Amelia ForbesI sat outside the principal's office waiting for my turn to go in. I'd only ever been here once in my entire life. And that was when I'd been summoned to inform me of a scholarship I was eligible for.And now I was here again. Summoned my Mr Redmey-my English teacher. I didn't know what to expect so I waited.I just wanted everything to move by quickly so I could go. I let out a breath, slumping deeper into the very uncomfortable lobby chair. After a while of waiting, the office assistant walked out the door, her eyes roaming. There were about six students here-including me.She paused to put on her glasses. "Amelia Forbes?" She asked, twirling a pen in her hand. Slowly, I got to my feet. "That's me," I said, desperate for everything to be all over. This was not where I wanted to spend the rest of my day.A curious look came over my face as I walked into the office. The principal, Mr Redmey, Mrs Sandra, and basically all my teachers

Amelia ForbesI'd resorted to going out more often, as it was the only way to clear my head. I could feel myself give up more and more as the days went by, although I didn't want to.The school had emailed Nana about my grades and Nana and I had had a long talk about it. Her trying to find out if anything was wrong with me, me trying to concentrate on her words and not the pain from the hole in my chest.So here I was this evening, walking round the town for the fifth time this week and finally coming to a stop in front of a liquor store. There was a free bench directly opposite the store so I sat there, watching people move in and out of store, while trying not to think about how messed up my life was.As I watched the store, a familiar looking girl walked through the doors-dressed in an oversized hoodie, similar joggers and a beanie-clutching a bottle of alcohol wrapped in brown paper in her left hand.A sigh escaped me as I saw that it was Dani.

Amelia ForbesI shook my head vigorously over and over again as I stared at my reflection. I'd been standing in the bathroom for more than thirty minutes-the pregnancy tester I'd gotten from a store across the street clutched in my right hand.I remembered the nasty look the lady at the counter had given me as she tossed the tester into a plastic bag, murmuring something about 16 year old sluts.I shook my head once more. I was just really tense. I can't be pregnant.Relax, Mel. It's just a false alarm. The changes in your body are as a result of stress. Breathe.Already having previous information about what single and double lines meant, I settled down and peed on it. In the few minutes it took to show the result, I wiped my hands on my jeans. Maybe it's just a coincidence. A hormone thing. After a few minutes of waiting, I let out a shaky breath and looked down at the plastic I held in my hand."No!" I screamed, feeling my throat constric

Amelia Forbes"Forbes!" The shout from Mrs Sandra jolted me from my distracted stance. I looked up to see her watching me, hands planted on her hips. Oh no. I knew there was a quiz going on, but I'd somehow lost focus in the middle of it.Slowly, I stood to my feet."Is there something interesting going on outside?" Mrs Sandra asked, the annoyed look still visible on her face.I shook my head rapidly, wanting to get through this embarrassment as soon as possible."I asked you a question. What's the gap between two contiguous teeth called?"My fingers rolled into a fist and I tried to think. But nothing was coming up.Some seats away from me Kimberly whispered something into her friend's ear and after a while I could hear murmurs."I heard her grades have been dropping.""The female Einstein has fallen.""Is she sick or something?""Dumb bitch!"I didn't turn to the sound of the voice but I knew it was Jason. Instead I

Amelia ForbesI tried to concentrate as I sat in the practical lab at school. We were required to take off our protective masks to be able to answer questions about the different chemicals we were learning about.Earlier, I had sat at the front. But when Kimberly and her minions took a position right beside me, looking like they she was going to throw acid all over me, I'd moved to the back. Better safe than sorry, right? Although Kimberly kept throwing me nasty glances at intervals. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was planning something. Feeling safe that a teacher was present, I shook it off and concentrated on the lecture Mr Paulo was giving. "Okay now everyone exchange partners and discuss what you just learned," Mr Paulo said, waving his hand in a shuffling motion.The girl who I'd been paired with moaned in joy, snatching her materials off the table and walking away as if I was the plague. I didn't mind anyway so I sat just sat there watc