Lockwood City

It was a typical morning in Lockwood City in the year 2019 except for the weather getting colder. It was the first of October and it was already freezing, almost like a cold December night. The sun was casting a warm glow to the classroom. The leaves outside were twirling around in the wind like an autumn’s dance. My best friend Sweets and I were looking out the window as students were coming in, mingling and laughing with each other. I had my headphones on listening to Someone you love by Lewis Capaldi while waiting for the bell to ring for first period. For some odd reason, I could smell the rotten leaves outside of the window. I inhaled the autumn scent as I put my elbows on the window still as I watched as people passed us by. Just as I was getting into my thoughts, I felt a small tape on my shoulders, coming from Sweets. I slid my headphones down to my neck. “What’s the problem?”

Sweets tilted her head a little. “Don't you have a birthday coming up?” She asked, her soft brown eyes staring at me. Why does she have to ask me that question? I could really care less about my birthday, not like I’m going to do anything fun or exciting. I nodded my head. “Yeah, on the twenty-sixth of October. What about it?”

She thought for a moment. “Have you ever thought about what you want to do?”

“Who me?” I cough up a laugh, “No, I did not. I’m either going to lay down in bed or drink some beer or alcohol. There’s no point in celebrating my birthday.”

When I finished talking, Sweets was speechless and didn’t know what to say. Then she sighed and shook her head, ashamed that I didn’t know what to do in my life. I mean birthdays are just an ordinary day, there’s nothing special about it except for people telling you happy birthday or giving you pointless gifts that you know you don’t care about. That’s not what I want, what I want is a life of my own and what I mean by this is I want to be alone by myself with music blasting in my ears or treating myself with a cold bottle of beer and some cigarettes.

“You are one miserable soul.” Sweets putting her hands on her forehead. shook her head, ashamed that I didn’t know what to do for my seventeenth birthday. “All you do is drink and smoke! Most

people your age would love to hang out at the mall or eat out at a fancy restaurant but you rather lay in bed, doing nothing with your life! Hell you don’t even have a job!”

She knows more about life than I do and she’s only twelve years old. But why would I take advice from her? It’s my life! I don’t need to hang out with anybody if I don’t want to. Before I could respond to her, the bell began to ring. Shit. I didn’t want to go to class. I hate my first period teacher with a burning passion. She’s so annoying.

“Do you have a meeting with Mina tonight?” I asked, closing the windows. I wasn’t trying to rush to go to my first period class, even though it was a long walk.

“Yes I do. The meeting ends at ten, like it always does.”

God dammit. I have to wait for her to come out of her meeting. I wonder what I’ll do for seven hours? You see, when I was Sweet's age, I took her in with me since she didn’t have a family of her own (weird way to start a story - am I right)? I could remember it being freezing cold outside and her short curly brown hair was all over her face as the wind blew angrily. I remembered it like it was yesterday.

We headed straight to the hallways since other students were coming. “Well just text me when you get out.” I told her. “Or just tell Mina to drop you off at the house.”

I didn't have time to stay and chat. Like always, the hallways were packed like a city in rush hour. I said my goodbyes to Sweets and put my headphones back on and pushed past everyone who crossed my path, trying my hardest to not be late for class again.

“Move out of the way.” I shouted, pushing them into the lockers. Everyone was moving pretty slow today. Maybe because it was a Tuesday. But whatever the cause, it's not my fault that I have to push them out of the way. If they just move a little faster, maybe they won’t be shoved into lockers. Plus, if i don’t go to class, Shana (my dumb history teacher) would lock me out again. Her class was upstairs on the third floor, right now, I was on the second floor. The bell was going to ring any minute.

But then again, I had a friend, Nicole Blackwell, who was in the same class as me. She was probably waiting for me in the back of the classroom or playing that guitar of hers. I felt a small beep in my pants pockets. It has to be from Nicole (Which it was). I pulled out my phone to look at the message.

“Girl, where are you? You’re going to be late again!” That's all she sent. Well damn, wait until I get there! I sent a text back to not let that jackass lock me out and just when I did, the bell began to ring. If it ain’t my luck. To make it worse, the hallways were now cleared up. It’s always when the bell rings when the hallways are clear. Well, at least I have an excuse (There's a hundred percent chance she doesn't believe me). I felt another beep on my phone. This has to be from Nicole.

“She says that she doesn’t give two shits. You’re tardy.” Well looks like someone has a nasty attitude and I know for a fact she doesn't have an attitude with me. I didn’t do anything to her. Yet. Shana and I had a long history of hating each other’s guts (maybe that’s why she became a history teacher) ever since I was born. Our hate game started when she found out that I was poor and living in a small trailer. Every morning when Sweets and I wait for Mina to pick us up, Shana and her husband Aaron

(who works as a math teacher) would drive past our house to have a good laugh at us. I wish they can both just lose their job and become poor like me. Let’s see how she likes it.

I took a peep inside of Shana’s classroom. She was reading that same magazine that she has been reading for the past ten years. Doesn’t she have anything better to do in her life other than bothering me and reading that dumb book? I cut my music off and put my headphones in my bookbag before I prepared to enter Hell.

When I knocked on the door, Shana turned her head slowly, her blonde eyes staring at me, the way a lion watches its prey. She then rolled her eyes and got out of her seat to open the door for me. Man, if I knew I was going to be treated like this then I should've just went detention.

“What excuses do you have this time?” Her voice was firm.

“And good morning to you too, Shana.” I said sarcastically, crossing my arms. Somebody needed to put her in her place and stop drooling all over her like a dog.

“Don't get funny with me.” Her voice sounded like she was annoyed with me. Hmm. Now she knows how I feel. “Now tell me, why are you late for my class?”

“There was too much traffic. Dam, calm down. You're making a big fuss over nothing.”

Shana rolled her eyes and I hope the next she does it, it stays there. “You said that last time. You’re not fooling anyone but yourself!”

Without saying a word, I shoved her out of the way with my shoulders to get to my seat. I’m not going to waste my time with this hideous ugly creature. This is why I hate ugly people.

“Hey, I’m not finished talking to you! Come back here!” Shana bellowed, when she did, everyone in the classroom was staring at the both of us (mostly her since she’s acting like a fool). “And for the last time, take that stupid beanie off! Why do I have to keep telling you this?”

There she goes again, telling me what to do as if she was my mother (which I don’t have one). Why can’t she just worry about her own life instead of mine? Is she going to tell me to stop breathing next? I don’t have the time nor the energy to waste with this woman but if I want her to leave me alone, I have to tell her. I turned around to face her and I wish I hadn't because she looks like a punching bag. I wanted to punch her so bad! Instead I said, “First of all, I’m done talking to you. You’re already getting on my damn nerves. Second, this is my beanie, Not yours. So don’t worry about it.”

The whole class was looking at me like I have lost my mind and I don’t give a shit. I said what I said and I’m not taking it back. I’m not going to waste my breath with her and I’m not going to let anyone take my peace away from me (FYI, I’m never at peace with anyone).

When I sat down next to Nicole, she was snickering and laughing at me. “Wow, Lottie, why do you have to do Mr.s Shana like that? She was only doing her job!” She moved her guitar off my desk and put it on the desk beside her. “You’re worked up over nothing!”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Don’t get me started with her cause she’s really pissing me off.”

I looked down at Nicole’s outfit. “Enough about that, why do you always wear the same color every single day?”

I swear, this girl lives in a world full of pink and yellow. Today she was wearing a pink and yellow sweater with light blue jeans. To be honest, I think it looks cute on her. But sometimes, I don’t understand her, which is why we become friends in the first place. She dresses like any normal girl would with all that pink but her personality is quite different. She has this sassy personality but other than that, she’s pretty nice. She listens to any type of rock music and honestly, she has really good taste in music. “Because it’s my favorite color! I don’t want to wear anything that I don’t like.” Nicole looked at my outfit. “Look who’s talking, you wear that same outfit to school every day.”

“You know I can’t afford to buy nice clothes like everyone else.” I told her, crossing my arms. “Besides, these clothes make me feel so comfortable. I love wearing this outfit!”

I was wearing green cargo pants and a black shirt (with my beanie). Nicole shrugs her shoulders. “If that’s what you want then I won’t complain.”

I roll my eyes again. Jesus, I was in the mood this morning! “I don’t care if you do. I’m still going to wear whatever I want regardless of what anyone says about me.”

I looked over at Shana who was standing behind her desk, giving me the evil eye like she always does every single morning. THIS is what I have to deal with every day of my life. Why can’t she just be a normal teacher and stop staring at me like that. It’s getting really annoying. She’s really pissing me off! She then took out her attendance sheet and started calling people’s names out. Since she was doing that I looked back at Nicole who was now checking to see if her guitar is clean. Well guess we’re done talking until Shana allows us to go to our lockers to get whatever we need from out of there.

Slowly, I turned around to get my headphones out of my bookbag and plug the cord to my phone. Music was like medicine to me. It takes away all of my stress and pain away from me, like Shana for example. I’m sick and tired of her ass. As I was getting into my music, the moment was ruined by a small tap on my finger. It was Nicole. I can’t have one peaceful moment to myself without someone bothering me or getting on my nerves. Nicole had her hand over her mouth like she saw a ghost. I slide the headphones down to my neck. “What is it now?”

Without saying a word, Nicole pointed to Shana’s direction. She was still giving me the evil eye. Why can’t I get one minute of peace without her giving me the evil eye? “What do you want now?” I snapped, crossing my arms.

“Take your headphones off now so I can give further instructions.” Shana demanded, brushing her blue flower dress down before sitting in her seat then she clasped her hands together like she was some type of professional.

“They are off!”

“Don’t talk back to me! Just do what I asked you to do!” Shana clenched her fist in anger. Now she knows exactly how I feel every time I look at her face. “I’m not going to put up with today! Just do

what you want! I’m not going to argue with you.” She puts her hands on her forehead like she did something so big, so special. “As I was trying to say, if y'all want, you can now go to your lockers and get whatever you want for class.”

I was the first to leave the classroom but first I took my headphones off so this creature could leave me alone and plus I didn’t want to sit here with Shana. It was like sitting with a hideous creature with curly blonde hair and makeup. My locker was on the first floor so of course I was going to be late again. Nicole’s locker was on the third floor, where we’re at now.

“You wanna go to my locker first or yours?” Nicole asked, brushing her soft blonde hair back.

“Yours.” I said quickly, not even hesitating. “So we can be late for Shana’s class.”

Nicole giggles. “Whatever you say, Lottie.”

We walked over to her locker where it was filled with music notes that she wanted to practice with her guitar, pictures of me and her glued to the side of her locker. (I was sticking out the middle finger at the camera and she was holding out the peace sign). At the time, we were at the waterfront while we were waiting for Sweets to get out of school from her meeting.

“Why do you have a photo of us in your locker?” I asked out of curiosity. “I look so grumpy in this photo, like I’m mad at someone.”

Nicole laughs (I swear all this girl does is laugh) “You’re always angry. Every day you come to school with this nasty attitude on your face like you want to kill someone.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her because it’s not true. Nicole grabs her music notes and a pack of watermelon gum and locks her locker back up. Why does she have gum in her locker in the first place? Maybe someone dropped it off to her but I don’t think that’s any of my business. “Got everything you need?” I asked, trying to be a good friend.

She nods her head. “Yep! Your locker is on the first floor right?” She asked as I shook my head in agreement.

“It is. It’s going to be a long walk though.” I warned her.