Those moments when you know you’ve done the wrong thing are the worst. Because it’s also in that moment you realize that you can’t take it back; it’s the moment you realize you are truly screwed.

“What did you just say to me?” Madison said, her face glowing red. The two blondes flanking her looked ready to kill me at any given moment. Lucky for them, I was no wuss.

“I said… I don’t see your name on it.” I knew that I shouldn’t have antagonized those girls but something in me couldn’t help it. I mean, who the fuck clams to own a seat? Who did she think she was?

“Look, we have bigger things to worry about than you, so just save us the trouble and get your ass up.” I never started something I couldn’t finish, even though my big mouth seemed to have a mind of it’s own. Even still, I wasn’t prepared for the battle these girls had already begun mapping out, labeling me a common enemy. Later, I found out they were known as Plastics, and wit good reason. They were the ones never to be burned. And with my smart mouth, they were. That only left a rude awakening for me, later on. Of course, they’d fight fire with fire… but I didn’t know that then. So, I ignored all the staring, gaping faces and opened my smart mouth to say another snarky comment.

“I get that, really, but I’m not moving.I’m sure you can sit somewhere else.” Madison and her little pampered gremlins didn’t get to say anything else. At that moment, Natalie walked in with the teacher who glared at the Plastics.

“Is there a problem, Ms. SinClaire?” He asked as Madison’s friends sat to the left and right of me.

“No, Mr. Herring.” She said, anger flaring in her eyes.

“Then, please, take a seat.” He narrowed his eyes and pointed to a seat up in the very front. It was as if everyone was holding their breath as she made her way to the seat, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. That’s when people had begun talking about me. That was when it was good gossip, unlike whatever the hell Liam had been receiving for who-knows-how-long. The whispers of “who is she,“ and “I can’t believe she stood up to the Plastics,” and “she’s so awesome,” filled my ears. That is, until Natalie sat in front of me.

“Are you crazy?” She whisper-yelled to me, her blonde hair emphasizing her reddened face.

“Um… no?” I said, thoroughly confused.

“You have to be! First, Misfit Liam, and now you’ve messed with the Plastics! And all on your first day!” Mr. Herring had already begun teaching but I couldn’t focus on him while Natalie half-yelled at me. Only one thing she’d said even registered in my mind, I was so distracted.

“Misfit Liam? What does that even mean?” I didn’t understand, but at the same time, I did. It would explain why he didn’t talk much… and why he didn’t stand up to his bullies. He didn’t seem to have any friends, either.

“I’ll explain more at lunch. You are sitting with me, right?” While waiting on my schedule, Natalie and I talked a bit and she was honestly, my first friend here. Since, you know, Liam didn’t really like me… She didn’t really have friends either, but people didn’t bully her like they did Liam. She was actually fun to hang around.

She was the middle child, an older sister and a younger brother. Her parents were divorced and she lived close to me, in the big mansions of Tallahassee with her mom. She said she wasn’t mad at her dad or anything but she also hadn’t talked to him since the divorce a year ago, so…

---

I looked around the big cafeteria, looking for Natalie. The room was separated with individual tables and the only table I saw open was Liam's... mostly because he was alone. I walked over and sat next to him.


"You are the most infuriating girl I've ever met. Why can't you leave me alone?" I don't know how he knew it was me, because his head stayed down, buried in his hoodie.

"How did you even know it was me?" I asked, opening a pack of Skittles and eating a few.

"You're the only person who would ever try and sit with me." He put his head down and groaned into his sweatshirt.

"Oh yeah, 'cause you're Misfit Liam, right?" His head jerked up at that. He stared at me, silently. I felt my face heat up awkwardly and then, finally, he spoke.

"Who the hell told you about that?" He said. Even though he was sitting across the table from me, I still felt intimidated. His eyes clouded and his hands flexed into fists over and over.


"Um... Natalie... am I not supposed to know?" Before he could answer, Natalie appeared.

"Speak of the devil..." He murmured. I didn't understand what was so wrong. Why did it matter if I knew?

"Come on, Jay." Natalie said, never looking at Liam.

"Yeah, Jay... go ahead." He snatched up his stuff, in a very pissed off manner. "And Natalie, after everything, that was pretty bogus. Meet me in the gym after school, Jay."

Notes