My eyes open, and I’m not that messy for once. I take a deep breath, leaning to the mirror, correcting my face from yesterday. Looking cleaner, I brush my hair and tie it in two French braids. Changing my tight black dress into my proper school uniform, get downstairs. As I walk to the kitchen, I notice my father, with black rounds around his eyes. He seems tired. 

• - Hey, good morning, dad! I say with a charming smile 

Confused by my happy behavior, my dad smiles back and starts preparing a cereal bowl. I chuckle and grab the cereal bowl, glancing at him as I prepare my breakfast. 

• - I know how to do this alone, I’m fine! I retort as he shrugs 

• - Whatever you say, Nor-Nor... he affirms as he lets me prepare my breakfast 

Finishing my breakfast the fastest I can, I quickly grab my backpack and some money for lunch as I head to the bus stop. Looking around, people share pity. Confusion. Empathy. You know what? I don’t care. These jerks don’t know who they’re talking about. Sitting on my bs bench, I glance at everybody with a confident gaze. 

I don’t want them to think I’m weak. I don’t want them to think I can’t handle myself. 

***  

Walking through the school hallways, I feel like a whole ant colony is watching me. I don’t care whether they’re staring at me or not. Now, all I want is peace. Rumors on my back are the worst that could happen. 

Maybe it looks like a guy has cheated on me, again. But you know what? They don’t need to know. 

Stepping into the class, I take my seat, keeping a poker face on as the teacher starts talking about the Greeks. I’m listening. Of course, I am 

Getting stared at? Not going to mind, I can just think about whether they find me pretty and that’s why they’re looking at me. That consoles me already. 

Following the class notes, I nervously bite my pen edge, listening got the history teacher. 

• - So, the Greeks are a community that got an excellent architecture, and, we will see that later, but the people from Rome will steal it sightly. Yep! Does anybody know any Greek gods?  

• - Jesus! Call out a random dude in front of the class 

Everybody bursts out laughing, but Stephany raises her hand, her black gaze still fixated on the teacher. 

• - Athena, Greek goddess of warfare of wisdom. She claims coldly as everybody else in the class remains silent. 

• - Indeed. I’m proud of you, Stephany, excellent job. Responds the teacher with wide eyes 

I scoff in silence. Everybody knows about the Greek gods. It’s not proof of intelligence, and the teacher shouldn’t even feel proof of her. 

I mean, isn’t that something we’re supposed to know? Well, the guy that said Jesus, well, maybe not. Jesus is more in the religion stuff, right? 

So, class ends as the bells ring loudly, reminding us to stay awake during the course. I head to my Spanish class, keeping up a confident expression on my face 

*** 

As school ends slowly, I sigh deeply and grab my backpack, glad that school is finally over. Stepping through the hallways, I hear a voice calling me. 

• - Hey, Nora, how have you been since Jules cheated on you? I mean, you’re so stupid! 

I roll my eyes, annoyed, as I face my caller. Ann-Marie. I’m not going to flinch, because I’d look weak. 

• - You know what, red head? I don’t care. Neither about him nor about you. So if you mind your own business and keep your pretty mouth shut, I won’t care still.  

Walking away in annoyance, I think I can hear Ann-Marie whispering to herself “Damn it looks like I underestimated her...She does know how to handle herself...”