her throat to break the awkward silence; a few of the students, who were sitting around Samantha, moved their chair as far away from her a possible. Such drama Queens, what is she going to do? Make them spontaneously combusted.

“Well, Samantha, that was... Passionate. Anyone else have anything to add” Ms Avery asked, looking very anxious to move on. Clyde stuck his hands up, and my heart literally skipped a beat. Ms Avery nodded for him to speak and he did the unthinkable.

He turned and looked right at me, and I froze. “Why don’t we ask our very own Juliet? After all, they share the same name.” Why God, why. Have I not been a good girl? Run. That’s what I wanted to do, run and never look back. I hate being put on the spot. Why is he doing this to me? He has never spoken to me before today. Why won’t he just ignore me like everyone else?

Everyone turned to look at me, and I panicked. I grabbed my bag and my books and ran. The day just officially got worse. Ugh! I hated Mr Franks for making me the no so new girl, and I hated Clyde Davis for noticing me.