t w o

Chapter 2 

Meet my Hell 

The rest 0f the bus ride is silent, except for the occasional loud murmur coming from the rest of the people on the bus. I stare out of the window, looking at all the other cars and houses whizzing past. 

We just got into the neighbourhood my school is in, and you can practically see the socioeconomic differences. I live in a more rundown part of the city, it’s not dangerous enough to be called ghetto but it’s not safe enough for an early morning run (if you understand what I’m saying). 

The bus comes to a halt, abruptly ending my thoughts. Standing up, I greet Andy, 

“Bye Andy, say ‘hey’ to Kelly for me.” I say passing him a fleeting smile. 

“See ya tomorrow Issa,” he chirps back. 

With that I step down from the bus and make my way to the schools’ front doors. My parents want me to have a better education than what they had, which inevitably led to them sending me here. A school far from my house but not posh enough for me to be snobby. 

To me, attending Alanon High isn’t really affecting me. Unless you consider being ‘given so many opportunities’ a life changer... Nope I’m still me. The front of the school is brick and it’s the same all around, red brick as far as the eye can see. But inside it's slightly more modern with tiles and lockers lining the hallways. 

The dark blue lockers standing out amongst the peachy-beige linoleum floor. Herds of hormone filled teenagers competing to fit in. Turning left into the senior hallway, I see Sam and Justin standing in front of my locker. They’ve been my friends since Grade 8 and they just understand me and my situations better than anyone. Their heads perk up at the sound of my footsteps, 

“Issa!” shouts Justin. 

“Belle! And here I thought you were ditching us today.” Yells Sam. 

I shoot him a glare. 

“Don’t call me Belle bozo... And why would I ditch my two favourite boys,” I coo as I load my books into my bag for the first half of school. 

“Um Issa were the only boys you know.” Says Justin. 

I merely shrug my shoulders in response. 

“so, want to join everyone for a movie after school?” asks Sam while batting his eyelashes in an innocent and suggestive manner. 

Natalie or Nat for short is Sam’s girlfriend of 7 months. And Andrew and Justin have been dating since Grade 9. 

“Wait so you want me to go on a double date between you and your girlfriend,” I say pointing to Sam, “And you and your boyfriend?” I ask, pointing to Justin, in disbelief. 

They glance at one another before replying together. 

“Yes!” 

We start walking to homeroom. 

“Well then when you put it like that...” I look toward them as I speak, watching their expressions brighten. Trinnnngggggg goes the last bell. 

“No... God- that would be so awkward!” I exclaim. 

Just as they’re about to reply Mr. Brie interrupts, 

“Ahem, Mr Larson, Ms Grys and Mr Brown would you mind lowering your voice while I do roll call which you are 37 seconds late to.” She says checking her watch. 

“I wouldn’t mind, thank you for your concern though,” replies Justin with just the right amount of sass and confidence in his voice to seem genuine about his words. The entire class bursts out laughing, Mrs Brie’s face flushes red with anger. 

“Quiet class... Ermm just... ugh,” Mrs Brie’s words are drowned out with the loud laughs coming from the rest of the class. 

Taking my seat laughing, Justin turns to me. 

“Please Issa, it won’t be that awkward- besides if you want Andrews been saying he has a bli8nd date lined up for you for ages now.” 

“You know I can`t even if I wanted to, my parents don’t like me leaving the house and if I do leave they are coming unless there’s already ‘adult supervision’ and besid-'' I'm cut off by the door swinging open. All the chatter in the room quiets to hush murmurs, I turn my head looking beside me to look at the door on the right-front of the class. And in walks Cole, Zack, Michael, and Jackson. Ugh here it comes... 

“Miss me fellow classmates?!” Cole shouts at the class as he does every day before they start making their way to the back of the class. Cole (James but doesn’t like his first name so everyone calls him Cole- his second name) and the rest of his goonies are the epitome of sinister. Well almost all of them... 

Coles’ the delinquent rumoured to belong to a gang. 

Zacks the jock, also rumoured to be in a gang. 

As for Michael and Jackson, no it wasn’t done on purpose, they’re more pranksters and jokers than anything else. And as for the gang part I have no idea... 

But unlike cliché ‘bad boys’ they’re all smart and do the work in class, even if they have detentions and multiple disciplinary hearings a week. The rest of the guys are either laughing or glaring at the shameless boys. And as for the girls they’re either swooning or giggling. 

As for me I don’t care, I’m happy they have a life and it's one they’re content with, but it doesn’t affect me so why should I pay attention. I turn back to Justin who’s currently laughing his head off at Mrs Brie’s face. She’s gone all red again, which is quite funny. 

Lord now I’m laughing. 

“Gentleman quiet down please.” Mrs Brie’s words boom through the class loud, yet she sounds nervous. All the damn teachers here are like that, they pretend to be tough with those boys yet one look at them and they’re quaking in their boots. 

Trinnnngggggg, and homeroom finally ends. Everyone’s leaving class now as if their whole existence is to get through that door. And with the amount of pushing and shoving that’s going on here I don’t think they’ll exist for much longer. I’m standing by my desk with Justin and Sam waiting for everyone else to leave. 

“What class do you guys have now?” I ask trying not to get annoyed at having to wait here. 

“Umm let’s see...” Sam removes a piece of paper from his bag, I’m assuming it’s his schedule. 

Justin does the same, I don’t – I memorised my schedule yesterday. School started about 2 weeks ago I was behind, I’m dumb not lazy I’d like to think there’s a difference. 

“English,” says Justin, putting his schedule back into his bag. 

“Math, you?” replies Sam looking towards me expectantly. 

“Great, we're all lonely. I have art...” I trail off thinking about how I’m going to paint my heart out when I get to class. 

Making our way out of class, 

“Bye shall I never see thou saviours again...” I say walking away from them. 

“Bye Juliet to my Romeo!” Justin shouts. 

I roll my eyes, turning my back on them.