Old Story Compilation

More recently (almost a year ago) - Experiment 14

I am jumping on the bed. I'll have to fix up the sheets that just got knocked to the floor later; for now, I'm jumping.
Why am I - a mature 14 year old - jumping on the bed? Because it's a habit for when I'm nervous. Some people hide under furniture, some bite their nails, some shake their heads like crazy. My personal favorite is running as fast and far as I can.
However, right now, there's nowhere to run. So I bounce.
In a few minutes, I'm going to go to school.
Why am I so nervous about school? Well, it's my first day.
And no, I'm not some poor, uneducated kid from another country. I'm a homeschooler who decided that she wanted to know exactly what high school was like.
I know what it's like in the movies. In the movies, the girl stands up to a bully, goes on a date with her crush, or gets a crazy app on her phone that will command boys to do whatever she wishes.
However, I doubt that it's really like that. I want to know exactly how it does work, though. I mean, if I'm going to be a movie director someday, I'll probably want to know what really goes on in public schools. Who knows, maybe I'll end up directing a teen movie set in the school I'm about to attend right now!
"Brooke! You need to get going or you'll be late!"
I stop bouncing. I crumple to the ground like a deflating balloon. I'm really doing this.
I can't decide whether I'm ecstatic or terrified.
I guess I'll just settle for both.
Mom walks in the room. "Seriously, honey. If you don't get out the door, you'll be late."
"OK." I stand and hug her good-bye before skipping out the door.
I sling my backpack over one shoulder. It's pretty large, but it's mostly empty, so it's lightweight.
I run to the bus stop. Running helps so much. I don't feel the stress anymore. The weight rolls off of my shoulders instantly. I feel free.
The bus pulls up just as I reach the stop. I've run several blocks, but I haven't even broken a sweat. I'm used to running. I run whenever I get the chance. Some might say I'm a fanatic, but it's just amazing.
I find my way to a seat. In the movies, new girls get hit at with wads of notebook paper or teased just for existing - unless they're really cute. Then they drop their books and get an instant romance.
I don't get either side. No one even seems to notice that I'm new; it's such a big school that not everybody knows each other.
I find an empty seat in the very back. I like sitting in the back. I can see everyone in front of me; plus, I don't feel anyone behind me drilling holes into me with their eyes.
The ride is short. The bus screeches to a stop and we exit. The sour smell of school bus gas - whatever it may be called - hits my nose. I hold my breath and speed-walk into the school.
Inside, I sort of just follow all of the other kids. I don't really know where I'm supposed to be; it’s 7:50 and classes don't start until 8:00.
All of the kids file into the gym, where there's a breakfast bar and lots of tables. I already ate breakfast, so I sit down at a table to think.
If you haven't noticed yet, I like to narrate my life like a movie. Sometimes, when I'm bored, I'll literally write scripts for what happened that day.
Right about now is when some mean, popular girl should walk over and announce my presence. Or maybe I'll be noticed by some boy - be he nerdy or cute. Or maybe-
A tall lady walks into the gym, her heels clicking on the floors. She has her dark hair up in a tight bun, and her dress suit is very professional. She's probably the skinniest person I've ever seen; it's almost scary. Her commanding presence hushes every voice in the room.
"I am Principal Judy. I'd like to introduce a new student, Brooke Snow. Brooke, would you please stand?"
Well, that was sort of unexpected. In the movies, this almost always happens; except it's done by a teacher in a private classroom. I never understood why that made people so nervous. However, it's a little intimidating with the whole school searching for me.
"Brooke, please stand."
"Oh, um, yeah." I blush and stand up. I hate when that happens!
"Brooke is new here. Brooke, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?"
"Not really."
The whole room laughs, and I smile. I totally love moments like these.
Principal Judy, however, does not find it very amusing. "Brooke, please tell us a bit about you."
I wish I could come up with a way to respond that would encourage more laughs, but I can't. "Well, I'm 14 years old, I've been homeschooled all of my life, I have a pet hamster named Lollipop, and my motto is 'Chocolate, History, and Books are life.' I love running and reading.”
She purses her lips. "All right then. Come to my office, and I'll print you your class list."
And so my school life begins.

---

Contrary to the scenes depicted in my favorite form of the arts - the movies - high school isn’t exactly a labyrinth.
What I mean to say is this: high school is boring.
It’s just… school. Algebra, English, history… There aren’t even interesting teachers. There are no super strict, super mean teachers. There are no annoyingly sweet, young teachers. They’re all… average. Boring.
The students barely seem to notice or care that I’m here. They all have their friends, and they stick with them. There aren’t defined cliques, and there isn’t a school ladder of hierarchy.
I sigh as the bell rings. Again. Honestly, can’t it ever shut up?
I wish for anything, anything to happen. Of course, nothing does. I just sigh again and head to my last class of the day: P.E.
If you think about it, having PE for the last class of the day just proves that you must have very bad luck. You’re already tired from lugging your ten-ton backpack around all day. You’re frustrated that absolutely everyone here ignores you.
Then you meet Coach Hendricks.
“Everyone - I WANT TEN LAPS! NOW!”
My backpack hits the ground with a thud. I stare at him, wondering if he’s really serious or just trying to make my day better by being movie-like.
He notices me, and booms into his loudspeaker - who has those, anyway? - “I SEE YOU, NEW GIRL! YOU BETTER RUN NOW, OR YOU’LL GET ANOTHER TEN LAPS!”
I take off immediately. I quickly adjust to the rhythm of my feet hitting the ground. I feel weightless.
I go faster. I ignore everyone else. It’s just me, the ground, and the sky.
The faster I go, the more adrenaline punches through me. My feet barely touch the ground.
I’m really, really gonna like this class.


Ten minutes later, everyone has finished running. We do a bunch of exercises and stuff, then the final bell rings.
Advantage to having PE as my last class: I can just leave. My stuff is all with me by the edge of the field, so I can just grab it and go. Mom tried to convince me to take the bus, but - as usual - I insisted on running home. She finally conceded.
I grab a sno cone from a stand set up by some college students on the side of the road.

...

(A/N: I gave up on this halfway through, as you can see. But I'm still uploading it XP)