Defying the Stars

The first day of summer vacation; it can be refreshing and a great way to start over for the next year for some and for others it can be damning. Unfortunately for me, it was the latter. To be honest, I hardly recognized the girl I saw in the mirror anymore.

The girl I had known wasn’t so…tired looking. The girl I now saw in the mirror was. Her chestnut brown hair was frizzy, a state that I normally would never allow, and sticking up in random places. Her chocolate-colored eyes were sleepy and had bags under them.

I guess I deserved what I got. I did hang out with Gina, the biggest bitch in town. I guess it made sense that her name meant queen. I mean, my dad may have been mayor of the town but she definitely ran our school. She controlled who was on the top of the food chain and who was the scum at the bottom.

Guess who I am?

I guess I was a sellout, though. I ditched my friends, who were pretty close to the bottom of the food chain, to join her and her bimbos. If you were a shrink you’d probably say it was because I was looking for a female replacement for my mother, but I’d doubt it. I just wanted to be liked. I mean just because my dad was the mayor didn’t mean I was instantly popular. I wanted to be, badly.
Okay, so I’m a little petty, is that a problem? I’ll answer that myself; yes, yes it is. That’s why I was hoping to start over this year fresh with a clean slate. Maybe I could get some real friends this year. Maybe Lindsey and Matt would welcome me into their group again.

Yeah, and maybe pigs would start flying out of my ass.

The girl in the mirror and I both sighed since we both knew that this first day of school was probably going to be the longest one we’ve ever experienced.

***

I was welcomed back to school with the glares of other students. Most of which, I might add, I didn’t even know. I kept my head held high, though. I wouldn’t let people see the misery inside of me if I could help it.

My heart pounded when I saw Gina’s springy curls. Everything about that girl was gold; her skin, her eyes, her hair. She always did remind me of a lion in that way. Ironically her last name was Leon.

She didn’t ignore me like I was praying. In fact, she walked straight up to me, her eyes a blazing fury. Though, she did give me the title that I was expecting. “Whore.” The word sounded funny coming from her musical voice. Almost like it was a toddler saying it and not a seventeen year old girl.

Some bystanders snickered at my misery. I looked at Vanessa, Gina’s other friend who I thought was mine too, and she had a cold, blank look on her face. I suddenly felt sick.

“What, Selena? Were none of the guys there good enough for you?” Vanessa asked icily. I couldn’t breathe enough to answer her. I tried to run to the bathroom since I knew what was going to happen. But of course they blocked my way.

“Where are you running to, bitch?” Gina asked. The question echoed through my head and the room started spinning. I knew what was going on but I couldn’t answer out of fear. I just needed to get to a bathroom, or at least sit down.

But I never did. I ended up emptying the contents of my stomach right then and there, all over Gina’s shoes. The crowd made a bunch of “Ewws” but that wasn’t what stood out. Gina’s squeal did. It rang through the halls like a late bell.

Gina shoved me against a locker. “This isn’t over you little-”

“That’s enough, Miss Leon,” I heard the principal say from behind us. “Selena, let me take you to the nurse, sweetheart.”

I nodded and followed her to the office, leaving a crowd full of enemies behind me.