First day of junior year. I hate my life.

To be fair, I've always hated my life. Because my life is a piece of shit. I have exactly one friend, Michael. Not that there's anything wrong with him, he's great, but why does no one else ever seem to want to speak to us? Are we that repulsive?

So that's why I put off going to school as long as I can. Instead I fire up the trusty old laptop on my desk, mumbling as the little loading icon swirls. "C-c-cmon, c-c-cmon, go, go." If I've got the time....

Except I don't have the time. The bus will be at the stop in the next few minutes so either I hurry up and get there or I walk. Because I'm a complete loser who doesn't even have a car. Just add that to the list of reasons that "Jeremy Heere is a massive failure."

I close the laptop almost as soon as it finishes loading. What a waste. Why does school start so early?

Dad wandered down the hallway to his office in his bathrobe.

"Dad, when I get home, promise you'll have on pants, 'Kay?" I groaned, grabbing my backpack. He didn't answer. Not that I expected him to. He was taking the divorce hard.

I sat in the back of the bus, hiding under my bag. I didn't want to look at anyone or anything. Head down. Don't look at me. Please. Please.

As I shuffled into the lunchroom with the rest of the students, I took a seat at the very back of the room. All of the popular kids were grinning and laughing and talking about their summers. Rich was picking on the freshman. Jake casually leaned on a table, flirting with some girl.

And then... the Selfie Squad. Chloe, Brooke, and Jenna. The mean girls of our school. The queens.

I can't fucking stand them.

The walked right by my table, not noticing me, thank God. I caught a bit of their conversation.

"So last night Jenna texted me and said she heard from Rich that Jake told Madeline, 'I'll only have sex with you if you beat me at pool.' And then she lost at pool," Chloe was saying to Brooke, "Deliberately."

Brooke grinned. "That's so awesome."

"Brooke!"

"I mean... slutty," she quickly amended.

Jenna laughed. "Then Jake said-"

"Shut up, Jenna!" Chloe snapped at her.

I tried not to gag at the stupidity of those three. The Selfie Squad were a group of self absorbed, obnoxious, bratty, slutty girls who just used their popularity to slut-shame anyone they disagreed with. It made me sick.

I wish I was that popular.

"Jeremy!"

I turned around. Michael Mell, my best friend since, like, first grade. "Hey Michael, we're old for game night, right?"

"Yeah, Apocalypse of the Damned!" He said off his headphones. "Dude you look like garbage. What's up?"

"I wrote a letter to Christine..." I cringed. "But then I tore it up and flushed it."

Michael sighed. "It's fine, dude. Any plans for this year?"

I was kind of distracted as Christine Canigula danced over to a poster on the wall. He skirt swished as she twirled.

"Jeremy?" Michael asked.

"I'll be right back," I mumbled, walking over to the poster Christine was signing.

She walked away just as I got there.

After school play!
Join the drama club!
Spread the love of theatre!
Sign below.

I looked at Christine's neat signature. Then at the pen tied to the poster. Rich and Jake would call me gay. I bit my lip, contemplating on whether I should sign or not.

Christine did. Why not.

"GAAAAAAY!"

That's why not.

I hate my life so fucking much.