Penelope submitted the assignment on the teacher’s table with a sugary smile. “I worked really hard on them. I even stayed up all night, burning the midnight candles,” she said.Oh boy, this won’t end well, I thought to myself as I stifled my laughter. I had planted the bomb and installed a timer. Now, I would wait for it to go ba boom! The teacher she had submitted her books to was Mr. Tesfaye. He was the strictest and oldest in the entire school. Rumor even had it that he had been teaching during the time of the dinosaurs and cavemen. The Terra’s and Penelope’s of the world had nothing on him. He could not be taken in by her false compliments and deceitful remarks.As he flipped through the pages of her book, the white hair on his eyebrows furrowed. The entire class was watching closely. As the writer, I knew poor Mr Tesfaye would have such a wonderful and magnificent time figuring it out. Just in case you missed it, dear reader, I was being ironic!"What is this rubbish?" His voic
Chapter 9: The start of my meteoric rise.The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Penelope was nowhere to be found, heard or feared. For two whole weeks, I had peace of mind. Everyone did. Dare I say, we actually enjoyed being in school. We could walk up and down the hallways without being afraid. Ah, the sweet serenity of a world without her constant presence looming over us like a dark cloud. No longer were we subjected to her petty insults and cruel taunts. No longer did we cower in fear at the mere mention of her name. Her minions had scattered like mice because they no longer wanted to be associated with her. It was a sight to behold indeed, watching them scurry away in search of a new alpha to follow. My tutoring business was still booming so I had nothing to worry about. On a day she was supposed to still be suspended, Penelope suddenly showed up in front me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see that coming. I knew she would confront and try to bring me down with
Chapter 10: Let's play a game, David.Penelope was banished to the losers’ corner by her former fans. They said she no longer deserved to seat there. These were the same people who had once worshipped Penelope as their queen, hanging on her every word and deed. And now, they were casting her aside without a second thought, relegating her to the role of outcast. Personally, I think the division into different corners is so messed up. Who decided who belonged where, and based on what criteria? It seemed absurd to me that such labels could carry so much weight in the minds of teenagers. They invited me to join them in the winners’ corner but I declined. I later realized that maybe I should have agreed because I found myself seated around Penelope. At least David was still by my side, I thought to myself.David and I had started dating. Boyfriend and girlfriend, as you might call it. I had grown really fond of him. As you might expect, teenage romance is as unpredictable as a squirrel on
Truth be told, embracing the sadness is easier said than done. People like me rarely get emotional but I have decided to be real with you in this story. Just for a second, I will let you in on what goes on inside the twisted mind of Jessica Raye. Some types of pain refuse to fade into oblivion. No money in the world can heal it. And I know because I have thrown stacks of cash and bars of gold at it, and it's still there, mocking me. Would it actually be easier to just build a Time Machine?Ever wished you could rewind time, like in those sci-fi movies? I do. I wish I could go back in time and get my family out of the house before the damn fire started. October 11, 2019—that’s the date I would punch in. Little me should have been bold enough to save my dad before he fainted and went into the coma.My mom and my big brother, Jason were sitting in the doctor’s office. My sister, Laura and I were not allowed in because apparently, they were discussing grown up business. But I have never
Chapter thirteen: Wounds and WarriorsDeath, as they say, is a part of the circle of life. Whoever is born will some day die, unless, of course, you're some sort of alien who snuck into earth or a creature of the night like a vampire. But alas, life isn't a Hollywood fantasy movie with mythical beings and eternal youth. In the real world, death is a reality that we must face, just as I did when my father passed away. Despite clinging to hope for his recovery, the harsh truth eventually settled in—he was gone.The world had moved on and nobody was waiting for my family to grief this great loss. Life pushed on, dragging us along with it, like debris caught in a swift current. Despite the heaviness in my heart, I knew I had to return to school. It was nearing the end of freshman year, and there were academic responsibilities waiting for me.I was by my locker when David, my ex rushed towards and offered to carry my backpack. I felt a bit of irritation. "My dad may have died, but my han
Chapter fourteen: Prom: The Good, the Bad, and the UglyAt school, the promenade dance was just a month away. You might know it as prom, as it's commonly called by American teens. I was now fifteen years old. Junior prom, that mystical evening where awkward teenagers wear their finest attire and attempt to swim the dangerous waters of romance without tripping over their own feet. It's a night filled with glitter, drama, and enough teenage angst to power a small city.The school transforms into a magical wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, cheesy decorations, and a DJ who thinks he's the next big thing on the music scene. As the students awkwardly sway to the beat, trying to remember the steps they learned in P.E. class, the air is thick with the scent of hairspray and teenage hormones.Meanwhile, the drama before junior prom unfolds like a poorly written soap opera. Will Terra finally ask Chad to dance, or will she spend the night sulking in the corner because he asked Stacy i
When I was a little younger, I had this crystal-clear vision of who I wanted to become in life. And let me tell you, dear reader, having a clear goal in mind is like having a treasure map to your dreams. I'm sure you've got some dreams of your own, some lofty aspirations you're chasing after. But hey, if you're not aiming to be as fabulous as me, that's totally cool too. I'm not here to twist your arm or anything. If my story ain't your cup of tea, feel free to walk on by. You do you, honey! Ignore my ramblings if you so choose. It's your loss, really!Now, when it comes to your vision board, ditch the clichés like magazine cutouts of private jets and diamond-encrusted mansions. Let's keep it real and achievable, shall we? Think along the lines of learning a new skill, starting that side hustle or getting a part time job. The world is yours for the taking, if only you dare to seize it.As for little Jessica, she had one particular goal she would kill for. Little me would have walked f
Chapter sixteen: On the wrong side of the law.As I entered the waiting room, I was met with a scene of chaos. Contestants, like me, were scattered around, their faces twisted with frustration and anger. Their inventions had also been stolen. The poor overworked secretary was trying to calm us down as we demanded to speak to the management. I could almost hear her inner thoughts: "I don't get paid enough for this shit," she must have been thinking, as she dealt with one disgruntled inventor after another.I was already so stressed and tired of being angry. Sitting on an iron chair, I let out a loud yawn.“You must be Jessica Raye Kardashian, the winner of this competition,” the girl beside me said. She had a peculiar accent, probably from Australia. She also had a special aura that I can’t quite describe."I'm Jessica Raye," I replied with a tired smile. "And as for the competition, it seems more like a scam at this point, doesn't it?""Yeah, it’s a fraud," she replied with a sigh. "I