Let them Listen

CHAPTER ONE:Back in Hell...

Don't you ever wish time could stop?

Here I was again. That stupid- sorry, supercilious sidewalk next to the sign saying that it was a bus stop. I was going back to that prison of tormentors, the torturous nightmare I had avoided all summer.

I was going back to school.

I sighed and tapped my foot, not wanting to watch that stupid yellow bus come to pick me up. Yeah. Me, high school student. Riding the freakin' bus. It wouldn't be the first time I'd been laughed at. Heck, by now, laughter was like unpleasant background music like they have when you're on hold on the phone or when you're on the elevator in a really, really big hotel and your room is on the top floor. The kind of music you'd plug your ears and sing: 'la-la-la' to yourself. The kind of mu- well, there I go again. That’s why most people don't like me. I ramble. BIG time. I've inherited a few ugly names at school, like Crazy and Weirdo. The leader of the whole name calling thing would be Shannon. You'd think by now that most would consider it completely immature to trip a person as she walked down the hall, but not Shannon! Oh well. Mom always said to face the darkest day with a smile. I tried to pull one out of my pocket but my braces were in the way. They had green bands- my favorite color- and were well, 'uncool' to most kids. They can deal with it. This is the way I come I guess. That’s what Mom always said. Then again, mom said a lot of things before she died. Things like "Don't forget to dream Maxy....don't forget to dream." and "look at the pretty birdie Max! look at the birdie!" Most people called her insane, and then called me insane for telling them that she'd get better, that her tumor would go away.

They were right. I was insane. And life hadn't been the same since. Mom died three years ago and it still hurt to think about her. My dad didn't want to be one-not to me anyway.

The bus pulled up and I regretfully took the steps up.

"Max." the bus driver greeted as he shut the door. "How yah doin'?" I shrugged.

"I dunno Wayne. I'm only taking a step back into h-e-double tooth picks. Other than that I need skateboard wheels- my last ones are completely worn out."

"Seriously?" Wayne asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah."And that was my five second long conversation with the bus driver. Next would be the hunt for a seat. After looking around dully I took the seat in the very back, ignoring snickers from the-yes, younger- younger kids. I rolled my eyes.

They had no idea. It was them and their perfect little worlds.

Sighing, I took my seat and the bus started to chug along again. Soon Wayne dropped me off at the high school and I-being the only highschooler on that bus, got off alone.

"See ya Wayne." I said dully before the bus doors closed. I grimaced, shoved my hands in my pockets and searched deep, deep, DEEP within me for that smile.

Nada. Nothing.

Ok, so face it with a frown. I tried to comfort myself. I grimaced again. Yeah, and that'll work. Rolling my shoulders, i entered the school with an inward groan; each step took me closer to the one place I didn't want to be.

Even worse: to the people I had to face.

I wished time could stop for everybody else. Then I could just...run away, you know? But mom always said running away from your problems doesn't help. She always said I had to face them head on.

Shannon was definitely a problem. A big time problem. whether its tripping me or gossiping lies, she always has something nasty to say. But I was numb to those comments. Completely immune. It hadn't been like that at first, but well, you know.

Shannon is Miss Perfect Cheerleader- captain of the cheerleaders, actually- beautiful, and last I heard dating Timothy Jackson. I felt my heart flutter just thinking about him. but he was way out of my league. That's life I guess. I might've had a chance if Shannon hadn't embarrassed me.

"Look who it is. I see you haven't been shopping for about....what? Two years? Those shoes are so out of fashion Maxie."

Oh. Well, speak of the devil.

I smiled sweetly- mistake.

"Nice braces, fence face."

nice! a new name!!

"I see you look as powdered as usual. Whatdya know? You dyed your hair blond again. How....nice." I said with a smirk.

"Listen, metal mouth, I'd prefer having to go a day without having my eyes get checked after seeing a fashion dim-wit." Shannon snarled. Her giggling friends on either side of her burst into laughter. I only shrugged.

"Yeah? So don't look in the mirror."

Ah-ha. THAT shut 'em up.

"Max, Max, Max...." Shannon said, shaking her head sympathetically. "You are going to have a really bad year train tracks."

"Yeah? And where’s your crystal ball on that one?" I snapped.

Then of COURSE my shoes had to be untied. OF COURSE I had to step on them. Fabulous.

I had swung around only to fall straight on my face. I heard loud laughter around me as well as names such as: "Klutz!" "Idiot!" "Bigfoot!" Well, 'Bigfoot' was new.

Then I heard something else. Something....nice.

"Whoa there Max! Watch your feet silly." I looked up and there was my knight in shining armor. He had even lent me a hand. I took it and stood up again, blushing furiously and brushing myself off.

"Thanks Timothy." I stuttered.

Yes. Timothy. As in timothy Jackson. As in timothy like the Timothy Shannon was dating.