After arriving from the Philippines two days ago, I, Pilar Legaspi hoped that being an international student in America would eventually pay off. At least my host family was kind enough to open their home to me.

Mrs. and Mr. Tyler told me that they wanted to open their own daughter's eyes to the wider world. Not sure what they meant by that, but I went along with it. Their daughter, 15-year-old Dinah needed someone to look up to since she wasn't enjoying her first year of high school.

Dinah offered to show me around the school, but once she took me to the administration office to get my class schedule, she took off running. I found that to be rude but learned why she suddenly left. Jocelyn, the queen bee and student body president was seated next to the secretary chatting away. Obviously, I figured out that Dinah was afraid of her.

Just one look at Jocelyn and you could tell her evil blue eyes meant business. So I had a feeling that she was someone who knew how to intimidate people. But I won't let her do that to me. Nope, back in the Philippines, I endured bullies all my life.

I quickly got my schedule and found my locker's location. But once I opened it, I noticed a note that was addressed to me.

It read,

To the New Kid. Welcome to Altamont High School, here, it is mandatory for you to select a clique or else you will be considered an outsider. And we know you don't want that. So, we'll give you a list of cliques around the school and you must choose one by the end of the day.

First up, we have the Uptown Girls, the most popular group in high school. Hang with them and you'll have the best reputation in town. Then we have the cheerleaders and jocks, as they are everyone's fan.

Now let's go down to what we call the medium groups(aka the cool kids). We have the class clowns and troublemakers. Sometimes some smarties can fit in this clique as well depending on our opinion.

And for the lowest of the low, we have our nerds, geeks and all that 'jazz'. So what's it going to be?

We'll be waiting for your answer after school by your locker. We'll be watching you.

~ The Uptown Girls

Reading this list baffled me ... is this a way to introduce the new student? Well, whoever these Uptown meanies are I won't choose. I want to make my own friends, be it clique or not. Now I'm wondering who wrote this but I have a feeling who it might be. The nosy girl that sat with the secretary would only know where my locker would be located.

Count: 465 Words

Prompt: It's the beginning of the new school year, students are back and filling the bustling hallways as they reconnect and remake the cliques since the summer ended. You are a new transfer student who moved into town two days before the start. You open your new locker and notice a note addressed to you "The New Kid". The note inside details every rule to abide by, every clique there is and tells you that it is mandatory you chose aside. What do you do next?

Youtube video: Mean girls by Rachel Crow. Lyric Video was uploaded by Youtuber Rutaba210!

Note: For all those who've cried, for all those who have lost their pride, please don't give up hope. I was once in your 'shoes' before just because I was different. I am Filipino just like my M.C. in my short story and I'll just say life as a Cancer patient made life even harder. It's not easy, but you must stay strong!