Painted

Chapter 1

BEEP BEEP BEEP

My alarm clock beep loudly, waking me up. I sit up and the first thing I do is look at my fingernails. They are still plain. You may think this is weird. "Of course your fingernails are plain. They can't magically change over night." But they can. You see, your fingernails change color when you figure out and accept your sexuality. And I know my sexuality! I'm as straight as a line. So why aren't my fingernails white and black?

"Mallory, get up! You don't want to be late for the first day of school." My mom is leaning on my door. I groan and pull myself out of bed.

"No color yet, huh?" I shake my head. My mom gives me a strained smile. "Don't worry. Give it time." Still, I worry and I know she does too. But we both pretend not to.

I hurry to get ready, pulling on the outfit I laid out last night. I tug my thick brown hair into a loose braid. I hear my little brother screaming downstairs. "What has he gotten himself into this time?" I think to myself as I bound down the stairs.

"Calvin! Get off the counter!" Mom is lecturing Calvin, my five year old little brother, when I come into the kitchen and sit down at the table.

"Sorry I didn't make anything special. Your dad left early and I didn't have time." My mom explains apologetically as I pour myself some cereal. "It's okay," I say in between bites of food. Dad is always on some business trip.

Mom has finally gotten Calvin off the counter and has his book bag in her hand. "I have to take your brother to school. You'll have to take the bus."

I internally groan at the thought of riding the bus. I nod though, because Mom is stressed enough. I can tell she's agitated Dad isn't here to help her. I look up from my bowl to see her flying out the door, dragging Calvin behind her. I clear my dishes and grab my book bag and lunch box.

I walk to the bus stop at the end of my street, wondering who I'll sit with. My best friend, Abby, moved to a different neighborhood this summer. I don't really know anyone else on the bus.

I see the yellow bus turn around the corner. I step up to the curb. The bus pulls up to the corner, five minutes late. I sigh as the doors open, not ready to start school. I take a deep breath and step on.

If you didn't know, the bus sucks. I didn't have anyone to sit with so I ended up stuck sitting next to a sleeping, snoring, lump who I perceived to be a person. The bus is two minutes away from being late.

I almost-run to my homeroom. I walk in and sigh in relief. My best friend, Abby, is sitting in the front where she always sits. Her blonde hair cascades down her back, a beautiful halo around her perfect face.

I've known Abby since fourth grade, when she first moved in next door. This summer she moved to a nicer neighborhood because her dad was promoted at work. In all the time I've known Abby, we've always sat the same way; her in the middle seat in the front row and me to the left of her.

Yet here it is, our freshman year, and the seat to the left and right and behind my best friend are taken. Taken by giggling girls showing each other their perfect white and black nails.

"It must be a misunderstanding. I'll just ask someone to move." I think and tap on the shoulder of the person to the left of Abby. She turns around and I recognize her as Brittney, a super popular cheerleader girl.

Abby and I have never been 'popular'. Not like we're outcasts, it's just I don't, we don't, like the populars. (They aren't very bright) But overnight, seemingly Abby has become a popular.

"May sit here?" I ask Brittney.

"No, there's plenty of room back there." She points to the back. I turn around.

The art kids. The kids who may or may not be goth. The kids who are definitely not straight. Not that that's a bad thing, I mean it kind of is if you want to fit in......

A take a deep breath and head to the back. I look for a seat.

"Here! You can sit by me!" A girl with asymmetrical auburn hair waves me over. I sit down and she sticks out her hand for me to shake.

"I'm Elizabeth. You're Mallory, right?"

"Um, yeah. Hi."