G8+Group+6

Group 6: Nikki LeFort, Daniella Ochoa, Alex Viehbacher Mrs. Gardner period 8 Short Story  Secret Plans  “Oh honey. Are you all right?" called an elderly woman stumbling towards me on the floor. She pushed her glasses up towards her nose and swept her short gray hair behind her ear. She was halted by an ambush of racing students, fluttering past her - girls that waited to gossip before their next class, and boys that stood in corners waiting for the next innocent victim. // Does it look like I’m all right? // I thought sarcastically as I glanced around at my books scattered on the floor. When she finally found her way to my disarrayed school supplies, she held her hand out and smiled genuinely. I took it hesitantly, but let it pull me up anyways. After I was safely on my feet, I bent down to pick up my scattered notebooks and pens. When I stood back up, expecting to be alone, the woman still stood there smiling. I glanced around and realized everybody was gone. I hated being the new kid with no friends. "Thanks..." I stuttered. I practically tripped over my own feet walking to my locker a few feet away. "Hi!" I was startled by the woman's energetic greeting. "I'm Ms. Bloom. I'm the tenth and eleventh grade calculus teacher. Are you new here?" "Ummm... hi. I'm Lauren." I murmured. I glanced down at my sports watch and flicked my head up. “I gotta go!” I practically screamed at my new math teacher. I sprinted outside and saw my bright yellow ride home take off. I ran after it, only to realize that I didn’t have my backpack with me. I groaned and slugged my way back to the empty hallway to gather my supplies… once again. I pulled open the heavy metal door to my future eternity of humiliation. I slugged to my locker and took out my science and math text books. Once I had stuffed my backpack I headed towards the door to leave for my 15 mile run home. Before I had even gotten out of the long hallway, I heard my name being called in a hushed voice. I twisted around to see who had missed their bus as well. All I heard was a high-pitched giggle. Ms. Bloom stepped out of her classroom halfway down the hall. "Sweetie, did you forget something?" she tried to make light of my humiliation. I looked down and mumbled, "Yea." "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Is there anything I can do to help?" she said sincerely. "No, not really, but thanks. I better get going if I plan to be home before dinner." I smiled helplessly and headed away from the generous elderly woman. "Did you miss your bus? Maybe I could give you a lift home, if that's all right. I'd feel bad knowing you missed your ride home because of me." I glanced down at my watch again knowing there was no way I'd make it home in time for the soccer game on TV tonight. "Ummm okay; if it's not too much of a hassle. I just live in Surrow Meadows." "Oh really? I live in Acre Meadows so it'll be no hassle at all. Just get your stuff together and you can tell me where to go." On the ride home, Ms. Bloom and I discussed everything from what the school is like, to how her husband passed away three years ago. When we arrived at my house after 20 minutes of talking and driving, I said goodbye the sweet woman. I thought about how upbeat and nurturing she was, even after the love of her life had died. I admired her greatly.  It was right after dinner when my mom told me she wanted to talk to me privately. I went up to my room to wait for her. After a while I could hear her footsteps growing louder as she climbed the stairs. When she entered my room she said, “Honey I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while.”  I did not enjoy where this was going, but she continued with, “How are you doing at school? Do you have lots of friends?”  I replied, “It’s going ok, and I have some friends.” I almost felt ashamed to tell her the next part, but she deserved to know. “But I’m not one of the more popular kids at school.”  I could see the pain in my mom’s face as she discovered that her only child wasn’t going to be just like her. The woman that stared at me now wasn’t my sentimental mother; it was the high school sweetheart, the cheerleading captain, the beauty queen. The heartbreaking part was that this extraordinary girl was staring at her disappointment of a daughter. When my mother turned her head towards me again, I saw twinkles in her eyes and a tear roll down her russet cheek.  She was about to leave when she turned around and told me, “As long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter whether or not you’re the most popular girl at school.” But coming from my mother I knew that meant //I want you to do whatever it takes to become popular.//  -

I was jostled from behind by a six foot senior, when I stumbled into a group of upperclassman. When they eventually recognized I was standing there, they just snickered and kept gossiping. When I went on walking down the hallway I saw a girl in my Spanish class whose name is Becca. "Who are //they //?" I gestured my head towards the crowd of people who just blew me off. "Oh... them." Becca sounded irritated. "I'd watch your step if you want to be in with //Jessica //." She put her hand on her hip while she looked over the "in" crowd gossiping and smirking in the corner. I thought back to the conversation I'd had with my mother last night and realized my new challenge. //I will become friends with them! // I repeatedly chanted in my head. If I couldn't play soccer until next season, than I would at least make friends. After fourth period I saw the same group kids in the center of the hallway so I went up to them again. I hesitated, but eventually tapped one of the girls shoulder. When she turned around to look at the outsider, all she could do was laugh at me. Then the entire circle of the popular kids started to laugh with her. I blushed and started to walk away, regretting going up to her in the first place. As I hustled to my locker Ms. Bloom stopped in front of me. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">“Lauren, I wanted to congratulate you on a job well done doing the calculus problem in class today,” the woman smiled widely as she click-clacked down the hallway. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I glanced back at the circle of students and saw the eyes of a girl, supposedly named Jessica, on me. I spun around and covered the three steps to my locker to retrieve more materials and hide my face. “Um, Lauren, is it?” the girl called to me. “Uh... Yea. Hi…” my heart started pounding as the popular girl came closer. “Jessica.” she confirmed, “And this is Alexis and Julie." Her grin widened as if she was reassuring them why she was introducing her friends to a loser like me. The two girls stepped forward out of the circle. "So you want to hang out with us sometime?" Jessica asked casually. Both Alexis and Julie's heads flipped towards her in disgust. Their eyes grew with discomfort, displeasure, and disbelief. Alexis' bright green eyes begged Jessica to be joking, although the best friend knew she wasn't. Julie just looked away, shaking her short auburn hair. "Yea, sure, definitely! I'd love to-" my overly eager response was cut off by Jessica. "Good, 'cause there's only one thing you have to do to get in." "What?" Alexis and Julie covered up their relief by laughing at my confusion. "Don't worry. It's just one little thing," she replied innocently. Then she turned to smirk at Alexis and Julie, which caused butterflies to jump in my stomach. "Meet us here at 7:00 after cheer practice." "I don't do cheerlea-" "Well duh //<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">you // don't," she snapped. She regained composure after chuckling at me with her lackeys. I blushed at my foolishness and wished I could learn to shut up. "So are you in or not?" "Umm..." I recalled the pain my mother’s nerdy friendless daughter caused her last night. This could be my chance to get in, and I wouldn't mess it up for anything. "Absolutely." "Perfect." The giddy blond turned signaling the conversation was over. Two of her soon-to-be three best friends followed her, all walking in perfect synchronization. Before she had gotten too far, Jessica turned around and asked a final question, "Oh, and Ms. Bloom likes you, right?" "Ur, I guess so." I started walking away thinking about what she could possibly want from me, but didn't consider wasting time. The important thing is that someone popular said we could be friends. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> -

“So let’s go over the plan,” said Jessica. “Alexis is getting the key right now and when she comes back, you are going to do the attack. When we open that door, you have to go in and grab the answers sitting on the desk,” as she pointed to Ms. Bloom’s desk. “Then come out as quickly as you can and we’ll take care of the rest. Got it?” she growled. “Yes ma’am,” I answered instinctively. As soon as Alexis got back, the plan snapped into action. She opened the door for me and I hesitantly tiptoed into the dark, empty classroom. I hated knowing I could lose Ms. Bloom’s trust, but figured it would be worth it. I longed for best friends, even if it was just to impress my mother. I ran to her desk quickly and as soon as I reached my hand out to grab the book, I heard the door slam shut behind me and a key sound click. A split second after that, I heard my so called “friends” snickering outside the door. “HELLO? WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? THIS SO ISN’T FUNNY!” I yelled to them as I was banging out the door. I heard more snickering as I stopped knocking. I decided to continue with my mission and I stuffed the answer sheet into my pocket. I made my way to the door to see if they were planning to unlock it anytime soon, but instead I heard the familiar footsteps of Ms. Bloom. When her footsteps stopped, I heard mumbling and agreeing outside the door. I started to panic and pace thinking of what to do. //<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I am so busted //, I thought. While I was pacing, I heard the doorknob being twisted open with a key, so I ran inside the classroom’s closet hoping not to get caught. I heard Ms. Bloom walk in with Jessica, Alexis, and Julie. The closet was tight, so I was forced to scrunch next to a cabinet of books and texts. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> “Yeah, right in here. I saw someone walk in,” I heard Jessica say. “Are you sure, girls? I had my classroom locked and I doubt anybody can get in,” Ms. Bloom claimed. “I’m positive, ma’am. Why would I make up such a thing?” Jessica answered. I assumed Ms. Bloom believed them because I could hear them circling the room. I could hear Julie and Alexis’s heels click over near the closest. “Where do you think she is? I thought we locked her in here,” I could hear Alexis wonder as I hoped they wouldn’t think of opening the door. “Uh… I have no clue. I’m on the same page you are,” Julie answered. “Um, girls? I don’t see anyone in here,” Ms. Bloom said. “Yeah neither do we, but we SWEAR we saw someone come in. We were right there… and….” I heard Jessica stutter. “Well there is obviously no one in the room, so you might have been imagining it or something. Besides, why are you guys here so late? Students should be gone by now,” stated Ms. Bloom. “We… were…” I knew Julie was thinking of a good excuse. “Getting something from my locker. I left an assignment here by accident.” Alexis saved Julie. “All right ladies. I’ll let you go, but please don’t make these things up. Have a good night,” I heard Ms. Bloom say as she started to walk away along with Jessica, Alexis, and Julie. “But… We… The door,” Alexis was trying to say. “Oh just forget it. It’s not worth it anymore,” I heard Jessica say sternly. “Let’s try and find out where that little tramp went. We need those answers to ace the test and then we can ditch her. She obviously has them because they aren’t on Ms. Bloom’s desk anymore. We are lucky she didn’t notice that.” As soon as I heard this, I felt a needle go through my body. I felt like I had literally been stabbed in the back. I thought that I had really made friends this time. I guess I was wrong. //<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">My mom is going to be disappointed in me. I can’t be a real girl even if I tried, // I thought. I heard the door lock again. Right now I should only be worried about how to get out of here without getting caught and being seen.

- <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> When I was positive everybody had gotten out of the classroom, I slipped out of my hideaway closet. I looked down at the answers in my hand and realized it wasn’t worth it. Jessica, popularity, status… It was not worth it anymore. I had cautiously made my way to Ms. Bloom’s desk when I heard a squeaking noise. I had made my decision. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> “Lauren.” I jumped at the sound of Ms. Bloom’s voice. She stood at the foot of the room while I spun to face her and put my hands on the answers lying on the desk behind me. “Oh… h-hey Ms. Bloom.” I tried to say coolly. I struggled to smile through my guilty features. “What are you doing?” she asked sweetly trying to glance over my shoulder. The teacher edged closer to her desk where my suspicious hands lay. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> “Oh… just turning in my extra credit for calc.” I grinned innocently at the old woman. I recognized the somber look on her face and started to pace towards the door, but kept my focus down. “Lauren,” I paused and slowly pivoted to see Ms. Bloom smiling gently, “I’m glad I can always count on you.” The door seemed farther away this time, but I kept walking. I walked and walked until I was away from the woman who first talked to that friendless new girl.