About the Author: Jaye enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and playing basketball.
Tiney
“Honnnnneeyyy, are you ready for your first day of high school?” Yelled my mom from downstairs.
What to wear, what to wear? I thought while digging through my closet, while sitting in a pile of clothes that would never be socially acceptable in high school. I haven’t had to pick out anything “Cute” to wear to school ever, in my life. I’ve been homeschooled my entire life, and I usually just wore my pajamas when it came time for my “School” day to start. Oh gosh, oh gosh!
“Tiney, sweetheart you’ve got 15 minutes to get ready before we leave. You almost ready?” My mom yelled again from the bottom of the stairs.
15 minutes?! Oh my goodness, I’m not even dressed yet! Calm down, you’ve got this. After another 10 minutes of struggling to find an outfit, I finally picked out a semi-cute one and was feeling good...Until I looked into my mirror, and noticed my hair was still in a ratchet ponytail, and my face was so tired looking, and pale.
“Tiney, Clover, five minutes kiddos. Let’s go.” My mother called out again.
FIVE MINUTES, oh crap, what am I going to do about this hair? And my face, maybe Clover has some makeup in her room.
I rushed across the hall to my older sister Clover’s room, and knocked like crazy on her door.
“CLOVER OPEN UP!”
I was beginning to get really nervous. I’m going to high school, HIGH SCHOOL, and the more I thought about it the more nauseous and shaky I got.
“CLOVER!!” I screamed while pounding on her door.
My sister Clover started high school two years ago, and she seemed to be doing okay so I didn’t know why I was so nervous. Probably because Clover looks like a goddess, and as for me...Let’s just say that I have braces, top AND bottom, very pale skin, and dark orange curly hair. I knocked, and knocked, and pounded harder each time.
“WHA-” My sister said, not finishing her word because In that moment, I puked all over my sister’s new adidas shoes... And a little on her new ripped jeans.
“CLEMENTINE JONES RIVER, WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WANT?” “THESE ARE BRAND NEW!!!” Clover shrieked, lifting her foot up out of my bright yellow puke.
“Clover, I’m so sorry, really, I didn’t mean to, I guess I’m just really nervous, and…” Before I could get another word out her door slammed in my face, and that was that.
Great, now what am I going to do. Maybe mom has some makeup… I rushed into my moms room to find what looks like eyeshadow, I think mascara, and maybe foundation? I honestly had no clue what I was doing. I pick up the mascara first. Once I figure out how to get the wand out, I open my eye as wide as I can and layer it on...I was doing pretty good, until I sneezed and got bright black mascara all under my eye.
“TINEY, LET’S GO YOU DON’T WANT TO BE LATE ON YOUR FIRST DAY” my mom hollered.
Shit. That’s all that runs through my head for the next two minutes while I scrub mascara off my face. After a nice THREE minute scrub I get the mascara somewhat off my face and put my hair down, all while convincing myself that having knots in your hair is “Trendy,” and race down the stairs not knowing what the heck I’m in for.
“You smell like shit.” Clover said while making a disgusted face.
“Clover, language,” My mom scolded, continuing to ruffle her nose and ask; “Sweetie, what is that smell?”
Crap, I pulled up my shirt and sure enough it smells like curdled milk mixed with some artificial mac-n-cheese.
“Mom, I gotta go change my shirt. It smells like crap” I said really desperately.
“Sorry hun, no time. Maybe the school nurse will have an extra.”
“MOM, there’s no way I am wearing an old shirt from some loser who left it in the lost and found last year.”
“Too bad, guess you shouldn’t have taken so long getting ready. You’ll be okay, now go get in the car.”
. . .
As we pull into Washington High, I have never been so nervous in my life. High school, I’m going to High School?
“Alright kids, have a great first day, love you guys.”
“See ya.” Said Clover nonchalantly.
“Mom, I can’t do this, I don’t feel good.” I said, as I almost puked again.
“Yes you can. Go.” My mom insisted, mainly because she was late for a meeting.
So, I opened the door of the car, and walked out into the world of judgemental, hormonal, arrogant, narcissistic, animals. As I stepped out onto the concrete I turned around to see Jayden Rogers and Tessa Pink. The ultimate rulers of Washington High pull up in a bright red beamer sports car. Aww to be her one day. I think. I kept walking, and head for the door, when a skater kid cuts me off leaving the door to slam in my face. How kind. I think, while realizing my new reality. I looked down at the schedule that my middle school counselor gave me, and wonder where the heck the chem lab is. Now, being in the front lobby I was wishing that I was still at home in my pjs. I was beginning to smell the odor of puke on my shirt more and more, so I decided to walk to the office where I assumed the nurse was.
“Hi,” I said while looking at the front desk lady.
“How can I help you darling?” She questioned.
“Where’s the nurses office? I threw up on my shirt. It smells kinda bad, and I was wondering if she had some extras.”
“Not feeling well, or just nerves?” She said while leaning down.
“Nerves.” I answer.
“Here kiddo, take this,” The lady said. While tossing me a short white shirt with a sunflower head on it. “Nobody wants to wear an old shirt that some kid left in the lost-in-found last year.”
“Thanks Miss, I’ll give it back tomorrow.” I said looking down at the shirt admiring it.
“Keep it, it’ll look better on you then it ever did on me, and call me Clemmie, ‘Miss’ sounds too old.” Clemmie, I wonder if her name is Clementine too. I have never met another Clementine. I think, as I start walking out of the office. After changing into my new shirt I opened the door of the stall, and look into the mirror in front of me. Whoa, this is really short. I think while trying to pull the shirt down. Whatever go with it, now where is the chem Lab???? As I took one last look into the mirror the door flies open and three girls walk in, one of which was Clover.
“Clover! Thank goodness where is the chem lab?” I say desperately.
“Dude, your shirt, where did you get that?” Clover asked.
“The office lady, she called herself Clemmie or something.” I responded.
“Oh, well it looks good, I mean, for you.” She stuttered.
“Thanks, Clover the chem lab where is it?” I asked again desperately.
“I’m fixing my makeup, go away.”
“Clover, please.”
“Figure it out,” She said as she walked out, and slammed the door in my face, along with her two other little friends.
“SOMEONE HELP ME!!!” I yell, and then burst out crying. The door opened again just as I was wiping away tears, trying to build up some confidence.
“Sweetie you alright?” Oh, good it was Clemmie. Maybe she can help me.
“No,” *Sniffle* “Do you know where the chem lab is? I’m late to class and don’t know where to go” I said, while trying to hold back tears.
“Why sure, come with me,” She comforted, leading me out the door. Then Clemmie continues to say, “This high school can be tricky to navigate, especially for new freshman. They should really give you guys a map.”
“Yeah, I’ve been here before, for my sister’s concerts and stuff, but never have seen where any of the classrooms are.” I said, trying to contain myself from crying.
“You have a sister? Let me guess, Clover?”
“Yeah, she’s very helpful,” I said sarcastically.
“You’ll get used to it. I have a big sister, and we hated each other throughout middle school and high school, but now we are inseparable.” She said just as she opened the door to the chem lab.
“I found a stray” She said to who looked like the teacher.
“Come in! Come in!” He said excitedly. “Did you get lost?”
“Yeah,” I say with my head down because now we’ve got the attention of the entire chem class.
“It’s alright it happens to the best of us, thanks Clemmie for bringing her in!” He yelled out the door.
“No problemo!” She responded.
“Alrighty, now you can sit here we were just going over rules, and our class syllabus. Do you have your chem binder, and books?” He asked while walking back to the front of the class.
I pulled out my chem folder, and books out of my bag and let out a huge sigh of relief. Just as I’m feeling comfortable, the kid behind me threw a piece of paper at the back of my head. And continued to laugh hysterically with his buddies. Immature idiots.
. . .
Whew, first class done. That wasn’t so bad, but I’m still only a fourth of the way through my day. Next class to maze my way towards is English 2. Yes okay I’m good at English. I just hope this isn’t the class that I’m with all the upperclassman.
“Excuse me,” I said to a girl who walked by, but she just kept walking. What do I do? I can’t be late to another class. I run through my head over and over, so I tried again with a boy who looked about my age. “Do you know where the English 2 room is?”
“Nope, sorry I’m late to class too,” He responded while hurrying down the hall.
At least he responded, I think as I continued down the hall, in what could either be the right or wrong direction. Just as I’m about to give up, to go ask Clemmie, I saw Clover walking down the hall. I almost don’t ask her but in my moment of desperation I do.
“Clover, where’s the English 2 room?”
“Down the hall and to your left, twerp” She called out, not even looking back towards me.
“Thanks!” I yell excitedly. Yessss, I thought while running down the hallway to the English room, but I was running to quickly and as I turned the corner I went face forward into a tall, skinny, facial hairy, boy. Ouch. I toppled over and my pencils, and books, go all over the floor.
“You okay kid?” The boy asked.
“Umm, yeah” I said, while the hallway twirls around me.
“Here, let me help you up” He said sticking out his hand. “You’re Clover’s sister right?”
“Yeah” I said grabbing his hand as he pulls me up. Just then as he pulls me up, and I am on my feet again blood rushes out my nose and all over myself. Shit.
“Oh, jeez. If I wasn’t late to class I’d go get the nurse for you, sorry” He said while he walked away, quicker and quicker. What do I do? I can’t move. I looked around, for anything, anyONE, but nothing, radio silence hallways. My hand was currently on my nose, getting all bloody and gross, so in another moment of desperation I pull off my shirt and put in under my nose. My first day of high school was going great. Just great. I am walking down the hallway in just a camisole, and ripped jeans. I haven’t been to a single full block class yet, and my only relative friend was the school secretary. I was approaching the office, as my nose started bleeding more and more.
A mumbled “Hi” comes through my T-shirt, when I walk into the office and pass Clemmie at the front desk.
“Oh no! Kiddo what happened?” Clemmie says, getting up from her chair, following me to the nurse. I was already in the nurse’s office exchanging my bloody shirt for some tissues the nurse handed me.
“What happened?” The nurse asked while I was getting situated.
“I turned a corner too quick, and ran into an upperclassman.” I responded.
“Oh, well let’s let that blood clot and I’ll let your teachers know where you are. Alrighty?”
“Okay, thanks.”
“What class are you in right now? What’s your name sweetie?”
“Um, English 2, I think. Clementine River, that’s my name.”
“Okay, you’re all set I just emailed Ms. Lenny, just stay here until you’re nose feels better.”
I looked over, to see Clemmie standing in the doorway. Why does she care so much about me? I think. I do feel bad about her shirt though, as I look down still wearing just my camisole.
“Sorry about your shirt, I can bring a new one for you.” I say looking up at her.
“No, problem. It didn’t look good on me anyway, but it did look good on you.” Clemmie responds.
I don’t know what to say next, so I just leave it at,
“Okay”
“Do you need me here, or should I head back to my lame old desk?” She asks.
No, I don’t need you here, go away, go away. I thought in my head.
“No, I’m okay.” I say, as she nods her head and walks out the door. “Do you have a shirt I can wear?” I ask the nurse, but she doesn’t seem to hear me, as she bandages up a girl who fell during P.E. I wonder if that girl is having as bad a day as me, her knee looks pretty bad.
“What happened?” I asked in a tentative voice.
“Tennis, I’ve never played before, and a dumb upperclassman ran into me. What’s up with you?” She questioned while nodding her head down at my nose.
“Pretty much the same thing, except I turned a corner too quick, and hit the upperclassman.”
“Oh, haha that sucks.”
“Yeah,” I say while cleaning my face up.
“Alright, you’re all set” The nurse says to the other girl in her office, while throwing away the band-aid rappers. “You too,” She says looking towards me.
“Ok, thanks” We both say simultaneously, while walking out the door.
“What class do you have next?” I ask her.
“Algebra 1” She answered continuing with, “I missed English 2, which sucks because I hate math, but love English.”
“Sammmeee, I had English 2, but apparently you shouldn't go to class with a nose bleed.”
“Hahahahaha, who would’ve thought. What’s your name? I’m Rosemary, but most people call me Rosie.”
“Clementine, but most people call me Tiney.”
“Nice to meet you, I’ve had a rough day. It’s nice to be talking to someone finally.”
“Same, do you know which way it is to Algebra 1?”
“Not a clue.”
“Okay, well I guess we’ll just have to make our way down each hallway until we see it.”
“If you can make it without running into anyone.”
Hahahahaha. I thought while chuckling at her response. As we walk down the hallway I started to think that I might be okay this year, as long as I have Rosie by my side. And of course the few interventions with Clemmie.