Flash fiction

            Turning the slick, linoleum corner I could feel my heart pounding as I ran up the dirty steps. Reaching the top I glanced both ways before ducking into the closest classroom before I was caught.

            The sun rushed through my curtains like a tide.  It was the first day of ninth grade. Everyone sees high school as this time to recreate oneself but I knew better. Once a socially awkward mathlete, always a socially awkward mathlete. Today would be no different than anything I had experienced before. Tying the laces on my New Balance sneakers and hoisting my pink Jansport onto my back, I greeted the September sun with apprehension.

            Arriving at school was a confusing blur and suddenly I was seated at the back of my homeroom class. I spotted Jennifer at the front of the classroom. I gulped and thought to myself you knew this was coming, Sarah. Jennifer and I had been in classes together since first grade and I was terrified of her. She had bullied me to within an inch of my life and I have always allowed her to. From my plain clothes to my stringy hair I was nothing next to her natural good looks and admiration from all of those around her.

            Thankfully we did not encounter each other during homeroom but my lunch break was an entirely different story. Weaving my confused way through the crowd of students I felt like I had been pitched into a black hole. I turned a corner desperately wishing for a familiar face. I immediately regretted this wish as I came face to face with Jennifer. “Oh Hey, Sarah.” Jennifer said in her sweetest voice. “I see you really spent the summer improving your image. Those frumpy jeans are really in right now.” I could feel the sweat forming between my fingers and the blue plastic tray I was carrying. I noticed a few passerby students eying our interaction and something came over me.

            I placed my tray on the table behind and turned to face her. Looking Jennifer right in the eyes I simultaneously tipped her plastic cup of chocolate pudding onto her white blouse. Her mouth dropped in disbelief. “Well at least my frumpy jeans don’t look like they have shit all over them.” I said. A feeling of pride for standing up for myself swelled up inside me until I realized I could really get in trouble for this. Omg what did I just do? I once again spun around but this time it was to dash out of the cafeteria.

            I’m not sure where I believe I was going to hide but I needed to leave. Taking solace in an empty classroom I was eventually summoned over the loudspeaker from my next class. While I did get a week’s worth of detention and a reputation for trouble on my first day of high school. I realized I had rescued myself from years of simply putting up with someone’s unfair taunts.