Crystal had just turned 17 and on this day, it was her birthday. Unfortunately for her, that day was also a school day. It was a Friday though and it was two days before the Valentine’s dance at her school. Every corner of her school was decked out in Valentine’s Day things. Hearts with arrows cut from construction paper was glued on the walls and even a little nude cupid was on her first block teacher’s door. She rolled her eyes into the back of her head to where only the whites of her eyes could be seen.

Her best friend, Jessica would not shut up about the dance because she had someone to go with. Unfortunately for Crystal, she didn’t have a guy to drag around nor did she enjoy going to school supported after school activities such as a school dance. She opened the door to her class and tried to look normal.

It was as if she were walking down the red carpet and she was a person nobody knew wearing the most expensive dress from an expensive dress place. But she wasn’t that noticeable. Nor was she rich. She wore a plaid skirt, a white shirt, and she had her hair tied up in two.

“Crystal Richards late again. Why? This is your third tardy this week. Are you okay? You smell like cigarette smoke.” The teacher said, giving a fake thoughtful look and pretending to be concerned just to strike attention to her and to embarrass her. She even lowered her nose and looked Crystal in the eye.

“My parents had this deal and I had to participate.” Crystal didn’t dare get the word out that today was her birthday. Everyone would try to be as nice as they could on this day just because it was her birthday. Just on that day. Then they would pretend not to know who she was and made her sit by herself on the bleachers during a presentation.

“This deal had best be good enough to get you another tardy. One more and it is to detention with you.” The teacher watched as Crystal slowly walked to her seat defeated.

“A big deal, indeed. It is her birthday!” Jessica shouted, throwing little pieces of paper up in the air. Crystal rolled her eyes and covered her eyes with her hands to hide the embarrassment. Crystal didn’t care much for being friends with everyone in the school just for a day.

“Is this true, Crystal?” Teacher said. Crystal nodded still with her hands over her eyes. “Okay then, I suppose today will be an exception.” The teacher rolled her eyes and put her hands on her desk in a way to reveal even more cleavage then already showing. She went up to the chalkboard and began writing words in English for the pupils to write in French. Crystal aced the warm up. It said ‘Climbing trees is for loons and baboons.’

Several notes were on her desk saying ‘Happy Birthday’ in both cursive girly handwriting and in small scribbly writing from guys. Crystal ignored the notes. She knew that no one really cared that seventeen years ago, she was born.

After a pop quiz, a few assignments, and homework to take home and procrastinate about doing, the bell finally rang and Crystal was off to her second block class. This was her favorite class – art. Not only did the teacher allow her to sit alone to work, she was good at it. Although Crystal had found herself drawing wings but they weren’t demon wings or eagle wings, they were monarch wings. It was very unlike her. She usually drew dark things like devils or people screaming or blood trickling down from black rose petals – but never butterfly wings. When she colored the wings of the gray insect all different hues of blue, green and purple, she put her pencils, brushes, and markers up and waited for the bell to ring. The teacher said that it should be framed and continued writing letters to people that nobody cared about.

Yea, I found this one in my archives of stuff I never throw away. This story is not new and I find my writing to have improved greatly since then. Anyway, reviews are cherished in bosoms.