LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3: Fresh Pressure.
2016
Atlanta, GA
June 8th, Monday
12:30 P.M.
A classroom with a suffocating humid atmosphere and nothing but a small fan in the front of the class. By luck Somehow, the air conditioner broke last Tuesday and was yet to be repaired. A few made their own paper fans and scribbled on pieces of paper, some secretly using their phones, while others found themselves quite drowsy due to the heat and gave into sleep. The unbearable heat and history lecture combined didn't sit well with anyone. It made it harder to focus. There were however a few who masked the misbehavior of the class with the notes they took and the attention they paid to Mr. Mire as he named dates, told stories he thought would be fascinating even though most weren't much interested. Listening attentively whilst highlighting a few important dates she'd written down in her notebook, making sure everything was neatly taken down. The sudden urge to relieve her bladder of the bottle of water she drank in the cafeteria, she raised her hand and politely asked: "Excuse me, sir, may I please use the bathroom pass?" And with a smile of fondness, he nodded. Alycia having no choice but to be an A student and very engaged in class, all the teachers loved her. A very bright girl she was indeed but it was more of a fear imposed onto her if she wasn't. In just the 7th grade she'd received her first 'B+' in math, her mother nearly took her life when she'd seen it. Walking down the hall and into the 2nd hallway from class, she approached the bathroom door and entered. Hit by a frightful tension in the pit of her stomach, she immediately regretted needing the bathroom. Her entrance created a silence in the once noisy bathroom which occupied a group of the most popular group of girls in the school, as their eyes all fell onto Alycia who maneuvered her way into a bathroom stall without making eye contact with the eyes that followed her. While going about her business, there was a silence on the other side of the stall door Alycia occupied.
Once finished, she exited and walked over to the sink to wash her hands after adjusting her glasses. Still, there was silence and every move she made they watched until she left. "That was weird," she thought to herself, the fact that they didn't even taunt her was unusual since it was something they'd always do. Entering the class once again and taking her seat after handing the pass back to Mr. Mire. The rest of the period leading to the end of the day was a breeze. Rushing for the library to get started with homework and test preparations. She turned into the only corner leading to the library and met the faces of Amber, Bianca, Liah and Aisha the faces she'd met up with in the bathroom earlier. Alycia froze at their sight and took a step back before slowly walking towards the Library door. "Hey, come here" one called as she walked passed them, and with a voice of mental hesitation not audible enough to help influence that mistake of a decision she'd made of obliging to their command. "How you doin' girl?" Liah started, flashing her prized grin. Holding a straight face with her head hung down as she looked at the laces of her black and white Converse All-stars. Growing tired of the act she initiated the question to save all time," What do you want?" She asked in the most respectful way put together.
Something about her question they found amusing as they all burst into a fit of laughter. "Girl, calm yo ass down, we just wanna talk" Bianca insisted after breaking the continuous series of laughs. "Look we know we been givin' you shit since you got here but neither of us finna finish high school on the wrong foot with anyone-" amber announced with sincerity in her tone. Slowly Lifting her head up like an angered child accepting candy as bribe Alycia thought her high school misery was coming to an end. "Friends?" She added with arms opened to welcome a hug. A mounding wave of the humiliation and emotional abuse they'd subjected her too in the past somehow became a passing memory in that very moment. She fittingly accepted the embrace and shared it with the rest of the girls as if to say, let bygones be bygones. "This calls for a celebration bitches !" Aisha exclaimed and threw her hands in the air. "Great idea, say Alycia, what you got goin' on Saturday night?" Bianca questioned. This question wasn't even something to be thought about because she knew exactly where she would be. "I'll just be at home" she affirmed with shyness very evident in her demeanor, something that wasn't new. The girls all took brief looks at each other before turning their attention to Alycia who adjusted her glasses as they all looked at her. "Look, there's a small get together on Saturday and I think you should come" Aisha suggested. "That's not a good idea, my mom wi-" she began before being cut off by Bianca, "Your mom won't find out don't worry about it, come on it'll be so much fun" she assured. Alycia shook her head not quite convinced, "Come on girl, you never go anywhere you need to loosen up for once" Amber persuaded. "I'll think about it..."