Deserving

As I gaze outside my window my days appear to be night. No sign of life for the next three hours, welcome to my life.

I was stuck in a rundown trailer park with minimal heat, small amounts of food, with oil lamps for light. What made this situation worse, is being raised by a single parent that could barely make ends meet.

If my living arrangements were to be known at school, I would never have an escape. Like every other cliché, I would be the pun of everyone’s joke.

“Harper, honey get up.”

I guess that was the wake up call for the day.

“Harper Isabelle, don’t make me tell you again. Now get up before you are will be late for school,” says my mom as she loudly bangs on the door.

“Ugh I’m up. You don’t have to yell.”

“You have 30 minutes to get ready or we will miss the bus.”

Even though this routine is annoying, it has to be done.

Well Harper, I guess it’s time to act invisible so that this year continues to go smoothly.

“Hey Ms. R, I think the bus just passed” yells Simon

If he would just mind his own business. Now she’s going to flip her shit.

“Simon what are you doing up at this time, don’t you sleep young man?” My mother asks our neighbor. Also known as the annoying jerk of a semi friend I have.

“I was sleeping as I heard the bus pass by. I jumped up and noticed you and Harper hadn’t left yet so I came out to warn you so you wouldn’t wait out here.”

“Aw isn’t that nice of you Simon. See Harper I told you to hurry up, now look we are both going to be late.”

“Actually I can always give you both a ride Ms. R. My dad wouldn’t mind if it’s to help a neighbor.”

Seriously Simon stop sucking up to my mom.

“That would be wonderful. Thank you Simon.”

Oh great now I have to deal with both my mom and Simon at six in the morning. Hey maybe I can get a good breakfast out of this.

When we arrived at my mom’s job, I jumped out of the red truck and ran to the entrance. I was finally free of the constant nagging my mother did and Simon providing his driving services.

“Harper Sweetie say thank you to Simon.”

I heard from behind me and rolled my eyes before walking into the diner.

“Little River nice to see you.”

One of the counter ladies says when she sees my face.

“Hi Agnes. My mom is outside but before she gets in, do you think you can have the cook whip me up a quick breakfast. I’m starving.”

I always do this when my mom isn’t around. That way it helps me avoid her evil glare for implying she doesn’t feed me.

“You got it cupcake, I’ll have Charlie make it and put it in the same spot before you leave.”

“Thanks Agnes, you’re the best.”

Freeport High, or as I like to call it my own personal hell. Here at Freeport high either you are popular, or a kid like me try to live another day.

“Look what we have here. If it isn’t little miss nobody.”

Really not even 10 minutes into my day.

“Tell me how does it feel to be the product of a one night stand gone wrong?”

“No I think you got it wrong, it’s how does it feel to be an unwanted thing?”

I swear, why don’t they just leave me alone?

“Ah is the little nobody going to cry”

“No wait she’s going to run”

After hearing their mocking tone I couldn’t take it. I ran just like they said I would. I ran and didn’t stop. I think at one point I bumped into someone but I didn’t care. I needed to get out of there.

I finally ended where I usually did, the abandoned gym on the far side of campus. This happened all the time. The most popular girl in school and her little squad cornered me and verbally attack me where it hurts most, my father. It’s been like this since seventh grade. It was always the same person too; Kathrine Reyes, the head bitch in Charge. She had everyone wrapped around her finger, from the School Jocks to the Nerds. Whatever she said goes and I was her number one target.

I didn’t know how long I’ve was hiding out here, but I did know I missed first and possibly second period. I didn’t have the type of money for those expensive iPhones or any phone for that matter.

As I looked up at the clock, I realized I was running late for Calculus.

Shit.

As I ran tripping over everything in sight, I finally made it.

“Ms. Rivera, glad you could join us. Take a seat”

Crap! Hopkins is mad.

“Well are you waiting for an invitation?”

As I take the first open seat I whisper "sorry."

Great this day is already shit.