• I can't stand it when someone keeps something from me.
    It drives me insane! My parents always kept things from me, which wasn’t the best decision sometimes. I had no idea what was going on during their divorce. I didn’t even know what the word divorce meant. Maybe I just have the innate quality of being completely oblivious to everything happening around me; or is it the forgetfulness? Not like it matters. The divorce still messed me up later on, and that’s an understatement.

    Now, whenever anyone says anything that could risk an argument, I panic! It makes me sick sometimes, and it’s unbearable. Like having your limbs slowly pulled out of their sockets with no hint of relief. I suppose that’s just my luck though. But still, the divorce tore me in half. One half of me was sane, and the other half was crazy. My sane half decided to go on vacation. Now I have to know every single detail of every single person’s life. Not only that, but I will get the information I want. I have a special talent that way I guess.

    “You know you don’t have to drive me mom. I’m perfectly capable of walking to school on my own,” I reminded Sara for the third time this week. My face flushed as the ridiculous Pepto Bismol colored bug pulled into the drop off line.

    “Sweetie it’s still dark out when school starts. I don’t want you walking in the dark.” She began to slow down the car until it thudded.

    “It’s only dark today because of the storm clouds mom,” I argued.

    She sighed, ”Rachael. No. I can see Orion’s Belt for crying out loud!”

    “Well then get me a car!” Anything was better than arriving in this pink nightmare, “I want to be a bit more independent.” I saw the happy peppy cheerleaders frown at the bug. I wanted to throw up, “Ew. Caitlin.” I murmured.

    Sara rolled her eyes. I could tell from her voice. It always seemed to have a higher pitch every time she did so, “You know as well as I do that we don’t have the money to do that Rachael,” she put the car in neutral, “Now go on. Have a good day at school.” She leaned over to kiss my cheek before I could escape.

    “Bye Mom,” I hurried out of the car. When I was a safe distance away, I paused. The school was taunting me; a new semester; new classes, new teachers, new classmates, new friends, and new enemies.

    “Hey Rachael!” I heard a familiar voice, but it didn’t quite fit the face I associated it with. My eyes looked for the source of the sound.

    “Devin! How’s it going?” I felt myself smile for the first time of the day, “What’s wrong with your voice? Are you sick?” He ran his hand through his dirty blond hair.

    “Nah. I went to my little sister’s soccer game yesterday. I was sort of her cheerleader,” he laughed, revealing a dimple on his right cheek. “You excited for the new year?” he asked mockingly.

    I growled, “I couldn’t be more excited on my wedding day.” I felt my lips scratch together like sand paper, and cringed. Without thinking, my hand reached into my pocket, and grabbed my chap stick. I rolled the wax on my mouth, and put the stick back in one movement. “What about you?” I questioned, cocking my head like a puppy after asking it if it wants to go on a walk.

    We both began walking casually on the school grounds. Devin nodded his head and replied, “I’m actually kind of glad school is starting again.” He laughed, “What a perfect day for summer to end right?”

    The charcoal clouds were eerie, and promised some heavy duty rain, “Oh yeah. Absolutely perfect.” Then, before I could breathe, Caitlin came strutting over. The smell of coconut lotion radiated off of her overly tanned skin. Her voice seemed to break the sound barrier.

    “Devin! Ahh! Oh my gosh! Hey!” I shut my eyes, and held back the many insults boiling inside my head. Chill Rachael. Chill. She’s not worth it. I repeated over, and over like a chant.

    Calmly, I began walking away, “See you later Devin.” Caitlin’s arms found their way around his waist, and pulled him close to her. I saw Devin wave dumbly in the corner of my eye. Caitlin was a leech. I wanted to slap her so hard that she wouldn’t remember who did it. If only she knew what I fantasized about doing to her. I think she knows I hate her, and that is probably why she is all over Devin. She thought I’d get jealous. What a typical Caitlin assumption.

    I considered giving her the bird, but rejected it. Caitlin wasn’t worthy enough for my middle finger to grace her with its presence. I smiled to myself at this thought because it was only true.