:Beep, beep, beep:
That alarm clock sound wasnt new to me. It had already gone off twice this morning. It didnt even bother me like it normally did because all I could think of was how I could reject Ryans party invitation after saying I would come. After wallowing for a few minutes I finally gained enough strength to pull myself out of bed and get ready for school.
"Whit, can you make me some toast?" Jeremy asked from the couch as I walked into the kitchen.
I groaned. I really didnt want to do anything today. I didnt want to make breakfast, I didnt want to walk down the long flights of stairs, and I especially didnt want to go to school.
Jeremy must have picked up on my less than happy mood I was in because he said, "Hey Whit, cheer up. Its Friday dont cha know?"
"Yeah, I just have this icky feeling about today." I told him as I put two pieces of oat bread into the toaster.
"Eh, Im sure it'll be okay." He said reassuring me as the toast popped up.
Jeremy and I finished eating our small breakfast and went outside to wait for our buses.
----------------------------------
Miranda greeted me as I walked off my school bus.
"Hey," I said coolly as I walked over to her.
"Hi!" She said. Her smile dissipated and she paused, "Oh hell! I cant believe I forgot to tell you. I should have known you didnt know!" She said with a worried expression.
"What? Miranda, is something wrong?" I asked her a little uneasy.
"Huh, yeah theres something wrong! You arent wearing maroon and blue," she said hysterically putting her hand out flat and scanning it up and down at my clothes.
"You would be correct," I said looking down at what I was wearing: black vans, black jeans, and an olive colored long sleeved shirt with a white Nike, 'Just Do It.' sweatshirt over it.
"You dont get it," She shook her head in emphasis, "Every first Friday of the month we wear the school colors- maroon and blue. The students who dont, tend to get pranked," Miranda told me in a mortified voice.
"Well, thats just a bunch of-" I started, but was stopped short.
I heard a cracking noise and felt something hit against my shoulder. I tugged on my sweatshirt a bit so I could get a better look at what had bombarded my shoulder- a egg. I looked at the egg and its shell splattered all over my shoulder and rolling down my once pristine white sweatshirt. This meant war. Up till now I could deal with the crazies, the in my face drugs, and the rats but this time New York just took it one step too far. I turned around and huffed scanning the crowd before I found a group of freshman kids pointing and laughing while giving their blonde leader, 'Way to go!' high-fives. I put on my, 'Oh, hell no!' face and sauntered over to the immature tools who had made the grave mistake of egging me.
"Hey punk!" I sneered at him, "You gonna apologize?"
"Were you just dropped off from the loony bin? No, Im not going to apologize!" The blonde said as he got the group jeered up saying things like, "You tell her Dylan!" and "You got er, man!"
"Guess what pal?" I asked in my cherry-girl voice.
"What?" He said jokingly.
"Karmas a bitch." I kept a straight face and drew my arm back and fisted my hand before colliding it with the side of his jaw.
The blonde known as Dylan fell to the ground and the group tried to lift their leader back onto his feet. I had managed to clip his nose and lip because when he got back up I could see his nose bleeding and his lip already starting to swell. I walked back to Miranda who was wide-eyed and open-mouthed, looking quite as stunned as I felt.
"I cant believe you did that," Miranda gasped.
"Neither can I," I said more to myself than her. I had never been the physical type. I was the vegetarian, protect our troops, peaceful protester type. To put it bluntly I would talk the talk but avoid walking the walk.
Do you think I'll get in trouble for that?" I asked Miranda as I rubbed my throbbing knuckles. I was in pain obviously, but not nearly as much as he was.
She shook her head in a "no" fashion. "I doubt it. The school isnt gonna believe someone like you would do something like that." She laughed through her Brooklyn accent.
That was one of the things I liked about New York-the accents. I sort of lost my accent and these days just tend to say, "Eh?" "Ya, ya betcha!" and "Don't cha know!" every now and then. So, the variety in New York as far as accents go is enormous and to me very ear catching.
Three hours later I was walking back to my locker with Miranda and one of my most recent friends Alexis Shawker who shares more classes with me than Miranda.
Alexis Shawker, from what I can tell is a very fun person. She's told me she likes every type of music (something we have in common) including reggae- you can tell by her accent that she is Jamaican. And can pretty much bet that she grew up in Jamaica, New York.
"Oh, shit," I shrieked and tried to hide behind Alexis and her pretty but bushy hair.
"Wow, shy much?" Alexis joked as she taped Miranda on the shoulder and pointed in the direction of whom I was hiding from.
"I dont want to tell Ryan I can't go to his party," I whispered in her ear.
Miranda laughed and nearly snorted as she said, "This coming from the girl who just threw a punch at a kid,"
"Well, you cant hide forever. You are going to have to tell him soon unless, you just arent gonna show," Alexis said back to me as she pulled me out from behind her.
"You're right. Why am I being such a wuss anyway?" I asked as I continued to my locker to get different books and my lunch. I hated going back to my locker after fourth period to switch everything, a weird habit.
"Because youre Canadian. Duh," Miranda joked.
"Hey, it's called a rhetorical question. Doi," I mimicked her and continued to Choir.
"So, did you call The Finches flyer number for an audition yet?" Miranda asked, tossing her book bag into the corner of the Chorus room.
"Eh? Oh yeah, last night actually. I have an audition at around five. Do you know Anthony Monahan?" I asked curiously, wanting to know a little about the band members before I showed up.
"TONY!" Alexis screeched, and everyone who was in the room turned around and stared at her, including Miranda and I.
Alexis scanned the room and took notice that everyone was staring at her like she was criminally insane. She picked up some sheet music and handed the stack for us to take one and pass on. She lowered her voice and whispered angrily, "Tony Monahan is an asshole."
I did a double take. I thought this girl was stable and out of nowhere comes an outburst and insult (of someone I thought to be very nice and polite) with no explanation. Now that just made no sense at all.
"What was all that about?" I asked Miranda suspiciously.
"From what Alexis had told me in the past; Anthony broke her heart by dumping her right before some dance last year. Apparently, they had a really long relationship and for some reason he just dumped her." She said to me just as our teacher Miss. Zox walked in and took a seat at the piano.
Alexis was out of her tiff with my remark by lunch after I apologized multiple times for bringing him up.
I heard someone saying loudly, "Roll Call!" and looked to the right where people in matching maroon sweatshirts and blue sweatpants were all lined up.
"Wooo!" Miranda cheered as Alexis started to yell, "Roll call Madison! STEP!" In a Jamaican-gangster tone.
"Hey, whats going on?" I asked them using my outdoor, "Pass me the ball!" soccer voice.
"These guys are the best steppers and crunchers in the whole state!" Miranda pointed and yelled above the riled up crowds.
"Oh, OK!" I yelled back and watched the group perform their routine. I had only witnessed crunching a few times in the square back home.
Eventually, sixth period rolled around. I hadn't been pranked after that last stunt by the ninth grader. Apparently, word got around and rumors flew that the new girl from Canada has a rotten temper, an iffy permanent record, and to just look what "She" (I) did to the poor frosh. "You'd think they'd have arrested her or something." One said to another who replied in a gossipy tone, "Well, I heard she has to check in with her parole officer everyday."
Honestly, where did these people get the time to concoct such dramatic stories about someone they don't even know? It was laughable, all the things I've heard already in the halls and corridors of this school.
During class I took advantage of Mrs. Menstons distraction and wrote a note to Ryan.
Mariner-
Ive got some news for you
I lifted my arm above my shoulder and let him see the piece of paper in-between my index and middle finger. I felt him take the note from my fingers and waited for a reply. I didnt have to wait long before the note was tossed over my shoulder onto my desk.
Shane-
What is it? Is your parole officer demanding you get involved with one of those Anger Management or Troubled Teens programs?
I smirked and mentally laughed. What a smart ass.
Mariner-
No. Ha, do all New Yorkers have dry humors like yours?
I cant go to your parents' party.
Sorry, I have to work tomorrow.
Mrs. Menston started walking by my desk and I slid the note passed her quickly.
I heard a sigh from behind me. Ryan tapped me on the shoulder and I took the note from him.
Shane-
Pretty much all of us do.
Major bummer though. I was looking forward to a
dramatic jail worthy performance from you there.
You are gonna miss one hell of a good party.
That last line made my throat sink into my stomach. I really thought that party would be my first 'blend into New York chance.'
After school I walked to the bus with Alexis and Miranda.
"Hey, good luck with your audition, by the way. Im rooting for ya," Miranda said cheerfully while nudging my arm with her elbow in a subtle 'dont mess up way.'
"I gotta get goin'. My bus is about to leave." Alexis said waving to us and making a mad dash to her bus.
"Thanks Miranda. I still have to figure out what song Im going to sing and play though," I told her honestly.
"Thats gonna be tougher than the actual auditioning part. The song you determine could make or break you, you know?" She walked backward while saying this.
"Way to give me the jitters Miranda!" I said sarcastically and shoved her a little. It made her stumble back and face the way we were walking again.
The buses started their engines.
"Shoot, I have to go." I said looking to find my bus number and giving Miranda a hug goodbye.
"Me too, Ill see you later." Miranda waved and ran off.
I got back to the flat (I havent quite yet adjusted to calling it home completely.)
"Mike!" I called into the Chinese restaurant. I had a conversation with him fairly early this morning while I was waiting for the bus. Mike was the owner and practically his whole family worked in the restaurant. According to the grapevine, or actually the New York Times and Mike, EVERY restaurant is prone to getting a pack of super sized sewer rats every now-and-then.
"Oh! Whit come in," The young Chinese man said as he came out of the kitchen. "What can I help you with?" Mike asked me, with a smile a friend who hasn't seen you in a year could only give. The amount of energy this family has is deeply disturbing and greatly comforting at the same time.
"I was wondering if you could make a family sized vegetable stir fry and some steamed rice."
"Of course, of course! I bang on pipes when done." He said departing back to his kitchen.
I ran up the stairs. Though I would prefer and wouldnt mind if a lift were put in. Believe me I'd be all over that petition like icing on cake, if there were one.
Si, yet again you have to go to the results to get the end--->
Jeremy was sitting on his favored spot watching Animal Planet. The TV roared and I jumped a bit getting thrown out of my thoughts.
"Jeremy, I ordered a family vegetable stir fry and some steamed rice. Do me a favor, when you hear the radiator pipes pinging go down and get the food will you?" I asked him, turning down the volume a little and shooshing his hair.
"Yeah, sure. You gonna get ready for your audition?" He turned around and asked me.
I nodded, "Mhm, Ill be in my room but when the food is ready just yell." I said to him as I walked into my bedroom. I dropped my backpack at the end of my bed before pulling off my sweatshirt to soak in the bathtub and scrub the egg remains out. I sighed and thought of the idiot that kid was going to be when he grew up. I returned to my bedroom and grabbed the cd case from my desk and took it to my bed.
"Stupid old collection." I said to myself as I flipped through the monster-sized cd holder.
"Whit!" Jeremy hollered from somewhere in the loft.
I got up from my bed, already admitting defeat with my cds and walked over to my brother in the kitchen.
Sorry, I ended it in a odd spot I know. But I thought if it were any longer you (the reader) might go on 'word overload' or something. Perhaps you will be a sport and vote or leave me some feedback in the handy-dandy-chatter-box? =]
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