Romeo and Julliet HS ch.1

Chapter 1: First Day of the Purgatory...alias, School


"Neena! Wake up! You need to go to school." Mama said as she shook my body. Drowsily, opening my eyes after sleeping so long and soundly, I grogged back, "Mama, five minutes."
"Not even a second! Hurry or I won't drop you off." she said, then walked away. I sat down reluctantly, moving Natascha and Ila slightly. The tabby and ginger cats got on the floor as I stood up and headed to my bathroom. I yawned and looked at myself on the mirror. I'm not my prettiest on the mornings, if you know what I mean. Nor is my morning dogbreath. I took off my pijamas and got on the shower. Today it took me a bit longer than usual since I was still sleepy and couldn't focus well. As a consecuence, I put the conditioner first instead of the shampoo and realized five minutes later that I was rubbing the shampoo on my body, not the body gel. When I finally got washed properly, I slipped out and wrapped my body with the towel. Standing in front of the mirror, I washed my face, brushed my hair and dried up. Then went to my closet to pick out the clothes.
"Neena! Ready?" mama asked
"Not yet!" I yelled
Okaaay, what do I wear...I don't know. Maybe I can strut around school in my underwear! Yay for fashion statements!
Okay, even though gliding around in purple boy shorts and a sporty tank sound incredibly sexy and irresistible, I decided to put on black high tops, gray jeans and an orange long-sleeved shirt. When I was ready with the ponytail I did to my hair, I went fast downstairs where most of my family was.

"Eat and we'll get going." Mama said as I drank the chocolate milk with toasts and jelly.
"Morning people!" Mischa, my sister, said as she sat down. She wore a purple dress with a brown vest and her usual braid and black-rimmed eyeglasses.
"Murming!" I said with toast and jelly on my mouth.
"Neena, that's gross!" Mischa said with a disgusted face, "Can't you be a lady for once?"
"Settle down, you two. Neena, we don't take out our tongue in the table, much less with food on it." Mama said
"Is Papà going to call today?" Mischa asked
"Probably." Mama said, "He'd arrive to Kiev today."
"I wish I had gone with him." I said
"Yeah." Mischa agreed. I finished my toast (sensing a sensitive moment comming), drank the milk and took the plate and glass to the sink to wash them.
"Your dad needed the flight urgently. And remember he'll be back by Friday." Mama said as she sat down with her toasts and coffee.
"Well at least he should've taken you." I said
"What would I do there, Neena?" Mama asked, turning to look at me.
"Well, for starters, be by his side." I said, "And you could show Ivan his country."
Mama smiled gently and patted her seven month old pregger belly. Mischa stood up with her plate and got by my side to wash them as I dried them. I ran upstairs to wash my teeth and toss my books inside my backpack. Downstairs, I heard Mischa and Mama talking, then Mischa called on me.
"Neena! Hurry up, I'll take you to school!"
"I don't understand why you people don't let me buy a car!" I yelled, then rinsed my mouth.
"I'm not talking about cars, I'm talking about you getting late. Take your hyper butt down here!"
"Mischa." Mama warned. With my books ready, I followed my older sister to the car after saying goodbye to Mama.

The drive to school isn't always thrilling. You know how it is: cliques, tests, nagging professors, crazy schedules, gossip, mean girls, gym class...
"We're here." Mischa said. I got out of the car and waved goodbye. And just as her car left to community college, I saw him, smirking.
"Of course, the bad things also include bullies.
I took a deep breath and walked with my head high towards my best friend.
"Strify!!" I yelled, waving my arm. He turned to look at me and his face brightened.
"Neenee!" He yelped with pleasure, running towards me and hugging me so tightly on the waist, that he practically made me rise from the ground, "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Striffers, cut it out! I can't breathe!" I giggled as he turned with me still in the air. He put me down and hugged me again, this time letting me hug him.
"Did you get your schedule yet?" I asked
"Uh-huh, and I got yours too honey!" he said, giving it to me.
"Thankies! Lemme see. First two lessons: Geography."
"I'm with you on that one." Strify said
"Uh-huh. Okay, you can hold my head when I slit it off. Then one lesson of Spanish."
"Este año me gusta mucho." Strify said in an exotic Spanish
"Mucho mucho!" I agreed as we laughed, "Okay. Then it's recess and later-"
"You have to choose the class over there." Strify said, "I took Music."
"Maybe I'll take Photography." I said, "Afterwards, it's one lesson of Math and two of Chemistry."
"Then lunch!" Strify said. I rolled my eyes good-humoredly and continued, "Do you have a lesson of Third Language after lunch?"
"Yeah, but you know I always choose German. And it's all taken."
"Crap!" I sighed, "Now I'll have to continue with...Ugh...French."
"You know, "Strify said gently, "If you really don't like it, you can ask for a class switch."
"I'll be fine." I said, sighing, "And next is two lessons of Math -where I'll have you, so no prob- and we can go home!"
"I'm sure this year will ROCK!" Strify said. I smiled along as I listened to him raving on his vacations in the mountain. God bless you, Strify. Without you, God knows where I'd be...

"We begin another year together. Another year of knowledge, of wisdom..."
Of "help-me-get-out-before-I-crack". Seriously woman, God gave you such a small mouth to see if you had the decency of letting one listen to its own thoughts. And then I felt a piece of paper hit the back of my head.
"Mr. Nightingale, I actually woke up in a happy mood, don't ruin it by being a jerk on the first day of school." Mrs. Patrice snapped
"I aimed at the trash can, I swear!" Romeo answered, pretending to be innocent.
"And you hit it perfectly square on the head." His best friend,who everyone called Yu, said. There were snickers from the back of the class that quieted down with Mrs. Patrice's glare.
"Hey, Rrrrrrusssssian!" I heard him whisper, "Rrrrrrrusian!"
I sighed, trying to ignore him. This would be a loooooong year...