MY DYSTOPIA

Chapter 1: The Prince and the Pauper

 

Walking home was the worst.

 

We lived on the poor side of town and the bus stop I had to take happened to be near the car park where the preps and rich kids hang with their flashy cars. The only rich kids that go to our school are bad news. Most only come to a school like ours because the fancy private schools wouldn't accept them. They ran the place, most of their parents donating large sums to keep their little darlings in the teachers' good books. Of course, they got away with all sorts of shit. Most didn't even bother to keep quiet about it.

 

As I made the last turn before the stop, I ran into some of the jerks mucking around near a shiny red convertible. I heard them before I saw them; they were hollering at some girl on the side of the road, shouting things I'd rather not repeat. I tucked my hair behind my ear and ducked my head low, hoping to get by unnoticed.

 

I'm not usually the kind of girl to turn heads in any case. My hair's mid length, a pretty boring brown and I'm a little on the skinny side, but I've got nice eyes and pretty clear skin, minus a few freckles, so I guess you could say I might be cute in that girl-next-door kinda way. One guy I didn't recognise was sitting on the hood of the car. I winced. If I had a car like that, or a car at all, I'd treat it like royalty. These guys probably got a new one for each birthday.

 

Assholes.

 

I looked at the ground and quickened my pace, so focused on getting out of there that I ran smack into one of the guys, almost knocking him over. My eyes were met with a crisp white shirt, school tie neatly arranged. There was only one guy in this lot that dressed neat, and he was the worst of them.

 

"Piss off McKellan."

 

I saw the mock hurt in his green eyes.

 

"Oh but baby, you seemed so eager to get on top of me." He looked me up and down, those eyes narrowing as he smirked. "Don't worry, you're not my type."

 

I wish I could've said something back, but Brad McKellan was the kind of guy that girls drooled over. Piercing green eyes, toned bod. Superman-worthy chestnut hair that he gelled to perfection every morning. Flawless jawline. He was the head off the delinquents in our school, but that didn't stop him from appearing to the world as a the next freakin messiah. Son of a big-time CEO, top of the school, not to mention Captain even though he was in the grade below. The fan girls that saved his news-clippings probably got a new one each week.

 

"Brilliant. I'll be off then," I muttered, attempting to untangle myself from him. He pulled me back until we were so close I could feel his breath.

 

"Don't be so hasty," he murmured into my ear. "There's a rumour running around that you'd do anything for a tenner."

 

"I'd pay you double that to fuck off." His friends looked up, alarmed. Nobody said a word. Brad was known to have a quick temper and the strength to back it up. There was a rumour that one guy who'd crossed him had ended up missing. I'd had enough of him and his arrogant attitude. I doubted he'd have the balls to do anything about it.

 

"Fine, baby. Your loss." He slapped my butt as he let me go. Cheeks burning, I walked off as fast as I could, trying to ignore the hollering behind me.

 

One day that jerk would fall. And I wanted to be around for it.

 

 

Chapter 2: I Hate You

I sighed heavily, plopping down onto my bed butt first, looking up at the roof blankly. School was tiring, not because of the classes but the people. The guys that hung around McKellan thought I was an uptight bitch and it showed. The rest of the school was too scared of them to say anything.

 

Homework could wait. Right now I needed a junk food fix.

The kitchen wasn't empty as I had hoped. And it was decidedly lacking in mars bars.

 

My mum sat at the table with today's paper, not looking up as I passed her for the door.

 

"Sit down, Melissa."

 

Arg. I huffed my way to a chair next to her.

 

"Whaaaat?!"

 

She glared at me, and I shrunk back guiltily into my seat. Mum clearly meant business. As always. I wondered what I'd done now and hoped she hadn't found out about that time I stole my brothers PSP for a month. Where was Dad when I needed him?

 

"You know I think it's about time you found a job," she said sternly.

"Mum I'm only in high schoo-"

 

"Shush. What I'm saying is, I've found you a job."

 

"Wait... what kind of job?" My mum could be slightly eccentric and I hoped I wouldn't end up in some magic store teaching kids how to make flowers come out of a trick wand.

 

"It's a brilliant opportunity actually, but it's hard work. You're expected to be at the McKellans' every weekday afternoon and live in during the weekends and holidays."

 

That sure wasn't what I was expecting. The McKellans had been family friends for a long time. Before my mum had been semi-crippled in the accident she'd worked their as a housekeeper in their mansion-like estate. I wasn't kidding when I said this guy was filthy rich. They had about three maids and two groundskeepers for the house, and they'd have to be pretty busy with what looked like the freakin White House. Sometimes I can't believe people still live like that.

 

"You didn't even ask me about this, mum?" I was angry. I didn't mind work but for that guy?! Even if he wasn't my boss I know he'd find out and make my life a living hell.

 

My mum's face softened.

 

"Honey, you know what it's like at the moment. When's the last time you saw your father?"

 

I fidgeted in my seat, guilty. "About two months ago..." Dad had accepted a transfer overseas after mum had lost her job. The loss of her income had hit us hard and the job paid much better than one nearby. Catch is, he only came home every three months or so. Less when money was tight. It always was of course.

 

Sounds like your typical sob story, but I wasn't Cinderella. There were plenty of other kids at school who were worse off and we were doing pretty well.

 

"He's working hard. But we're still struggling for rent." She touched my hand. "You know it hurts me to ask you for this. As your mother... I should be able to support you."

 

Guilt hung in the air. I avoided meeting her eyes, not wanting to see the hurt there.

 

Mum still worked, sewing up people's old clothes, something she worked tirelessly at all day. Sometimes I'd find her up at three , still seeing little buttons into some kids shirt. That's life, she always said.

 

I knew it hurt her that she couldn't provide for us like she used to.

Sometimes I wished we lived in America, Australia, England. In the Philippines Mum didn't really qualify for welfare, and I knew she wouldn't accept it if she did.

 

"I'll do it."

 

I'll do it, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

 

Chapter 3: He's Trouble

And do it I did.

 

The next day I rocked up to school in a mood to rival the grizzliest of grizzly bears. I stormed to my bestie's locker with the force of a very angsty thunderstorm, slamming it shut with a bang as she reached for her English books.

 

Steph paused, blowing her shiny blonde hair out of her eyes and chewing her gum, unfazed by my not exactly atypical aggression.

"Oh shit, it's hurricane Melissa," she said deadpan. "What's up yours today?"

 

I glared and gave her mum's version, but with a lot more swearing. The overall message was, there was no way I'd be happy working for that bastard.

 

"You do realise though, you aren't exactly working *for* him, right? Chances are you won't even see him around at all," Steph pointed out.

I sniffed, temporary put off. That of course hadn't occurred to me. 

"B-but, it's at his h-"

 

"Right, oh angry one. Look, honestly I don't get what your deal is. I just avoid the jerk. You," she said, jabbing at my chest with a perfectly manicured nail. "Care too much about him."

 

"I- I absolutely do not!!! I don't know you can tolerate that- that- *jerk*!"

 

I was furious, totally put out.

 

How could she think I cared about him in any way?! Brad McKellan was the worst, the absolute worst. I hated him like... I paused, too angry to think up a good enough simile.

 

"Awww, and here I was thinking you were half in love with me, Lissa." The devil himself appeared in the hallway, winking at me with a self-assured smirk. "See ya tonight."

 

So he'd heard. This was the end for me. I sunk to the floor. He was evil... Absolutely evil.

 

Since third grade, he'd made my life a living hell. I remember the first time I had to wear a bra, he'd made up a song and taught it to all the other boys. 'Lissa, lissa, who would kiss her. Got a bra but nothin in it.' For a year, the guys had sat behind me in class, pulling the strap till it pinged against my shoulder.

 

Once, in 8th grade, I'd liked this boy from my math class. He was real cute, just my type. Quiet, with messy brown hair and glasses. He'd never bought into all of that bullying crap.

 

Things were going well. A couple of times we'd hung out after school. He'd given me flowers one day at the school dance and I'd kissed him on the cheek. It was the first time one of the guys I knew wasn't making fun of me because of Brad.

 

Brad told him I was a total slut who'd already slept with him. That rumour circled around the school for two years and my crush had never spoken to me again.

 

Brad was probably the reason I'd never even held hands with a guy, and why most of the girls in the school hated me.

 

He loved to give me hell. In fact, he thrived on it. I shuddered to think what might happen tonight.

 

To be continued.