Here is a totally fictional, random short story... enjoy.
“Oh man, I’m late!”
Shoving past careless seniors and love-struck juniors, I made my way to Geometry. One more tardy, and I’d get detention. Sitting in a freezing cold room and starring up at the ceiling was not something I wanted to do for an entire hour.
I sidestepped and narrowly avoided yet another couple. Ducking, I escaped being taken out by a senior’s swinging backpack. I took a deep breath. Two more steps and I would be safe in Geometry class.
Suddenly, a sophomore cut in front of me, opening the door to room 215. I started to walk in after him but the door collided violently with my forehead. Stunned, I toppled backward. It was the laughter from inside the class that brought me back to reality… I flung open the door and made my way to my seat— head down.
Just as I slipped into my chair, the bell rang.
Well, at least I’m on time.
Something jabbed me in the side. “Audrey, wake up.”
Opening my eyes I realized I’d dozed off again. Mr. Anthony was lecturing about how students shouldn’t be “loitering around” in his classroom—correction, his “kingdom.” Nothing had changed since I’d fallen asleep, except Trent had been moved to his official “seat of banishment;” the desk in the middle of the first row.
My friend Joy leaned toward me, “Trent was talking to Riley again.” She rolled her eyes sarcastically and smiled.
I giggled and accidentally glanced over at Michelle, who was seated in front of Joy. She glared at me. Without saying a word, the expression in her brown eyes made it clear what she thought of me. I looked over at Joy to see if she noticed, but she had already refocused her attention back on the math lesson. I turned to face the front, but noticed Michelle starring me down. Again.
Annoyed, I whispered, “What?!”
She rolled her eyes and hissed, “You’re such an idiot.”
I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. What had I ever done to her? As the new student, I was invisible. The kids in my class had made it clear that I was nothing. I was ugly. I was pathetic. I knew my place by now. Why did she have to keep reminding me?
“You’re such an idiot.”
Hot tears filled my eyes and threatened to pour down my face. I considered asking Mr. Anthony if I could use the restroom, but was afraid my voice would break. I kept my eyes on the blackboard, and for once in my life tried to focus on math. It didn’t help.
As soon as the bell rang I flung my backpack over my shoulder and pushed my way out the door.
“Audrey, you wanna walk with me to Bible class?”
I turned and saw sweet little May looking up at me. She was an outcast— like me— only she didn’t seem to realize it. She always had a smile on her face, but at the moment, her optimism made me sick.
“No thanks, May, I gotta go to the bathroom. I’ll meet you there.”
“Ok see ya!”
I walked down the hall— head down— toward the bathroom.
Bible class?
I laughed to myself. I didn’t think it was funny, but at the moment laughing seemed a whole lot better than vomiting in front of the senior’s lockers.
Bible class?
These kids weren’t Christians. During a spanish class, a boy offered to pay a girl to have sex with him. The conversations that took place in the hallways were disgusting. And I noticed when people were pointing and making fun of me during chapel. If these people were going to heaven, I’d rather end up in hell.
Bible class?
I knew these people didn’t care about God; He was just a cover for them. They used Christianity as a way to do whatever they wanted, yet not get in trouble. They thought they could say whatever they wanted to say, do whatever they wanted to do, and then turn around and still “praise the Lord”. But then again, I’d lived the “perfect” Christian life, and God had forgotten about me. What if they were right?
“You’re such an idiot.”
My mind replayed the words without my permission. At that point I could no longer stop the tears from coming. Storming into the girl’s bathroom, I locked myself in a stall. Then I didn’t hold back. The tears came slowly at first, then in rapid, agonizing bursts.
“You’re such an idiot.”
I felt sick. I spun around and faced the toilet. After an entire five minutes, the tears still didn’t stop. I tried to think of other things, of reasons why she could have said what she did. Nothing seemed to help. I prayed, but it was an empty, half-hearted prayer. God felt like he was a million miles away. Shaking uncontrollably, I closed my eyes, only to see the faces of the girls I’d passed in the hallway.
Their looks ripped me apart. One cold look said, “You don’t belong here,” another said, “You’re worthless.” The disgusted faces of guys I’d spoken to haunted me even more. A pained expression and rolling eyes told me just how ugly they thought I was. How could I look in the mirror and think for even one second that I was pretty? That I was worth being loved?
“You’re such an idiot.”
After another five minutes, I managed to regain control of myself. I emerged from the stall and wiped off what was left of my make-up.
Then I headed to Bible class to hear my teacher talk about “how much God loves us.”
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