“Class, I'd like your attention.” Mrs. Fellows called out to the class. She was a little old lady. I'm pretty sure she was the oldest lady in the world. She had little cat prints all over her old fashioned dress and I'm pretty sure that was real cat hair that clung to it like a second layer. The class ignored her and continued talking at a dull roar.

I sneered and yelled out, “Oi! Your teacher is talking, have a little respect!”

The general noise level ratcheted down quickly as everyone stared at me. I knew what they saw. My hair was long and bright blue. It matched my eyes. I had on blue, black, and white striped stockings and combat boots. My short skirt was black velvet and my blue shirt had a cartoon rat on it with a bad attitude and a word bubble that said, “There had better be cheese at the end of this maze.” I wondered if any of these kids would get the not so subtle barb at life.

Once the kids settled down enough that the teacher could be heard, she tried her little speech again. “Class, this is our newest student, Miss Athena Addams. Her family just moved here and I want you all to make her feel welcome.”

“What is she? A colorful goth?” Some girl from the back of the class snickered.

“Maybe her real name is Wednesday.” A guy called out and the back half of the class laughed.

It was just like any other class of teens from any of the other schools I'd been to. The guys in the front usually stayed quiet and actually tried to do their school work, while the “cool” kids at the back just played around and thought they were funny, and they almost always made the kids at the front of the class miserable. Joy.

“Wow!” I exclaimed and slow clapped, “That was brilliant and actually funny – the first time I heard it, about seven school's ago. I'm sure you guys can step up to the challenge and think outside the box next time. Since it's Friday, you have all weekend to try and come up with some original jokes about me.” The kids in the front of the class all had grins they were trying to hide. I knew if the bullies at the back of the room caught sight of their mirth, there would be no end to the torment of those poor souls. Still, it was nice to give them something to smile about.

“Miss Addams, please find a seat and we'll get class started.” Mrs. Fellows beamed up at me adoringly, and it made me happy. Not many teachers liked me, they just saw I wore lots of piercings and makeup and decided I was one of “those kids who wouldn't amount to anything”. It was kind of nice that the little old lady liked me.

I plopped my butt into a chair right at the front and the girl in braids next to me gave me some paper and the boy on my other side gave me a pencil before I could even open my bag and bring some out. Wow, does no one ever stick up for themselves at this school? Is that why I'm getting all this hero worship? I guess not. Hmph. Athena Addams, superhero of the uncool crowd and little old lady teachers, that's me.