If Only For A Moment

Highschool, the place where creativity goes to die.

It was only the first day and I could already feel the uniformity of it all choking me to death.

It's not like we ask to come here. In my opinion, the best lessons we can learn are generously given through expirience.

Not that I've had much. I'm that girl that you look at once and never give a second glance to. You'll never wonder about me, and it's just as well. I have nothing wonderful to tell you.

But in highschool you have to be semi interesting otherwise you'll get totally ignored. This would have been completely fine with me but you seem to draw more attention to yourself if you are silent instead of at least slightly going out of your way to be social.

So if youre just an average student with an average amount of friends, (or at least aquaintences) as long as you have some people to awkwardly stand around with, you will survive high school just fine.

I was fortunate enough to throw a boyfriend in for good measure which kept me out of all the drama that guys bring around.

I sored under the radar which suited me just fine. I planned to stay there for all four of my highschool years.

However my twin sister had a different fate. I don't know if she had planned it that way or if it had just happened, but even by the end of the first day of highschool, my sister had made her mark.

Or at least the new girl had for her. We both attended a private christian school out in the middle of nowhere. We all wore uniforms that proudly displayed our school colors, red, white, gray, and black. Although no one usually wore the black which was why when 'new girl' showed up in all black that blended in with her razor cut dark brown hair and thick eye liner, she stuck out like a black eye on a perfectly groomed complexion.

In an ironic sense, she sort of was. She was the black sheep the one who didn't belong. In most realistic terms, the goth among the preps.

The rumors were flying even before the first assembly let out.

Rumors annoyed me. They were seldom true and they consisted of the most illogical content. They were ridiculous to listen to and you could never escape them.

I would never listen to them on purpous but sometimes like that morning in first period math class I would overhear them.

And even then I could usually tune them out, unless of course I hear my sister's name mentioned in them.

"Did you see that Kylee chick talking to new girl? I think they were friends before."

I got up to sharpen my pencil and take a quick peek at the girls who were whispering.

I recongized one of them as Ashley from the junior class, the other was a girl from the sophomore class but I couldn't remember her name. I decided to call her 'highlights'

I was able to catch the next sentence as I passed.

"Nah, I don't think so, Kylee doesn't look nearly as creepy as new girl." said highlights

"But Kylee is still a little creepy looking." Ashley replied.

Both the girls snicker and turn back to look at the teacher.

I figured I ought to sharpen my pencil and hurry back to my desk so I stuck it in the little machine and cringed at the loud grinding noise that erupted from it's body.

Why is it that such a small device makes such a loud noise?

When I removed it from the machine, the silence in the classroom seemed even louder than the pencil sharpener.

I slowly turned around and focused my eyes on the teacher.

"Thank you for showing us where the pencil sharpener is Samantha." She said smiling.

Snickers broke out around the classroom and I felt my cheeks burning with embarresment.

"For future reference class, if you need to use the pencil sharpener please ask first." She guestured for me to take a seat.

 In all retrospect, I sat down. But inwardly I was repeatedly smacking myself on the head.

So much for flying under the radar.

After that class period I pushed and shoved my way out of the room and made my way to my locker.

That's where I saw something that I'd never forget, a rumor that was actually true!

Kylee was leaning against here locker and she appeared to be in deep discussion with 'new girl'.

The first thought I had was that they made an odd pair. One girl in a white shirt and the red plaid skirt with blonde hair resting on her shoulders. And the other in a black polo with a black skort and a large black sweater with short dark her framing her face.

My second thought was that the rumors were true! My sister was talking to 'new girl' and it looked like they were actually becoming friends.

I made my way to them in the hallway.

Kylee was laughing at something 'new girl' had said.

Why was my sister who had never had any non preppy or non christian friends suddenly talking to this girl who quite frankly looked like she had just left a funeral?

"Hey Sam! How was your first period?" Kylee cried out excitedly.

She had always been so full of life.

"It was fine." I said in my own matter-of-factly way. I'm not the most animated person you'll ever meet.

"This is Natalie." she said guesturing towards new girl.

"No I'm not! I'm Francis!" said new girl in a suprisingly lively voice.

"I'm Francis," she repeated more calmly offering me her hand.

I took it reluctantly looking curiously in between her and my sister "I'm Samantha, but you can call me Sam."

My sister looked at 'new girl' with confusion.

"You said your name was Natalie!" She said.

'New girl' began to laugh, her laugh was light and amazingly contagious.

"Yep it's Natalie, but you really thought it was Francis didn't you?" she said suddenly looking at me.

"Umm yeah I guess so."

"What a funny name! I almost wish I had that name, just to see the reaction on everyone's faces when I said 'hello my name is Francis' I mean you should have seen the look on yours!"

She continued to laugh and I couldnt help but smile.

For looking like she had just left a funeral she was certaintly a lively one.

Just then I saw my boyfriend Joel walking towards us.

He was muscular and tan from cross country and his slightly wavy blonde hair brushed his forehead just above his eyebrows.

"Goodmorning love, how was your first period?" he asked with a smile.

I was very happy to see him, " It was fine." I said almost believing it. "How was yours?"

I listened to him explain to me how dull bible class was going to be that year and how much he wished I were taking it with him until the first bell rang.