Lessons in Letting Go

Geneveve

Three more months. If I can hold out for three more months, I’ll be free of the hell that’s been my life since moving here in the tenth grade. Since my first day at Riverton High, I've been the target of non-stop criticism and torment from my peers because I’m different. The other students here come from wealthy families, but not me. My father got lucky and married a woman who was wealthy, but I wasn’t born into it and I’m certainly not accustomed to it. Shelly had tried to push me into letting her get me new clothes so I could ‘better adapt’ to my new surroundings, but I’ve never been willing to change myself for anyone, so why start now?

Unlike the other girls in my school who wear designer clothes, have perfectly manicured hands and look like they have a personal makeup artist stuffed in their Prada purses…I wear frayed skinny jeans, leggings, band shirts and tank tops with button down shirts that are left unbuttoned to ensure I remain within the dress code standards. The other girls wear high heels while I wear heeled Harley-Davidson custom riding boots. Their hair is always perfectly styled and highlighted while mine is pin straight, black with red highlights and is often used to conceal my face from my tormentors. While the girls all despise me because of how different I am, the boys don’t even know I exist. My only relief from the torment is when I get to ride my bike. My dad bought me a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 for my seventeenth birthday and let me tell you, that did not make Shelly happy in the slightest.

“Gen? You’re going to be late if you don’t hurry the hell up!” My father shouts from down the hall. I Finish zipping and buttoning my black skinny jeans, tuck my white t-shirt into the front, slip on my boots and zip them then grab my black leather jacket before hurrying downstairs and head straight to the garage. I secure my hair with a hair tie that I keep in my jacket pocket and pull my helmet on before opening the garage door and climbing on my bike. I pull out of the garage and turn onto the street that’s lined with fancy houses that all remind me of mini-mansions.

A lot of the kids in my school live on my street or the next one over, so every morning I see them climbing into their fancy sport cars dressed in their fancy outfits. Today's no exception as I see Sierra and Christine pulling out of Sierra’s driveway in her white Porsche. I fly by her driveway like always and smirk when she flips me off as I pass by. Even with all the torture from these stuck up snobs, I still get pleasure in knowing that my existence darkens their doorstep so much.

I park my bike in the back lot of the coffee shop across from the school, where I work three days a week, then I walk in to get my morning coffee and smile as Kaleb already has it ready on the counter. I get several dirty looks as I make my way past the line and retrieve my coffee, giving Kaleb a warm smile as I slide $10 across the counter and exit with my coffee in hand. I wait for the light to change and indicate it’s safe to cross then hurry across the street and reach the doors to the main entrance of school just as the first bell rings.

I make my way to my first class and take my usual seat in the back while all the stuck up bitches sit two rows ahead of me. The jocks file in next and sit scattered between my row and the middle row with four desks separating me from them. I watch as Mr. Jeffries walks in with his usual bright smile as he greets the class.

“Alright, so we have good news and bad news ladies and gentlemen. We’ll start with the bad news first. Out of the twenty-three students in this class, only two of you passed the final exam and one of them just barely so. Now for the good news! Ms. Geneveve Cantrell, you are the only student in the eight years I’ve been teaching here who got one hundred percent on every exam in my class! You should be proud of your hard work Ms. Cantrell.” I really hate when I get singled out like that.

“Too bad having brains won’t change the fact that you’re white trash.” Sierra mumbles out causing me to roll my eyes at her.

“Shut the fuck up Sierra!” The thundering voice startles me and my eyes involuntarily seek out the person behind it. My eyes fall on Kevin Jacobs, quarterback and all around hottie. I raise a brow as his eyes quickly glance my way before turning back to Sierra.

“Sierra, Kevin…would you please come see me after class?” We finish our lesson for the day and once the bell rings, the class empties as Sierra and Kevin walk up to Mr. Jeffries’ desk. I head to my second class and it’s a lot of the same shit. Stuck up bitches making snarky comments while I roll my eyes at their childish behavior. One class after another and it's always the same. These last three months can’t end soon enough.

When the final bell rings, signaling the end to yet another day, I weave through the people in the hall, quickly exiting the doors at the main entrance and stopping at the crosswalk to wait for the light to change. I can hear the incessant cackling of Sierra and her bitch squad as they walk in my direction, no doubt heading to get their after-school latte with their boyfriends. I keep my eyes focused forward, listening to the clicking of their high heels on the sidewalk draws closer.

“Oh god, it seems they forgot to clear out some of the trash.” Sierra hisses out as she stops somewhere behind me.

“I don’t know if that’s a fashion choice or if she can’t afford to look like anything more than white trash, but it’s sad, really.” I begin tapping my toes when Sierra decides to take it too far.

“I hear her dad had to marry some heiress because she couldn’t bring in enough money whoring herself out.” At the mention of my father, something inside me snaps. I whip around to face the evil little blonde skank, wrap my fist tightly in her Fancy shirt and drag her toward me until she’s merely inches away from my face.

“You can say whatever the fuck you want about me, but if you ever say another word about my father, I’ll rip out your pretty blonde extensions and shove them down your fucking throat. Do I make myself clear?” She’s trembling and nodding her head frantically. If her eyes were any wider, they would fall right out of her face. I release my grip on her shirt and direct my attention to her bitch squad who are all standing with their mouths gaping open and eyes wide in shock…all but one. Kevin has an evil smirk on his face and it causes me to pause for a moment.

“Sierra, are you ok?” Christine asks in a timid voice.

“The rest of you fucks can proceed with your meaningless, childish and subpar comments…but the same goes for all of you. No one says shit about my family. Do we all understand, or do I need to impress upon you all the sincerity of my words?” Everyone nods in unison, accept Kevin. I turn back to the signal just in time for it to signal that it’s safe to cross. I continue across the street and into the coffee shop to grab my afternoon coffee.

“Everything ok, Gen?” I smile at Kaleb and give a firm nod.

“Yep. Right as rain. Can you check my schedule for me?” Kaleb smiles and leans on the counter.

“You’re Wednesday-Friday this week. 3pm-7pm.” I nod and grab my coffee that’s on the counter, as it always is.

“Thanks. Need me to get you anything?” He gives me a playful smile.

“Less of your attitude would be nice.” I smile and shove my hand in my jacket pocket.

“Oh wait! I have some of that right here!” I yank my hand out of my pocket to flip my middle finger up at him.

“See?! Nothing but attitude! I swear…kids these days got no respect for their elders!” He chuckles and shakes his head.

“You love it and you know it. See you in the morning!” I wave as I turn to walk out of the shop. I catch the angry glares coming from Sierra and the bitch squad, so I make sure to give them a warm smile before walking out the door. I hadn’t noticed that they were missing a member until I'm about to turn the corner to the back lot and nearly crash head on into a brick wall of a chest.

“Shit, I’m sorry!” His deep voice shouts out. My eyes quickly find his and I find myself momentarily speechless.

“Um…it’s fine. Didn’t even spill my coffee so no harm done.” I smile and lower my head, my long black hair falling into my face. I reach into my jacket pocket and grab my key then begin to walk around him, but I feel his hand wrap around my arm and my body stiffens.

“Geneveve, I’m sorry about Sierra and her friends. They’re complete assholes.” I look over my shoulder at him with my brow raised.

“It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with since the day I arrived here. In three months, none of this shit will matter anyways. I take comfort in knowing that the life that comes after high school will eat bitches like Sierra alive.” He chuckles as his hand slowly slides down my arm and drops back to his side.

“I have to say, seeing Sierra’s face when she thought you were going to lay her ass out…that was golden. I didn’t know you had that in you.” I shrug my shoulders, turn toward him and lean against the brick wall of the coffee shop.

“I’m just full of surprises I guess. Kind of like you. Won’t all your little friends be pissed off if they find out you’re out here making nice with the white trash freak?” I notice him wince slightly at my words and my eyes study his face in confusion.

“I don’t think you're white trash or a freak. Most of them don’t, but they all fear Sierra. She can ruin them socially and so they just run around and do her biding like good little lap dogs.” I tilt my head slightly and cross my arms over my chest, giving myself a moment to actually look at him.

“But not you?” He shakes his head and looks me in the eye…his bright blue eyes are quite stunning.

“No, not me. I don’t plan on going to some Ivy League school after this and I have no plans to get into politics, so she doesn’t have shit on me.” I smile and drop my gaze back to the ground.

“Well, I appreciate that you tried standing up for me in class and all, but no sense putting a target on your back too. I’m used to the shit the bitch squad throws my way.” I turn my head toward him when I hear him shifting on his feet.

“You shouldn’t have to be used to it. They’re just a bunch of self-centered dicks.” I lift my head and meet his intense gaze.

“Yet you hang out with them?” He smiles and shakes his head as he leans against the wall.

“I know I’m a jock, but I don’t fit in with them. I don’t fit in anywhere really. I just figure that I can ride this shit show out till I graduate and then be on my way. I’ll be leaving and I won’t look back.” I smile at his confession. It seems this jock and I have a few things in common.

“And where is it that you’ll go after high school?” I notice the way his shoulders slump slightly.

“Anywhere but here.” I remain silent for a moment. I had thought the members of the bitch squad were all Ivy League bound.

“What about college?” He scoffs and gives me a look that I can’t quite decipher.

“I’m not college material. Besides, I’m over the school life. I’m ready to get out of here and put all the bullshit behind me.” I chuckle softly and shake my head.

“You’re a strange character, Kevin Jacobs.” I stand up and straighten my jacket then zip it up.

“You ride a motorcycle, don’t you?” I set my cup on the ground at my feet and pull my hair tie out of my pocket, secure my hair tightly then look back at him.

“Yeah. A Harley.” His eyes rise to meet mine and I feel a smile pull at my lips when I see his eyes go wide.

“That’s pretty badass.” I chuckle as I grab my cup and finish off my coffee.

“If you say so. I better get going. It was interesting talking to you.” He smirks and nods at me.

“Take care, Geneveve.” I walk to the back lot, climb on my bike, secure my helmet and fire her up. I glance back over to where I left Kevin and notice him watching from the corner of the building with a soft smile on his lips as I pull out of the parking lot and onto the street then head home. I spend the evening finishing off the remaining assignments on the syllabus for the last semester. By the time I go to bed, I only have the final exams to worry about.