The Penpal Project | Chapter 7
décembre 19, 2017
Breaking Routine is Hard to Do
The alarm beeped until I groaned and reluctantly sat up, checking the time. It took me a few seconds to realize that school started in fifteen minutes, and I frantically got dressed and flew downstairs to eat and finish getting ready. I’ve been late before, but Marge has had perfect record since fifth grade!
I yelled goodbye to my dad and flung the door open, prepared to apologize and run to school with her and her twin. But it took me a minute for last night’s events to sink in. The fight, and her leaving angry with Jack.
I looked down sadly the entire walk to school, but I was not one to act defeated in front of the enemy. So I held my head high as I walked through the gate, and strutted confidently in the hall, smiling at people I knew.
I saw Marge at our locker, and she didn’t turn around when I walked by. I’ll admit it, that stung. And I needed to get my books, but luckily she left a second later and I managed to make it to class right on time.
At lunch, I sat with that annoying girl from the carnival, Ally. “Hey! So, like, what’s up with you and Marge? You two were perf!” She asked. “We had a fight last night.” I said, clenching my jaw, not wanting her to ask more.
“Oh, okay. I heard you and Alex are together now!” She changed subjects. “Not officially, but date two will hopefully be happening soon,” I replied, looking at Alex who caught my gaze and waved me over. “Be right back.” I told Ally, getting up and striding over to him.
“Aw, dork is walking over to her wittle cwush!” One of the guys at Jack’s table mocked in a baby voice as I walked by. My walk faltered as I glanced at them from the corner of my eye.
Jack gave a small smile to me, and I returned it with a glare as my walk came back and I sat next to Alex. How can Jack be so... sweet, when we walk home from school but hang with those guys and become one? It didn’t make sense.
“Jerks,” I muttered, getting a sympathetic nod from him. “So, sorry I didn’t get back to you about date two. I’d love to!” I said excitedly. “Really?” His eyes lit up, but dimmed a little. “But I thought you weren’t feeling it?”
I looked over to where Marge was now sitting with Ally. She caught my gaze, and while keeping her eyes on me, she pushed my lunch over and replaced it with hers. Then she smiled wickedly, and I gave a cheesy smile to Alex (knowing how Marge felt about him. Is it wrong that I’m kind of using him?).
“I’m suddenly feeling this a lot more now. Pick me up at seven?” I said, standing and walking away, knowing it’d be a yes. Then I returned Marge’s smile/glare and walked over to the table. “Marge, how lovely to see you.” I said stiffly.
“The same to you, Elizabeth. And my I say your hair looks fantastic today,” she said with a mock smile. I flinched slightly. Elizabeth? I self-consciously moved a hand to my hair and brushed my fingers through it, knowing I didn’t brush it very well in my morning dash.
“Thank you. And may I say that your makeup looks as nice as always,” I replied with an evil smile as I grabbed my lunch and confidently walked away with a, “Goodbye.”
I sighed as I sat at an empty table, not feeling hungry and packing up my lunch. What is happening?
Marge stared out the window as I looked at her. “Hi class! Today half of you will be writing letter five, so you know the routine. Have fun, keep it appropriate, and stay anonymous!” Mrs. L said perkily as she took a seat at her desk.
I blinked, clearing my thoughts of Marge, and grabbed a pencil and paper. I started writing, referring to Anonymous #2’s previous letter.
Hi Anonymous #2,
Sorry to hear about your parents. I know a lot about that kind of stuff, and I wish I could know who you are so I could comfort you during these hard times. My advice would be to stick close to these friends, and know that it will get better eventually.
I’m in a fight with my best friend, so my advice might be a little hypocritical. Hm, do I consider myself something? Well, I think I’m creative and a pretty good writer, and it’s always been a dream of mine to write a bestselling novel. Your dreams are much more exciting.
Comics, huh? I’ve read a few of those but I’m not a huge fan. Rom-com style is not sappy!... Okay, maybe it is. But good for your sister for telling you every detail about them. Or maybe not in your perspective. Sorry,
Anonymous #1
I turned the note in and stood outside the classroom. Marge came out, and I realized I was waiting for her out of routine. I straightened, looked her in the eyes with no expression, and walked out the school doors. Then the most surprising thing happened.
“Liz, wait up!” Jack yelled fro behind me, running up and falling into step next to me. I kept my eyes forward on the sidewalk up ahead, and I could feel him staring at me. I sighed. “What do you want?” I asked, exhausted.
“I want to say that I am so sorry for how those guys acted. They’re jerks-“ I cut him off and turned towards him so we were standing face-to-face. “Then why do you hang out with them?” I cried impatiently. He looked down, ashamed, and the answer came to me.
“Popularity,” I said unbelievably. His head stayed ducked. I glared, feeling tears threatening, and turned on my heel, stomping away. He caught up and walked next to me again. “What do you want?” I said angrily, not looking at him.
“I want to understand. What happened with you and Marge?” He asked softly. I stopped again and looked at my shoes. “We fought. She can’t control my life.” I said flatly. This was where I expected him to defend his sister, join her side. “Fair enough,” came his reply.
I looked into his blue eyes. “What?” I said quietly. He shrugged and repeated, “Fair enough.” I stared into his eyes for a second longer, then blinked and shook my head, starting to walk again. He didn’t catch up with me again, and probably went to report to Marge.
I sighed as I walked into my house, plopping my backpack on the table and grabbing an apple from the fruit basket on the small island. “No after-school plans today, honey?” My dad asked, looking up from his newspaper. “No, Dad. Marge and I had a fight last night.” I said, blinking back tears again.
He nodded and didn’t say anything else. His phone buzzed and he answered, telling me that he had to go help someone after he hung up. I nodded and started on my homework, playing background music on my phone as I tried to drown out my problems.
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