Young Writers Society

Monday morning, I walked to school. As usual, I was ten minutes early.

While I was walking there, I saw a flock of birds on the other side of the road that were pecking on the ground - probably on grains. I noticed a small bird being pushed around, and thought, unlucky bird number nine.

Maryam met me at the front doors of the school, beaming. She squealed, “You’re back!”

I grinned, “I am!”

“How was Quebec?” she looked at me as if I were the headlights and she was the deer. “What about your cousins?”

“Oh, everything was fine. I’ll tell you more about it later.” I assured her. “Where’s your new friend? Imogen was her name?”

“Yeah. She should be here soon.” she stood on her toes, and looked above my head. “Ah, there she is!” she pointed.

I turned around, and saw a blonde, average sized girl, who had the brightest blue eyes. They were blindingly bright. Maybe I’m over exaggerating, but that’s how I see it as. She had flawless skin, and as she came closer, I noticed her clothes more clearly.

Very nice fashion sense. Better than mine, at least. Suddenly, I felt as if I couldn’t choose my clothes properly. I only had a navy blue sweatshirt, black ripped jeans, and black converse.

But Imogen. She looked like a fashion diva.

“Did the school mistake her for a student?” I whispered. “She’s a model.”

Maryam laughed. “You’re looking at the wrong one, idiot.” she said. “The one beside her.” I blushed.

The girl beside her…

“Ah,” I held my chin. She jogged up to us.

“This is Imogen Taylor.” Maryam introduced. “And this is Julia Portman.”

“Nice to meet you.” she held out her hand, and I shook it.

“Same here.”

She wasn’t too bad. Imogen was a petite girl, curly red hair, braces, and her clothing was just like mine, and I felt a sudden wave of relief. I was glad she was the t-shirt and cargo pants type of girl too. And she had plain sneakers.

We started walking towards our lockers, and Imogen’s locker was just across the hall, so it wasn’t too bad. We got our books and walked side by side to our homeroom to wait outside.

“I’m new to the school.” she said. “I came this year, but I met Maryam on the third day of school. Wednesday.”

I nodded slowly. “Nice. I’ve been at this school for pretty much my entire life. Grade two all the way to now. I was in Canada for the past week. A lot stuff happened.”

She grinned. “I’m from there!” she said, “Nova Scotia is my birth place.”

“I was in Quebec.”

“Nice.” she commented.

“Um… Julia… It’s Maddie and Ella, let’s go.” Maryam started veering me away but I let go of her hand.

“I’ll go talk to them.” I muttered. I hope I wasn’t scaring Imogen. “Give them a taste of -”

“Julia, please.” Maryam pleaded.

I marched right up to the two. They were laughing over something and I didn’t care about what. Their backs were facing me, so I pushed them both. They stumbled, and turned around.

I scrunched up my face. Both their faces were caked with make up. “Ew. Did someone tell you guys that y’all look like clowns right now?”

Honestly though, they looked hideous. Too much lipstick, too much blush, too much foundation and concealer. I shuddered.

“Aw, scared to say anything else, Shudder-Freak?” Maddie tormented.

“No, I’m shuddering at your make up. You look like actual clowns, no joke.” I snapped. That caught some people’s attention and they all turned around to watch - some even started laughing.

“Shut up.” Ella muttered, trying to drag Maddie away. She let go.

“Lemme talk to this -”

I’m afraid I can’t tell you what she said next because it was too disgusting to be told to anyone.

I winced at her words. “Watch your language, you stinger bee.”

Maddie raised her hand to shove me away, but it was stopped. I looked at who stopped her. I don’t want any defense. I don’t want a bodyguard! My eyes fell on Duncan and his glaring gray eyes that were directed to Maddie.

“Wanna be a teacher’s pet?” he said coolly. “Then be quiet, turn around, and leave her alone.” he dropped Maddie’s hand. Silently, I was cheering in my head.

Maddie and Ella left and so did the crowd.

Not very dramatic, but I felt good.

“There was no need for that. I coulda handled her. I do karate.” I told Duncan. He just shrugged and walked away.

Duncan, the guy who always poked me in the back during History class, just stood up for me and didn’t say a word?

Wowzers.

“That. Was. Awesome!” Imogen said from behind me, clapping her hands together. We grinned, but when I looked at Maryam, she was frowning. “Aw, stop being such a grumpy-pants, you gotta admit that was great!”

“I guess.” Maryam sighed.

Rrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnng!

Let the classes begin!

We rushed into Homeroom, which passed very quickly. Next I had Gym - we had volleyball. Math was third - I almost fell asleep. Fourth period was History - in which I got zero pokes, and somehow still ended up in detention. Lunch - I talked to Imogen and Maryam, and explained every single thing that happened to me in a week.

“Oh my god.” Maryam said, wide eyed. She still hadn’t eaten anything.

“Jeez.” Imogen commented. “That’s… crazy. No offence. Just… wow.”

“Yeah, I guess there was a lotta stuff that happened.” I shrugged.

“Don’t you dare leave me alone in this world.” Maryam scolded. I knew she was talking about my suicide-attempt, and my heart dropped. “Because who else would help me with my science homework?”

Imogen and I laughed. Maryam smirked.

The bell rung once again, and it was time for science! My favorite subject. I’m still very much into science. I’ve decided that I want to do something related to science.

I want to be a psychologist!

Basically everything in psychology is related to science and you get paid very decently, too, so that’s my final decision.

In science that day, we were studying the dead body of a bird. I grimaced as the teacher held the poor thing up, showing its wings’ movement.

“Unlucky bird ten…” I whispered to myself, as Mrs McDonald tossed the crow back onto the table.

After science, we had Art. Apparently, Imogen was an artist. She drew, sketched, painted, etc., very beautifully. I looked at my sloppy sketch of a sunset and winced. I was never the best when it came to drawing.

One last class - Music - and then it’s time to go home! Imogen and Maryam were going to come over, I asked them both, and instantly, both of them had whipped out their phones to check with their parents.

+++

“Mum! Grams!” I called through the front door, locking it behind me. “I’m home!”

“I’m in the kitchen with Ann!” Grams called back.

Maryam, Imogen and I followed the scent of cookies and into the kitchen. We greeted them both, dropped our bags on the floor beside the wall, grabbed a plateful of cookies, and ran up to my room. We all sat on my bed in a circle.

Imogen spoke up first, after devouring two cookies, “I like your mother’s accent.” she smiled.

“Thanks. Same here, but it’s unfortunate that I don’t.” I pouted.

Maryam looked sternly at me, “Imagine how badly Mrs. Portman wants her accent to be American.”

“Oh well.” I shrugged, combing my hand through my hair. “And just call her Ann or Anthea. She says she likes to be hip with the teens.” I quoted, smirking.

Maryam and Imogen shared a look that I couldn’t translate.

“What?” I asked.

“I told Imogen…” Maryam trailed off when Imogen pinched her.

“What is it?” I looked at them both frantically. “Am I forgetting something?”

“Maybe. You didn’t mention it at all today.” Imogen said sheepishly.

I squinted at them. “Give me a hint.”

“It’s a date.” Maryam and Imogen said in unison.

“A what?” I screeched. “I don’t do -” They both fell over laughing.

“Not that date, silly, the other date.” Maryam stated. “Like, today is September the twelfth.”

I widened my eyes. “I’m turning fourteen tomorrow!”

My friends started laughing so loud, Grams came running up the stairs, clutching her chest. “What happened?” then, seeing our laughing faces, “Oh… never mind.” she rolled her eyes. “I thought something bad happened. Goodness.”

The day passed by, and I was happy with every single minute of it. 

I have a mother, I know my cousins better, my grandmother is still with me, I’ve had a friend who betrayed me, I made a new friend in less than one day, I have step-siblings… It was all so unbelievable.