Liliana's Story: The Fantastic Freshman

Woodsville High School – 2005/2006

Sometimes, life can be really bad. Nothing goes right, stuff gets broken, blame gets handed out, feelings get hurt, dreams get crushed, yadda yadda yadda.

Especially in high school.

Everyone here expects you to be like everyone else. And, to top things off, populars – evil, bossy, snobby, obnoxious and inconsiderate – are always being snooty and show-offy, flaunting about their “talents” and making everyone else feel as worthless as dog poop. I always try to be myself – a decent, caring person who doesn’t like to see fighting, even though I cannot always prevent my anger from losing control – but I feel like that is nowhere near good enough. I wish it could all be different.

What if high school were a magical place? A place where evil and tyrannical populars called the shots and preyed on innocent “second-class” citizens. A place where someday, the weak would rise above, spreading peace and harmony throughout the kingdom. A place were everyone could have an equal chance without being crushed by the pressure of popularism! And I would lead the rebellion, for I am the amazing Liliana! -- “L” for sort.

And of course, where would a great leader be without her very best friends?

*Sir Martin the Light-Hearted – the best friend a girl could ever have. L had no idea why she felt so drawn to Dustin. Oh, yes, she knew now – he always listened and helped her, and was always good for a laugh. They had so much in common. Se had never known anyone like Dustin before. Why, at the beginning of seventh grade, she didn’t even know his name, and now she can’t imagine a school year without him.

*Sir Hesseltine the Loyal – her first real friend, whom she had known even longer than Dustin. Although he was a grade behind her, she always considered him the best friend she ever had. Always ready with a hug whenever she needed it, L knew that she could always depend on him to watch her back. She loved him not just as a best friend, but a brother. L barely saw her two real half-brothers, so all she could do was imagine what they were like. And she hoped that they were just like Trevor – funny, sensitive, and light-hearted who knew no wrong.

*Lady Lin the Gentle – a beautiful Chinese-American girl who gave great advice whenever L was down on her luck. She was always encouraging L to go for it, to reach out, to be herself, and L loved her for it. When L was having difficulties with a potential boyfriend, Alice kept encouraging her to tell him how she felt. L never realized before how lucky she was to have a friend like Alice, until now, as she was separated from her friends for the summer.

*Lady Santora the Brave – L never saw her anymore, but she knew Brittany was always there. They shared similar tastes and kept in touch. They, like everyone else, had their share of fights, but they always made up. She and L had fun coloring with crayons together. Brittany was a lot of fun to be around, and L was very happy to have met a girl like her – confident and uncompromising, never afraid to stand up for what’s right.

*Sir Currier the Just and Lady Robie the Loving – They could be considered populars in some ways, but they were completely the opposite of tyrannical. L was always being attacked by populars, crushing her, telling her she could never fit in, but Chris and Martha – oh, Chris and Martha were different. When L’s spirit was in danger of being crushed, Chris and Martha helped her build back up and showed her that there are people who care about her.

*Sir Nicholsson the Valiant – Was it the dark hair that coincided with his deep, brown eyes that attracted L to him? Was it his personality – smart, funny, calm and collected – that made him so desirable? Some might view him as a “nerd”, but L loved him. His strange laugh, his questionable taste in music and television programs – these “flaws” didn’t matter to L. All that mattered was that they loved each other. They lived so far apart, L worried that he might forget his love for her. But something inside told her that he would never forget. The thought pleased her as she lived her life in a small town, so far away from his. They would see each other again. And when the time was right, he would slowly lean towards her, slip his arms around her waist, and pull her close into a passionate kiss. Then L would smile and thing, This is where I belong as she leaned into his strong arms and placed her hands on his chest, proving that she loved him as well.

*Lady Tachikawa the Sweet – L’s penpal in Japan. Sakura did not go to L’s school, but they were practically sisters. Both loved to read, and they stayed in touch by mailing a pair of jeans to each other. L had a short romance, with her older brother, Taiki, but it didn’t last because they didn’t see how a long distance romance would work out, based on the fact that they lived on different continents. But they always stayed friends. Even though Sakura liked knowledge and was always nosing into L’s life, L loved her like a sister. Together, they were unstoppable.

It was these people who made her what she was today. And with this army of loyalty at her side, she would lead them into battle against the tyrannical populars and make the kingdom a safe and happy place for all!

-----

L walked down the hall, dreaming of her one true love, when suddenly she heard a voice. As she turned, she saw the Three Obnoxiousites – Larry, Jared, and Cameron,

“Hey, wussup?” Larry said as he walked up and put his arm around her shoulder.

“What are you doing, fool?” Jared asked.

“Making my move,” Larry replied, smoothing his hair back and leaning closer to L, who pushed him away.

“Yeah,” Cameron said. “On my cousin!”

“Ooh, you got served, fool!” Jared laughed at Larry.

L blinked. Was Cameron standing up for her?

“So what if she’s your cousin? She’s just a sucker,” Larry replied.

“Cameron thought about it. “Yeah, you’re right. Go ahead.”

“Yeah!” Larry cried.

“Enough!” L yelled. All three – could you actually call them ‘boys’? – looked at her. “I have to get to science class, and I don’t have time to stand around and put up with this. So, if you three dweebs don’t mind, I will be leaving.” She turned to leave, but then turned back. “Oh, and I didn’t appreciate that ‘sucker’ comment.” L snapped her fingers, and Larry was surrounded with a glowing pink light. When the light dissipated, there was Larry – dressed like Little Bo Peep. L laughed her musical laugh and entered her science class, leaving everyone in the hall staring at him.

-----

“Hello,” Ryan said as she took her seat next to him.

“Hey,” she said back. Then she leaned back and proceeded to listen as he went on and on about some random TV show that he saw last night. Listening was what she was best at. She always loved to help people, and she was a very caring person. L had considered going out for an advice column in a school newspaper, but she felt like everyone would laugh at her. Then she looked at Ryan. Would he laugh at her? L looked into his eyes and forgot all else.

Ryan noticed L staring at him and asked, “What?” Just that one word snapped her out of her reverie. “N-nothing,” she stammered as she began rummaging around in her backpack for her science book. It was the beginning of the school year. So far, so good.

-----

L walked into the chorus room. As she looked around, she saw no familiar faces. A young woman – in her twenties, L guessed – told them to get in groups of three. As everyone scrambled to be with their friends, she took a step forward. Everyone stopped to stare at her. The two closest girls grabbed her arms and pulled her to the piano. L cracked her knuckles and began to play. Everyone stopped to listen as she played her favorite Hilary Duff song that she had been working on playing for eight weeks. Taking in a breath of air, she began to sing along:

“I found myself today
Oh, I found myself and ran away
But something pulled me back
A voice of reason I forgot I had
All I know is you’re not here to say
What you always used to say
But it’s written in the sky tonight
So I won’t give up
No, I won’t break down
Sooner than it seems, life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I’m standing in the dark I’ll still believe
Someone’s watching over me…”

As the last note died down, L found she had the attention of the whole class. Suddenly the leader of a vicious clique, Catrina Fawkes, grabbed one of the girls by the hand and pulled her away. Looking L right in the eye, she said, “Stay away from us.”

As the rest of her clonerific cohorts gathered around Catrina, L said calmly, “If you’re not going to be nice, then be gone.” A snap of her fingers, a flick of her wrist, and – ZAP! – the evil clique was history. All those who had been oppressed and excluded by the clique began chanting, “L! L! L! L! L!” And this memory stayed with her all her life.

-----

(Time Skip: Second Semester Final Exams)

It was getting close to the end of the year. Final exams were coming up, and L was sitting in the gymnasium in the other building, watching the new principal being welcomed to the position. L handed Ryan a note saying that her mom had given her permission to go to a movie after her final and asking if he wanted to go with her. He said yes.

The next day, L’s mom had driven the two down to West Lebanon and left them alone. “Over The Hedge” was a funny movie. (L loved the hyperactive squirrel; he was sooooo cute!) After the movie ended, L’s mother had to drive to the rendezvous point for Ryan’s ride home.

There they were, standing by the edge of the woods. They did nothing but look at the scenery. L almost slipped and fell, but Peter grabbed her and pulled her back. Then they bumped into a parked car. Brown eyes met gray-blue as L leaned in for her first kiss, but Ryan’s mom drove up. Brown eyes filled with disappointment as they broke contact, gazing towards Ryan’s mom. Sadly, they parted. He got into the car and rode away. Him and his brown eyes.

THE END

# Notes: The Disney movie “Read It And Weep” copied parts of this story word-for-word. I wrote this two days before the movie came out. They must be stalking me or something! The song lyrics used are copyrighted by Hilary Duff for her song, “Someone’s Watching Over Me.” And this takes place when the main character is in freshman year at high school, so neither her or her friends can drive. (This related to the final parts of the text.) #