uirrel this time-long story, don't ask. Now, with mascara stinging my eyes and my lungs full of crisp autumn air, I weig

The last name on my exercise book reads "Marcus" and for some reason, I hated that it was forced on me. Every day of the week

oth transparent door ahead. I bowed lowly and murmured a

to reality. Locker slams, distant chattering students, grumpy footsteps and of stra

face and marched towards the office, which, of course, was located in the farthest corne

Just fa

et myself to move the way I should. Not when I could feel the curious st

sly like a strangled hyena. A group of cheerleaders, their hair teased to gravity-defy

at even mean

Today, the goal was incognito, not instigator. I adjusted my skirt again. For some

by a harried-looking secretary who resem

out if I've been to the office before. There was something familiar about it. The acrylic abstr

gave me the typical stare an homeless kid on

dded a yes and drifted further, itching to crash in

t my permission slip-apparently, fire drills weren't covered in "New Student Orientation 101"- I

t mean that. I wondered if there was a hidden CCTV somewhere that coerc

unknown. A sea of faces turned towards me. Clearly, their expressio

too p

. A woman with a mane of fiery red hair that seemed to defy gravity. When she sighted me reelin

was

nspoken tension. "Alright, class, settle down," she sa

." She gestured towards me with a perfectly manicu

at burned-if at all that would've been necessary-but the words I constructed wouldn't go beyond my lips. T

isn't

he room. It immediately got followed by a chorus of snickers. I glared in the direction of the sound, but all I saw were a sea of st

from the front row. It was the girl with the blonde hair that seemed to defy the laws of physics

brow. "Doll? Why would yo

to tell her that everyone I know who bears that name is a few mon

ow, Ms. Blair. Just wondering why she won't find her pimple a seat." Her eye

p. My mind raced, trying to read in between Anna's lines. I knew by pimple, she mea

s dismissively. "Alright, enough chatter. Take a seat next to

st be

t help but overhear whispers like, "the new doll finally arrives," and "wonder how long she'll last." A shiver ran down my spine. It w

ters already. The least

red very little in the way of "classroom gossip," mostly ignoring me with an air of studied indifference. Whenever I tried to strike u

son to hate her.

gazes lingered on me carrying no negativity. . Sometimes, they gawk at me like I'm some alien who deserves death fo

ot at the level I saw. I didn't expect to see twelve to fifteen-year-old

isy banquet. By the time I reached the front, the only "food" left was a mystery meat

ed lady grumbled an "enjoy your m

ke a plague. Desperate for a moment all to myself, I skipped the crow

nacing. The girl beside him snickered behind him, a sound t

breath was almost hot on my cheek. "Dolls h

shattered the tense moment. In twos and threes and fours, they dissolved like smoke

te got me nauseous. I ditched it aside and dusted my skirt. I

hat even before her eyes said it. Just as I settled onto a dusty w

er blonde hair cascading down her sho

voice barely a whisper as she gestured towards the throng of

ank

d on my arm. "Hmm. Salad. I se

re," I protested and nodded to my table which was still visible from where we s

ahead. "Let's go. I wouldn't

us here

Gru