Hidden Haley

"What's that girl's problem?"1

Haley Jackette sat in the corner of her class room, her face tightly zippered in a black hood. She had no desk, just a little cardboard box that collapsed every now and again. Her long, never-cut platinum blonde hair seeped through the little hole she used to breathe, showing everyone that she wasn't all that ugly. But no one believed her.2

Her eyes, grey and creme, were always settled lower then anyone else's, and she was always made fun of her never-ending crossed eyes. She always double, always looking at two things making fun of her at the same, exact time. Her lips were always sealed, and she never, ever could see the sun.3

"Haley, go to the principal," her teacher called from behind her metal desk. 4

She nodded, her hood coming a bit undone. She puled it tighter, stood up and limped out the door. She slowly opened her hood, seeing two hallways. She moved to the side until her blind body hit the wall. She continued walking, pressed up against the wall, until she saw a door labeled PRINCIPAL on the front. But of course, Haley didn't understand that this was spelt the way it was. She just assumed, because many, many times before she had been sent down the hallways with an assistant to the very room. 5

She quietly knocked on the door. The awaiting secretary opened it, warmly escorted the girl to a seat next to a few boys and girls, then sat down at her desk. A few boys whispered, thinking of how many times that Haley had been sent to the office. 6

"Next,' a man called.7

A boy shook his head, tapping Haley's shoulder. She jumped, thinking the boy was going to make fun of her ripping hoodie.8

"Hey, it's your turn. It's okay, I'm not going to laugh at you," he said, smiling.9

She nodded, not talking, and tried to walk her way into the office. The principal sighed, welcoming Haley into the office with a grunt of displeasure.10

"I just don't get it," the secretary mumbled, typing on her computer.11

Haley sat down in her usual seat and put her head on the large, wooden desk in front of her. 12

"Miss Jackette, may I ask why you are, again, here in the office?"13

Haley nodded, speaking through the black wall with a quiet, soft voice.14

"I didn't answer my teacher's question," she answered, tightening her lips again. 15

"Haley, I do not understand why you're always hiding, never answering questions, you know what I mean?"16

Haley nodded sullenly, hoping that the man before her would understand. 17

"Another lunch detention, I guess," he said, nodding as he filled out a slip of yellow paper. 18

Haley took it, left the room, and ran into the bathroom. She pulled her hood down and looked at herself in the mirror. Her colorless eyes and bruised nose showed her that she was always going to have to eat lunch alone and never speak. She tried to push a tear from her eye, but it wouldn't go. She guessed that insults would never insult a girl like her.19

She hid her face once more and slumped out of the room. She walked the same way she did back into the classroom, out of the back door to get to her foster bus, and into the foster home. 20

"Haley, there's a letter on the table for you,'' the woman said, not saying even a 'hello' to Haley.21

She felt around for the letter, grabbed hold of a large boxy envelope that seemed freshly cut, and opened it, tearing the object inside a bit. The woman who had greeted her gasped, and Haley opened the hood she hid under.22

Glittery liner was along the edges, feathers stood up from the beautiful, teal tips, and the nose was glossy. She tried to make it out, squinting her eyes. Something about the image clicked in her head. She pulled the masquerade mask over her face and snapped the string against the back of her head. 23