CHAPTER 8

                                    

                                          
CHAPTER 8
                          
Today is Monday, which means that it's time for school again after my eye-opening weekend. I'm not yet sure if I've completely changed yet, but we'll find out soon enough.
                          
Strangely enough, I'm actually excited for school. I'm curious to see how I handle my new way of looking at things and not being angry with everyone.
                          
My parents have gone to visit my aunt again since her condition isn't improving. They would've taken me with this time but I can't miss out on school. And I don't really want to be there.
                          
"Hey Lucy," I say cheerfully as I get into her tiny car.
                          
"Someone's happy," she smiles approvingly at me.
                          
"I had a nice weekend."
                          
Lucy suddenly jerks around in her seat to face me. Her eyes are widened as if she has just realised something.
                          
"I just remembered! I left you and Jeremy alone on Saturday..." she narrows her eyes sceptically at me before continuing, "What happened?"
                          
The way she drags out the word 'happened' makes me realise that she's reaching bizarre conclusions in that fast-paced mind of hers.
                          
"Nothing, we were just talking."
                          
"About?"
                          
Again, she drags out the word as if she's expecting some extraordinary news.
                          
"About his life, and how I should be nicer to people."
                          
"Sounds interesting," she says before turning around in her seat again and driving off. That's weird; she usually won't just drop a conversation until she hears something worth hearing—according to her standards. I might just be imagining it, but it seems like she knows something I don't.
                          
"Luce, are you not telling me something?"
                          
"Hmm?" she says, pretending that she is concentrating more on the road than on me.
                          
"Are you not telling me something?" I repeat, a bit more pressing this time.
                          
She clicks her tongue in an absent-minded way and shakes her head. I know that she's lying to me because when she does, she can't speak. And she always clicks her tongue when she's keeping something from me.
                          
I decide to just drop it for now because I need to talk to her about something else before we get to school.
                          
"So, do you think I can be a nicer person, if I tried?" I ask her, not really sure if I want to know her answer. I don't mention Jeremy and I discussing my past, she knows that it was rough for me but she doesn't know what happened. I've known her since we moved here three years ago, but I've never told her what actually happened.
                          
"You're nice to me," she says.
                          
"Besides you, you bum."
                          
"Well, kind of nice," she laughs and I can't help but join her. "You were doing quite well on Friday night."
                          
"I guess..."
                          
"And you do seem a lot happier today, so why not give it a shot?"
                          
I still wonder why she's not asking me for more details about my Saturday with Jeremy. I thought that she'd be wondering how he managed to influence me to try to be a nicer person. Before I can ask her why she isn't being her usual nosy self, we arrive at school and separate to go to our different classes.
                          
...
                          
Being nicer is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Jeremy was probably right about needing to talk to someone before breaking out my habit. I'm so used to being mean to people that it's so difficult for me to stop.
                          
By the time it's our lunch break halfway through the day, I've already insulted some girl about her bushy hair, scared off some grade eights by simply scowling at them and grabbed some random boy's glasses before he could put them on. Although, in my defence, Kyle and Greg's snickers did influence me to put the kid's glasses on top of the lockers where he couldn't reach them—no excuse, I know, but I'm so used to pulling pranks on people with those two that it's just natural for us.
                          
Right now I'm sitting at our usual spot on the grass under the tree, waiting for Lucy to arrive. The others are sitting in break detention—though they'll probably bribe, charm or sneak their way out in a few minutes—so I'm alone. I'm a nervous wreck, I was supposed to be nice and I completely flopped. I'm so ashamed...why is this so difficult?
                          
When Lucy finally arrives, I jump up and grab her by the shoulders.
                          
"I need help," I whisper, semi-hyperventilating.
                          
"Okay, calm down Jules. Just sit down again, okay?" This child's dealt with enough of my break-downs to know exactly what to do. "What happened nunu?"
                          
"I can't do it. I thought it would be easy but it's not. I'm a terrible person and I can't stop. I tried and it's not working," I ramble.
                          
Lucy frowns at me.
                          
"I think it's too much of a habit for you, not to judge you or anything."
                          
I shake my head. "You can judge away, I deserve it."
                          
At this she smiles and says, "You know, by admitting all of this it shows that you really want to change. It's a good thing. I'm sure you'll get there Jules, with a bit a practice. This sort of thing might take some time."
                          
I smile back at her. "Thanks friend."
                          
"You're welcome. But I think you need to talk to Jeremy, the sooner the better."
                          
"About what?"
                          
"You know what," she raises an eyebrow at me. I'm not sure how she knows about Jeremy and my conversation, but before I can ask her she stands up just as the bell rings. Once again, the fact that we have different classes prevents me from uncovering whatever she's hiding from me. I knew I should've changed my timetable at the beginning of the year.
                          
...
                          
I have Biology in the last lesson and conveniently enough, Jeremy shares that class with me. Just as I'm debating whether or not to go up to him he gestures me over to him.
                          
"Hey," I say, a bit awkwardly. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain my failed attempt at being nice.
                          
"Hey Jules," his warm smile makes me feel a bit less uneasy and we walk towards the parking lot together. "So...how was your day?"
                          
"Was okay," I lie. More like dissappointing. "And yours?"
                          
"Great."
                          
Jeremy's enthusiasm is sort of wearing off onto me and I already feel a lot better than I've felt the whole day.
                          
"You didn't get it right did you?"
                          
I know exactly what he's talking about but I don't want to admit it. Instead, I just keep quiet.
                          
"I know you didn't because if Julia Clark had had a sudden personality change it would have been the gossip of the day. Or week," he smirks. His words don't hurt--i know they're true.
                          
Once again, I don't say anything so he continues. "Its okay Jules. Habits don't just go away. But you'll get there. Have you decided who you want to talk to?"
                          
I simply nod because I don't really want to say the wrong thing...as I have been doing the whole day so far.
                          
"That's good," he smiles again. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow..."
                          
Jeremy turns to walk away towards his car but before he can take more than two steps I finally speak.
                          
"I think I'm ready to tell you."
                          
. . .
                          
Hey glorious people!! :D
                          
I really hope you're enjoying this story...its still moving very slowly but hopefully it will get more interesting soon.
                          
Thank you so much for reading ABoY!!!! You're awesome :D
                          
Trish **