Chapter Three—C is for Crewman, The Goddess of Catastrophe

Looking up at that all-too-familiar sign, the ‘Welcome Back Cougars’ written on a yellow banner that had drawings of paws on it, strung between the huge cream pillars at the entrance, feelings of dread and apprehension rooted me to the steps.

I was about to enter for either another year as the reigning class clown or another year to show them that making a complete and utter fool of myself wasn’t the only thing I was versed in.

I decided against the former and went in. Luckily I wasn’t too late and the first period bell hadn’t been rung yet.

I went to my locker and took out the books I would need.

“Good morning fair lady. How has your day been?” A smooth voice laced with a pleasant British accent inquired.

I turned around.

Indy was in jeans and the school’s basketball jersey, her raven hair was tied back into its usual ponytail. Her 5’11 height qualified her for a spot on the team, but unfortunately Coach Bryson put her on the second team aka she’s never going to play for the school.

“I’m fine. How’re you?”

“Good. We just finished practice and by practice, I mean Coach made us throw balls at each other. Sometimes, I think he just hates us.”

“He probably does. Have you seen Andi?”

“No, but assembly’s in a few minutes. Maybe we can find her there. Cute outfit by the way.”

“Thanks,” I twirled.

“Let me go change. I’ll meet you there.”

She left and soon a high-pitched giggle rang inside my ears.

I turned around and saw Rebecca, my most hated enemy and the captain of the cheer squad and her croonies huddled in a corner laughing their heads off.

Our eyes met and she whispered something to her minions before they straightened themselves out and strutted towards me.

Rebecca, the witch in the middle, fit the cliché model of a mean, dumb cheerleader only after boys. Blonde hair turned and curled into massive locks that framed a delicate face, blue eyes, lip-glossed pink lips shielded sparkling white teeth that always had peppermint gum between them, a sleek, curvy body that drove guys gaga and legs that went on for miles.

Darcy was on her left, the only girl with dark hair on the cheer squad. Mindy was the last. She had blonde hair but she always put it in a ponytail so it didn’t outshine Rebecca’s. 

They reached me and Rebecca planted her hand on her hip.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Duchess of Stupidtown. What do you have planned for us today, Your Grace? I charged my camera fully and I anxiously await recording that video that would reach 1 million views. Oh and did I mention, last year’s where you ripped your swimming suit is almost at five thousand now.”

They all laughed.

You wouldn’t believe it, but, there was a time when this female dog standing before me smelling like she got drenched in cheap perfume, used to be my best friend.

That was in middle school. When we finally moved to high school, somehow, I slid down the social ladder and she ascended it. 

Being popular – and did I mention puberty – changed her. 

One made her very pretty and desirable and the other twisted her into the cruel, uncaring and emotionally dead Rebecca Griffith that stood before me.

But that was a long time ago. In a galaxy far far away.

Right now, the sarcastic region of my brain shut down and I couldn’t think of anything snarky to say.

That’s what the new Rebecca did to me. Before, words flowed freely when I was with her. But now, I can’t think of anything to say and to anybody else I look intimidated by the three Barbie dolls standing before me.

“Well, I guess you charged it for nothing. You’ll have to wait a long time before that happens,” I finally managed to utter.

“Yeah. Until lunch,” offered Darcy.

They all laughed.

“Cute outfit,” Mindy regarded me with cold contempt. “I mean, was a cute outfit. Did you raid your great-grandmother’s closet?”

They laughed again.

“If you did, I’m pretty sure there are better outfits than the one you picked,” Rebecca finished.

If my self-esteem wasn’t low before, it was low now. I wanted to shrink to the size of a dust particle.

I was particularly proud of this outfit. It didn’t make me look like a big shapeless pound of flesh and I actually looked cute.

Now Rebecca and her pack of idiots made me feel small, sad and full of regret for wearing it.

“Well, muffin. We need to go. Buh bye!”

They all wriggled their fingers and strutted off to the hall for assembly.

I took a deep breath, tears already in my eyes.

Don’t let Rebecca get to you. This isn’t her first insult and it’ll certainly not be her last. It didn’t get to you the first time, don’t let it now.

After my small pep talk I was able to finish sorting my books calmly.

Thankfully, I spotted Indy and Andi coming towards me from the changing rooms.

Andi was dramatically explaining something while Indy was trying hard not to roll her eyes.

I smiled. 

Now these girls were my friends. They’d stuck by me since freshman year and they’re partly the reason why Rebecca hates me and her taunts never get to me.

“In conclusion, I think that building a time machine is easier than getting Mr Lincoln to admit that broccoli green is not a color,” concluded Andi as they got to me.

Indy finally released the suppressed eye roll.

“Hello Taylor. Looking good,” commented Andi.

I didn’t take her compliment, all thanks to Rebecca.

“Hi Andi. What are you guys talking about?”

“Indy wanted to know if convincing Mr Lincoln to make her group leader would be possible. He picked Chris this morning and you know when that man sets his mind on something, damn all nature’s laws, nothing will change it. Like last year when he said broccoli green was a color.”

“Yes, but I didn’t expect it to turn into a PhD length lecture, Andrea,” Indy breathed.

Indy and I laughed and it was Andi’s turn to roll her brown eyes.

“Come on girls. Let’s go to assembly.”

We turned a corner and walked across the courtyard that was the hangout for the populars. Or the populazzi, like I call them.

I visualized myself sitting under a tree talking with all the cheerleaders and not until we got to our huge basketball court that doubled as an event hall did I finally snap out of it. 

And that was due to the immense heat I felt on entering. LittleWood High was a big school and people from every race and country went here.

We managed to find a seat high up because the lower ones were occupied by the enthusiastic freshmen.

Mrs. Alderman, the principal stepped on a movable lectern and tapped the microphone. It made a deafening screech that successfully shut everyone up. I put my hand to my ears blocking them from the painful noise.

When it died down I put my hands down.

She had a smug smile on her face as she surveyed us through old-fashioned glasses, her curly brown hair framing her oval face.

“Good morning students and welcome freshman. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday and are ready to get back to work. I won’t take up much time. I want you all to be serious, make good grades and keep the LittleWood High flag flying. For freshman, there’ll be an orientation program here after lunch. The rest of the students carry on with their schedule from last year.”

The entire court was filled with groans which I knew were from juniors. Starting everyday with Miss Mausley, Literature, was torture and we silently hoped they’d give us a new schedule. 

Guess we’re still stuck with her.

“That’ll be all and welcome new students,” concluded Mrs Alderman.

“Why!” screamed Andi.

“It’s official, every person that works here hates us,” Indy ended with a groan.

“Hey, don’t feel too bad, Shakespeare is a lovely writer. I can hardly wait to see what’s in store for us this year!” I said sarcastically.

Andi’s head was on Indy’s lap as she sobbed – or pretended to.

“Where’s Henry? I don’t see him.”

I scanned the crowds filing out.

“Who cares? I’m sad about Miss Mausley. I’m a drama major and I hate Literature! It’s that bad,” sobbed Andi getting up from Indy’s lap.

“Let’s get to class.”

We all stood up and got into the throngs of moving bodies.

Somehow we found ourselves in our class, 4B.

Henry sauntered in talking to Ted, a skinny boy with a full head of red hair, gave us waves before settling into his seat. His discussion with Ted was way more important than either of us. His best friends.

Rebecca and her gang continued their giggling until Miss Mausley came in, a book in her hand and bad creases in her black suit. As usual.

“Good morning class. As you are all climbing higher academically, this year we’re reading something a little bit harder.”

Figures.

“The literature for this year is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. We will read, analyze and review the book.” she started giving out copies of a yellow book.

I collected my copy and flipped through it, tuning her out.

After five more classes, the bell rang for lunch

The only sign I’d been in a class for four hours was the numbing pain in my butt from those hard wooden chairs and my growling stomach.

We all lined up to collect our lunch and Andi and Indy were in front of me.

The food there wasn’t that bad. They served turkey sandwiches, an apple and a bottle of juice.

The day has gone pretty well and I guess that made my bad luck mad because it decided to strike.

As I was turning with my lunch, Stacey – the only girl in school allergic to meat, lined up behind me – collided with me spilling whatever was her lunch all over me.

It was red, smelly and sticky.

To add to the situation she tipped another bowl, spilling warm melted cheese over me. It combined with the red on my sweater to give a mosaic of disgusting glob.

The cafeteria was dead silent. The people behind me watched, some barely holding their laughter. Andi and Indy had sat and Andi had both her hands on the sides of her face, Indy’s hand covered her mouth. They both looked horrified.

To make matters worse, I was in front, giving anyone who cared to look a good view.

I saw Kenneth, my football crush staring at me with pity in his warm blue eyes.

I could’ve died right there.