It's Okay to be Different

Chapter 1: Freak

"I promise I'll not be bothered by these remarks ever again! That's my goal!" I thought as soon as I walked through my new high school doors on the first day of school.

I'm a sophomore now. Everyone says they're all different and that it's fine to be different.

But it's not for me.

Each and every day, everyone in school except for a few teachers and students bully me. Why is that?

It's all because of my hair color.

I can't control it at all. My hair color is natural. You might be wondering "What's so bad about a silly hair color?"

Mine is unique.

And when I say unique, my hair color is white. A white, chin length bob, to be exact.

And you know what else? I'm friendless. It's like my hair color makes me unapproachable.

All the taunts started on my first day of school. I thought it would stop, but it never did.

You thought I'd get used to it by now, didn't you? Well, I never did.

Today was even worse.

I was walking through the hallways. Everyone was taunting me, except for a few people who were telling the other students to stop and giving me looks of sympathy, while some teachers were scolding the students.

It was sixth period. I was waiting for my teacher to unlock the door. When she did, she gave me a smile.

"How are you today, Akari?"

I didn't respond and merely watched as she unlocked the door. Noticing I didn't respond, she smiled at me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Look, Akari. I know how mean people are to you, but try to disregard them. Someday you'll find a guy who loves you and your hair." She said.

I responded with a smile, but a small one.

"Thank you." I said with a little nod of my head.

My teacher smiled and nodded as if saying "you're welcome". She opened the door and we walked inside. I turned the light on and sat in my seat, which was in the very front, letting in the kids when they came to the door.

When class started, I started on my work, and I no longer let kids in. Many kids wanted in, but they needed passes to come in. All I wanted to do was to focus on my work.

After a while, I heard a question being asked for the teacher.

"Can I go to the bathroom?" A male student asked.

"Yes." The teacher said.

Once he walked out of the room, I put a trash can near the door so that way the kids can come in and out and no one will have to open the door for them.

People started to laugh. I knew it was at me. What was so funny? All I did was put a trash can near the door.

"Oh, just shut up, all of you!" I said as I sat down in my seat.

I continued to do my work as tears formed in my eyes, my face reddening, as I heard the "Oooohhhhs" from everyone and then laughter from some kids.

"What happened? I wasn't paying attention, so what happened?" The teacher asked.

I didn't dare answer as I wiped away the water in my eyes discreetly. I didn't want the tears to fall. I would already be more of a laughing stock than I was. I wanted to appear strong. I stayed quiet.

"She put a trash can near the door and classmates started laughing at her." Another classmate said.

"Oh. I see." The teacher said.