Empty Spaces

One Day, Everything Changed

My morning started the usual way by hitting the ground. Literally. I fell out of bed trying to turn off my blaring alarm. Groggy, I rolled over, blinking against the early morning light. I could hear my parents arguing down the hall, their voices bouncing off the walls and echoing through the house. Another day in my so-called life.

I threw on the first clothes I could find and grabbed my backpack. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt raindrops on my face. Of course, it was raining, because why not? I trudged to school, getting more soaked by the second, and by the time I finally made it, the halls were already empty.

 I hurried to class, hoping to sneak in without anyone noticing, but of course, my teacher spotted me the second I tried to slip through the door.

"Lauren, nice of you to join us. Take a seat," she said with a raised eyebrow. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I shuffled to the back of the room, where my friend Normani shot me a sympathetic smile. I sank into my chair, trying to become invisible.

But Austin, my bully and the biggest jerk in school, didn't miss a beat. He turned around with a smirk, leaning over his desk. "Hey, Lauren, nice look. Did you go for 'drowned rat' on purpose, or was that just an accident?"

I glared at him, not bothering to answer. Normani shot him a dirty look, whispering, "Ignore him."

The teacher was talking about something, but I was too busy dodging Austin's paper balls he would throw once in a while "Quit moving, Jauregui !"

Just then, i heard Camila Cabello—the queen of the cheer squad, the girl everyone adored—her laugh echoed in the room. She was everything I wasn't: popular, confident, beautiful. Her seat, a couple of rows ahead of me, and my mind wandered as I watched her laugh with her friends.

"Lauren!" The teacher's voice jolted me back to reality. "Since you seem so fascinated by... other things... would you care to answer the question?"

I froze, my face heating up. I had no idea what the question was, and I could feel everyone staring at me. Camila, who was seated a couple of rows ahead, turned around, and our eyes met.

 She gave me a small, amused smile, clearly catching me staring. My mind went blank, and I heard my teacher clear her throat impatiently.

"Well, Lauren?" she prompted. "Would you care to share your answer with the class?"

I opened my mouth, trying to come up with something—anything—but all that came out was a strange, strangled sound. "Um... uh... the answer is... uh..." My voice got softer with each word, my face getting redder as the class watched, stifling laughs.

After what felt like an eternity, I just sank back into my seat, hoping the ground would open up and swallow me. 

My teacher sighed, rolling her eyes as she moved on, but Camila kept her gaze on me,I slouched lower, wishing I could just disappear.

Normani leaned over and gave me a sympathetic smile. "Don't let it get to you," she whispered. "You know Mrs.Viva lives for these moments. She probably takes notes on who she can embarrass next."

She wasn't wrong. Mrs. Viva was a complete pain—always watching, ready to pounce the second someone's attention wavered. Now she was giving me her signature stare, the one that could make anyone shrink in their seat. 

I could practically feel her adding my name to her mental list of "teachable moments."

Normani rolled her eyes and whispered, "She's the worst. Just ignore her."

The second the bell rang, I shot out of my seat, practically running out of the classroom. I needed to get away from Mrs. Viva glare, from the giggles echoing behind me, from the embarrassment still burning on my face.