Story of My Life (Characters)

Date: 5-13-08 Tuesday

You wake to your mom yelling at you, like every morning to hurry up and that your late. You get up wait for her to go back upstairs then, lay down and go back asleep. Maybe today you can manage to get up before she is done with her shower, but you doubt it. Your more tired today then yesterday. You were up kind of late on your new laptop.

Then you realize something, it's your birthday!! you get up and realize you are still wearing the jeans you were yesterday. You really hated falling asleep in your jeans. You go to the bathroom, put in your contacts and start your new hair staightener. Yesterday was the first day you had straightened your hair and you loved it. So did everyone else, yesterday you also found out Brandon was dating Emily (though you really knew Fri. when Jacob gave him a note from her.) Me and Shelby had been talking just the other day to him about him asking her out. But you HAD to get ready, it was your birthday and you wanted to look kind of ok, today if anyway. You brush your teeth and hair while waiting for your straightener to heat up. It beeps, and you begin straitening your hair. You had to get use to this getting squeezed into your morning process. Your hair just looked dumb when you didn't straighten it all wavy but not curly just ugly. You straighten your hair and look into the mirror, you never realized how long it was. You look at yourself, wishing your dad would let you wear makeup. "Two more years" you say to yourself "just two more years"

Tater bangs on the door "hurry up!" he yells you get realizing you had 5 minutes to get ready. you had to spend less time straightening your hair. You run to your room getting your favorite pair of jeans. They wear kind of tight but looked good on you. Then you went frantic, you couldn't find that shirt, the one you has seen just last night. It was more girly than you liked but you wanted to make an impression today. You find it after searching for ever. "Sydney" your mom calls "hurry up!! two more minutes" "shit" you say under your breath making sure no one heard you. No one in your family knew you cussed, actually they knew hardly anything about you.

You push all thoughts out, you had to be ready, the bus never waits. You throw on your cloths go to the bathroom and look. You looked way to girly, but no time to change. They were walking out the door. You grabbed your ipod and ran out. You couldn't believe it they had forgotten, Nathan of corse did he only cared about himself. But your mom, even her hadn't said anything. "Have a good day" she said, same thing every day. Nothing was different, you didn't feel different, you didn't look different except more girly. But all the same nothing not even your mother's goodbye had changed. You look at her and say "Do you even know what today is?" she looks at you then says "Happy Birthday" dull, no meaning just words. All the same.

The bus ride was no better, loud annoying and horrible. No one you knew rode it, except Jacob (a different Jacob) but you rarely talked to him. But he sits next to you, something weird. The bus was always crowded but you usually sat alone, most people on your bus were druggys, or preps. Preps you hated druggys weren't that bad just different. "Hello Jacob" you say in a kind of hoarse voice mornings were NOT your thing. "hey" he says. More empty words. No meaning. You turn to the window and listen to your ipod, blaring the music up. You didn't care if people were staring at you, you hated most kids on your bus anyway. They use to call you Sasquatch because you were so tall and you could still hear them calling you that under their breaths though it had stopped being yelled out. Sometimes you hated being tall, your head almost hit the top of the bus. But you suck it up, bottle up your feelings that’s how you live. There was no one you could talk to your closest friends Tiffany and Brandon couldn't even listen to you. Tiff always got into the wrong crowds and you were probably the only thing that kept her from getting probation, again. And Frodo well he was him, always saying something, always making you laugh, which helped but not as much as talking would.

"Less than a month" you think "only a few more days of bus torcher"
You get to school and go to talk to Brandon, Emily, and Jacob. All sitting next to each other as always. Laughing, well except Jacob, I don't think I've ever seen him REALLY laugh. He always seemed kind of depressed, probably from his brother beating him up all the time. You walk over to them, Jacob tells you your hair looks nice "o ya" you say "you weren't here yesterday wear were you!" "Sick" he plainly says. More empty words, but hey you didn't mind from Jacob he always talked like that, it was cool with you.

You turn to Brandon "Hey Frodo" he turns "do you remember what day it is?" he thinks "o Happy Birthday Mammoth" Mammoth another name people called you, but hey only Brandon and his friends called you that, you didn't like them calling you that but you were used to it. It wasn't used with the harsh tone that they used on the bus. "hey Frodo, enjoy lasser taggin" you said referring to your birthday party Saturday. "ya that was so fun!" he said. No empty words you notice, though he had forgotten your birthday he really meant it when he said happy birthday. "I never got to tell you thanks for the gift" you say. You really didn't you were so blown away from it you never really said thanks. "it's ok I could tell you liked it" "loved it" and you did. It was a jewelry box, and when you opened it there were brand new dollar bills hidden everywhere in it. You were blown away it was just like him to do something that sweet. (I know what your thinking ooo she has a crush on him I DON"T I love him like a brother, he's my best friend for crying out loud!!!)

You look around Ducky wasn't there, neither was Derek, their bus hadn't come yet. You walk over to Jacob who had moved to the other side of the table. "Jacob!" he turns "Sydney!" you and him always had this super happy-even-if -your-not greeting. "Jacob did you have fun at the party?" "ya" he said more empty words but hey it's Jacob. "do you remember what today is" silence or as silent as it could be in the cafeteria. "o you don't know do you?" "What?!?" he says "well think I'm not telling" and you walk away to eat breakfast. Same thing every morning cereal and toast with milk and grape juice. Always the same, but you decided to change the lunch lady gets out toast "the usual?" she ask. she always knew you got the same thing but she always asked "no breakfast pizza" (which is like normal pizza only with sausage, eggs, and other breakfast stuff) she looks at you weird and Hailey comes up behind you in line. You turn to her and say "Hi Hailey" then walk town to get your tray. "Hey" she says. A test see how many people forgot your birthday. "Do you know what day it is?" you ask her. "Happy Birthday" your surprised "well at least not everyone forgot my birthday" you think.

You pay for your breakfast. 75 cents, today with a dollar. You get your change and leave finding a place to sit. The cafeteria is split into 4ths. In the mornings 1/4 of it is only for people eating breakfast. You sit down on a mostly empty table, you didn't fancy sitting with people you didn't know. You see Tiff come in followed by other people you know. She stops, talks to Sam (another prep) and comes to talk to you. "ello Ducky" you say in your British accent (which is really good). "Hey" she says. Ok you think to yourself "a new test, don't say a thing" you just keep looking at her, with your is-there-something-you-forgot face "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" she yells. "Well I'm glad at least my best friend remembers" you say to her, but she's gone. She does that allot leaves you without notice but your used to it.

Halfway though your pizza you see Jacob walking toward you, a sad look on your face. "Will you tell me what’s wrong?" he says "not until you tell me what day it is" "Tuesday?" he ask "I mean what’s special about today" he has no idea and after 3 min. of him not knowing you tell him. "It's my birthday" he looks sorry. "Sorry Syd" you look up no one ever called you Syd, you didn't really have a nick name. "ya know I’m forgetful" you laugh Jacob was pretty forgetful but it still hurt he forgot your birthday.

When your done you get up dump your tray and go talk to Brianna who is standing talking to Casey (different), Monkey, and CJ. Lets see if she remembers you tell yourself. You look at her with the same face you gave Tiff. "What" she ask "your hair?" "no" you say plainly "OMG Happy Birthday!!!" she yells jumping up and down. You stay and talk for a few minutes then you move on. You go to all your friends, almost all forgot.

8:15 time to get ready for school, everyone is dismissed. You walk to your hallway, passing the office. A girl was their Sarah, from 8th grade. She was copying something from the office wall. You walk back looking at what she was copying. It was the new SMILE team list.(SMILE team is like a greeting group for the school allot like student council only more fun)You looked you signed up and knew you'd be in but you wanted to see is Brandon was. He was and so was Emily. "awesome!!" you say to Sarah. You leave the office and go head toward your locker.

You get to your locker which is on the bottom, which annoyed you. You get your stuff, realizing that you left your pencil at home. "Shit" you mutter. "Now Sydney language" you hear beside you as ya Amanda opens her locker. Hers was right next to yours, and you hated it. You controlled your great feeling to punch her. She always cussed yet she treated you like a baby. You hated her she was the teachers pet, a prep, and though she was perfect.

You get in the classroom, your first so you sneak into the teachers pencil drawer stealing one. You knew no one had extra ones and that she'd never let you borrow one. She never came in till later anyway. Success you get the pencil, sharpen it then head back out to the hallway. You always did this get your stuff, put it in the classroom, then read out and talk. Tiff grabs you and drags you "Wha-" o ya she always goes to the bathroom to call or text someone in the morning, and she always tells you to come with her. 2 minutes till class started, you had to hurry you and her run slowing to a walk when passing classrooms. She called someone you didn't care who. You tell her to hang up and you go back. The bell rings, but your still in the hallway only 1/2 way there. You prayed to God Mrs. Mossmann came to class later, ask she usually does.

But she wasn't. "Why are you girls late?" she ask "Bathroom" you both say at once. She turns her signal to sit down. You both sit in your assigned seats. Your first class Language Arts with Mrs. Mossmann, you hated it. It was boring, your worst subject, and your first. You HATED mornings. Mossmann was never nice to you but especially hated you since she found a note you wrote calling her a bitch. Which she was but her finding it wasn't enjoyable because she knows your handwriting. Next Math, Mrs. Beirmann. You loved her classes, but today she was grumpy. "Great" you though "on my birthday she's mad." She was sick and her temper VERY unusually short. She always (after the work was done) let people write on her chalkboard, since she didn't use it. So when we were done she left you started talking to Tiff. "Think she'd be mad if we wrote on the chalkboard" you ask. "I don't think so, she never cares" Tiff says. Then she jumps up, and starts writing Happy B-day Sydney on the board. She was making starts and a cake when Mrs. Beirmann came in. "o ya I said you could write on my chalkboard, erase it" you sink in your chair Tiff erases the board and looked at you. When she sat down you to automatically started laughing. You guys always laughed at stupid stuff. Soon 2nd period was over onto Lit. Mrs. Beirmann again. All you did was finish the book Sarny by Gary Paulson.

Next Science. You hate Science Mossman again but worst of all your getting ready to dissect frogs. You weren't really looking forward to it. Lunch FINNALLY. You liked it because you got to talk to all your friends who you didn't have classes. But today you had a SMILE team meeting you nearly forgot. You get your lunch then go to the meeting classroom. You had a blast you all talked about next year and what you’d do and you did stupid little dances and songs. Brandon was the funniest. He always made everyone laugh.

Social Studies, you had to work on your project about the civil war. You didn't do much work, but talked to Brandon. You did manage to get your title on the poster ya that only took 40 minutes. But you knew it was due Friday and you'd have to get busy soon. 7th period, Gym. You hated it from the ugly uniforms they made you wear to the boring activities. You played 4 way volleyball, which was ok because you got to talk more than play. You never were that good because you never tried, but people always told you to because you were so tall. (sorry if the detail in writing is getter worst it's late and I’ve been typing forever)

After PE health, it was pretty boring but hey today a fireman was coming to talk. You had allot of fun watching Hailie (another prep) dress up in the boots and hat and coat, everyone even got a picture. It was priceless. 9th period, the last one. Core Plus. You hated it because all it was, was more work. That’s it extra Math and Language, even said it on your schedule, not that you stilled used it. But lately you had been cleaning out the court yard (which is really pretty now thanks to you all). But today there was a sub, and you did work. A stupid crossword made up of problems and numbers. You hurried to do it so you could talk to Tiff.

When your page was done you wrote a note to Tiff:

Ducky,
He's (meaning Trey T. they have been having troubles and not talking i was the messenger) told me allot of stuff when we've been talking. He doesn't want to be broken up with you. Here’s what he said
1. He wants 2 b with u now
2. He thinks your flirting with guys all the time
3. the only reason he's believing what people say is because you aren't talking
4. His ex was talking about kids he wasn't he never really liked her
5. He wants to hang out with girls without you assuming he's flirting with them.
o ya i told him the truth about you and Josh, that it was 3 years ago and by accident. (referring to a 4wheeler accident nothing major)
<3 ya,
Syd

You and her keep talking via the note, you are both masters at passing notes because you never get to talk to each other. You play all the tricks but the sub isn't really paying attention anyway.
Time to go home, but no bus, thankfully. Your grandmother picks you up after school, and of corse her dog is always there.

You walk up to her car and hop in "Happy Birthday" she says as you pull out of the school parking lot. "Thanks" you mutter, you didn't feel like talking you just wanted to get home. "Is that a new top?" she ask pointing to my black shirt that took you forever to find that morning. "This no, I just haven't worn it in forever" Which was true it had been months since your had worn it. So she had never seen it (she moved to IL about 1 month ago)

You go to the bus stop. You may not had to ride the bus in the afternoon but Tater did. You get out of the car you always had to wait but you hated doing that in the stuffy car. You walk across the street there is a soda machine there and your thirsty. You reach down to grab your Pepsi when your phone vibrates. that right you forgot to put the ringer on. It was always on vibrate so it wouldn't go off in class, but you could know when you got a text. That’s another thing your good at hiding your phone in class. Most of the time your texting and you haven't been caught yet.

You answer it, it was your dad. "ello" you answer, you always answered your phone with a British accent. "Hey" he replies "How are you?" "Good" you say usually your not but today was pretty good, "Great" he says "Happy Birthday" "Thankys" you say but like your mothers his words were empty, meaningless. You talk to him then he has to go. Always working he is, or at your property looking on how the house is coming along. (your building a house and your just renting one right now). He was at the property, you hated to think about it. It had been almost 3 years since you moved. You had lived in the same town, had the same friends since BEFORE kindergarten.

Then it was ripped away. Most things were, you still occasionally talked to Sarah you best friend then, but it wasn't the same and you to rarely talked. You pushed away more feelings bottled up more, you felt like you were going to explode. The last time you really opened up to a person and talked about what you were feeling was almost a year ago, at camp. you couldn't wait to go back you loved it and knew most of the people there you had been going so long. It had felt good to empty those feelings out, like when all the pressure leaves a soda bottle.

You say goodbye as more relatives call in, your aunt, other grandma and other grandpa (their divorced). More feeling when they said it, happy birthday but not as much as you wished.

Night, your favorite time of day, you loved the night always staying up. You rarely went to bed before midnight. You went to your usual chatroom hoping Brandon would be on but nope. He had promised to get on for weeks but he hardly ever got on the internet. the phone rang, you looked at the number. It was JR! you had been talking to him more now than ushal because you and him have been planning for him to sneak on a plane and come to visit. You were looking up plane ticket prices, and you hoped he had enough because you sure didn't. "It's pretty expensive JR" you tell him "well i know that you idiot I've been saving forever" you and him talk for a few minutes when he has to hang up.

You stay in the chatroom, talking to people, all them wishing you a Happy Birthday (your name wasn't the usual Syd, it was Birthday_Girl_Syd) you were just glad that you couldn't hear whether the words were empty or not. You had had enough empty words for today. You look at the clock on your laptop, 11:48. Your birthday was almost over, it hadn't been perfect but better than past. You saw goodnight to everyone, go take out your contacts, and lay down. You turn on your radio, you always listened to music at night. It's one of the few things that can calm you, that and writing. You love writing especially poems, you hope one day to make a book. Which you are kind of doing but it's not as good as you want it. You fall asleep at what you think is 1am just as Tattoo comes on.

"Your on my heart just like a tattoo" you sing at a whisper as you fall asleep.