They Changed My Life, chapter 1

I stared out the bus window. If I stayed quiet and didn't make eye contact with anyone, maybe I wouldn't be dragged into all of the chaos on the bus.

So far, with my headphones clamped tightly to my head, no-one had bothered me. It was my first day at this school. Only recently had I moved to this town in California. Even that being so, I knew how things worked in high school.

The nerds and geeks sat in the front, the popular kids in the back, and everyone else had the pleasure of crowding in-between. Just as I thought I was safe as we neared the school, and I thought about how school was probably walking distance to my house (and how my sister got me to ride the bus because she's too embarrassed to be seen with me, ) one of those tough guys that hadn't really been sitting anywhere plunked down next to me.

With a sneer, he checked my body out, waiting for me to acknowledge his presence. I kept my eyes averted and stared nonchalantly out the window. His patience running out quickly as we neared the school, he snapped his fingers in my face to get my attention.

Even though I had been well aware of the idiot sitting beside me ever since he had sat down, I kept my eyes glued to the stream of kids pouring off the bus. I knew better then to fall into his little games. We were about the last people on the bus now. Obviously feeling desperate for attention, this random guy lunged for my CD player.

It popped open and he somehow managed to grab the disk and run off the bus with it. The driver just grinned at me and commented something about "that old Eric." I gave him a dirty look and ran off the bus before he drove away and kidnapped me or something. I ran after Eric, almost dropping my CD player as I shoved it into my bag.

I could see this Eric dude's bald head, so I took after him. He saw me coming, and with a laugh, threw my CD into the air and ran off. Seeing the disk spiraling downward, I tried to grab it, but missed. The CD clattered to the ground and I felt a swell of anger rise in my stomach.

Pushing my long hair out of my face, I stooped down and banged my head against someone else. Looking up quickly, I gasped softly...