Hey everyone! Its been a while, hasnt it? So anyway, yesterday I wrote an essay for a Fan Family Experience contest. Then I decided that I could make this essay into a story, you know for FictionPress. So here you go, my essay turned story. Enjoy!

~~//~~

My life in Horace Mantis

~~//~~

The Vicious Cycle

~~//~~

A/N: I'm gonna edit this thing some more, since I submitted the original already. Just so you know ^_^

~~//~~

I woke up to the sound of the alarm clock screaming into my ear. I cracked open one sleepy eye and gazed at the digital numbers that read 8:00 am. I grabbed it sleepily and threw it to the ground. That was the 10th alarm clock I broke this month. I smiled and went back to sleep, thinking I was safe in bed at last. Until...

"Serena! School!" shouted the voice of my mother from all the way downstairs. With a groan, I grabbed the pillow from under my head and stuffed it on my head. Guess I wasn't safe after all.

A few minutes later, I was dressed in the plaid uniform I was doomed wear until the end of the schoolyear. It was horrid. It was too plain and had no sign of black anywhere. I grabbed a cookie and biked all the way to school.

I'm not a total Goth, but I'm not a prep either. I absolutely loathe preppy happy people who just bounce around when they have nothing to do. My mom banned everything black from my makeup bag, but I got to keep my black nail polish.

Eh, maybe you could say I was a goth.

I was at school early, so not much of the student body was there yet. I dialed the locker combination on the lock and retrieved my books, praying that they wouldn't be here yet.

That's when I felt it. I felt the earthquake undernearth my feet. I held my ground and braced myself. Suddenly, the doors flew open and the Lucas Brothers ran in, harrassed and breathless. They ran past me, knocking all my books from my hands. Behind them followed a river of crazed screaming girls who stampeded on my books till they were black and dusty.

I stifled a scream of anger and balled my fists tightly. Alas, the vicious cycle once again completed its course. It was never going to end was it?

~~//~~

“Oh, sorry about that. Let me help you. No, no its okay. I'm fine,” I murmured angrily while picking up my books. “No no I insist.” Making a dialogue of what you would've like to have happened isn't really fun when you're doing it alone.

“Stupid preps,” I muttered, dusting off the gray patches on my books. I slipped into my first class and slouched in my seat, waiting for it to start.

Suddenly, Abby, my best friend, appeared in the seat in front of me with a huge smile plastered on her face. It honestly scared me a little.

“Hey Abby,” I said sullenly.

“Guess what?” she asked cheerfully. I sighed. Probably something to do with Jonas, the band that the Lucas Brothers were in.

“Lemme guess,” I said “You joined the stampede of girls who were after the Lucas Brothers and possibly stepped on my books?”

“No...,” she said, her eyes avoiding mine. I raised an eyebrow.

“Fine!” she said pouting 'But that's not what I was going to say!”

“Then what were you gonna say then?” I demanded when the classroom door flung open and Nick Lucas ran into the room, his shirt hanging loosely on his body from being pulled by numerous fan girls.

“That's what I was going to say,” said Abby gesturing to Nick. I gave her a look.

“It isn't much of a surprise Abby,” I said.

“It is!” she exclaimed “Since they changed their schedules, we get to see him every 1st, 4th, 6th AND 7th period!” She clapped her hands gleefully.

“Okay, how do you know they changed their schedules?” I asked. Abby avoided my eyes and twirled a lock of hair. I already knew the answer.

Nick walked past by me, but I didn't scream or anything. Instead I stuck out a bit of my foot to try and trip him.

Then I felt something heavy land on my foot. Nick Lucas just stepped on my foot. I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood.

But Nick didn't notice what he did.

“HEY WATCH WHERE YOU BRING YOUR FOOT DOWN, STUPID PREP!!!” I shouted at him. But, being tired from being chased by girls, Nick didn't hear me and rested his head against the top of his desk.

I looked back at Abby, whose face was plastered in total shock. Then, I realized I just shouted at one of her idols. I felt millions of eyes glaring at me. I rolled my eyes. These people are acting like I just insulted a god or something.

“Hey,” said Nick, who suddenly appeared beside me. Abby gasped. She looked like she was going to have a heart attack. I looked up at him.

“What?” I said, my face still blank. Abby seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.

“Did I step on your foot?” he asked in some sincere tone. I kept my expression blank.

“Yes and now it's probably swollen. Thank you,” I said irritably.

“Oh Im so very sorry,” he said in a voice that would make any girl's heart melt. Too bad my heart isn't as soft as any girls.

“Oh you're sorry, are you?” I said still annoyed.

“Yeah, really, let me make it up to you,” said Nick making his eyes soft. Abby looked like she was about to swoon. I sighed and shifted in my seat to look directly in his face.

“On second thought, its just a step on the foot,” I said “Nothing to worry about. But thanks for offering.”

“What are you doing?!” hissed Abby.

'What do you think I'm doing?” I asked back.

“Nick Lucas is offering you something!” she hissed “You can't just turn it down!”

“Nick Lucas is just another human being,” I hissed back “And I can turn down anything he offers me when I want to!”

“I'm still here,” said Nick looking very out of place.

“Stop eavesdropping!!” I snapped. I turned to my right and saw millions of eyes staring at us. They seemed to be telling me to accept the offer. I looked back at Nick and gave a fake smile.

“Okay,” I said “What's your offer?”

“Free ice cream on me?” he asked. I considered it for a while.

“Tell you what,” I said “Why don't you offer Abby here the ice cream? I'm not an ice cream person anyway.” Abby gasped again and looked at me like I was crazy.

“Hm, deal,” said Nick. He turned to Abby and said “See you lunch?” Abby nodded vigorously. After Nick left, Abby exploded and words poured out of her mouth like a waterfall.

“OmigoshIcantbelieveNickLucasisofferingmeicecream!!!” she said in one breath. And she kept yammering on and on. I also heard many sad sighs of those who wanted to be Abby so bad.

I let my head flop on the desk. This is going to be long day.

~~//~~

Yeah, this didnt have much plot. But I hope you liked it anyway. ^_^