Changes
By Amyra Akhtar
Hi, I’m Mackenzie Sparkle, and this is how my story started..
I was at dinner, when my parents told me and my sister, Olivia, the most SHOCKING news.
‘Girls, your father and I think it’s time for a change in space. So, we’re moving to South Croydon.’
I almost choked on my baguette!
I stared at them, my jaw dropped open. A surge of anger made its way through me, and I shouted.
‘How CAN you! I love living in Paris! I wanna be with my friends! At MY school!’
My mother cut in. ‘Honey, we–‘
My voice rose to fever pitch. ’NO WAY! I’M NOT MOVING!’
My heart pounded as I slammed my room door shut, and a whirlwind of emotions ran through me as I quietly sobbed myself to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up to see a ton of boxes. Sighing, I got up. I HAD to move, no matter what I said.
Changing into a raggedy sweater, jeans, and boots, I ran down for breakfast. I sat at the breakfast bar, poured Lucky Charms into my bowl, drowned them in milk, and sipped a spoonful as my mom walked in.
She tossed over a pancake with cream and strawberries. I still hadn’t forgiven her, but it smelt delicious. I gobbled it down in one bite.
Finally, we loaded the things into the car and rode to our new house.
OK! This house was kinda REALLY luxurious! I was in the kitchen, eating a PB&J sandwich, when the doorbell rung.
When I opened it, though, I found three teenage girls at my door. They were looking shy but friendly.
‘Hey..?’ I said.
One girl with brown hair in bunches smiled at me. ‘Hey! Mackenzie Sparkle, right? Hi, I’m Nature Wink, and those are my friends Bubblegum Fashion and Lucia Locker. Nice to meet you!’
I looked behind to see a girl with brown hair and space buns grinning, and alongside her was a girl with blonde hair, like me, but her hair swished in a braid over her shoulders.
As if knowing I was looking, she turned to me and waved happily. I think we’ll get along well.
The next day, I started at my new school, Crystal High. Of course, my new BFF’S came with me. They were SO sweet! I was lucky to find friends like them!!
Suddenly, a swish of brown caught my eye, and when I looked, my jaw dropped open at the most gorgeous boy ever.
His perfect brown eyes sparkled, and his hair swished as he chatted to his friends. I blushed.
Just then, a girl with a big blonde ponytail came to me.
‘UM, get outta the way, loser!’
I snarled at her. How DARE she!
‘BTW, I’m Lisa Ton,’ She gushed. ‘I’m THE richest AND most popular girl in school, darling!’
‘Honestly, I don’t have a clue about who you are, and I couldn’t care less,’ I muttered.
‘WHAT WAS THAT?!’ She yelled. ‘OMG, people DIE to talk to me, and you’re being SO rude!’ She scoffed. Flipping her hair, she strutted away.
Nature came to my side. ‘Ignore Lisa. She can be a bit..’
‘SELF-OBSESSED?’ Bubblegum piped up.
‘RUDE?’ Lucia quipped.
‘IRRITATING AND STUPID?’ I sighed. ‘Guys, I CAN’T deal with her!’
Nature scoffed. ‘Um, she’s WORSE! Anyway, girl, before Lisa VERY rudely interrupted, you were gazing dreamily at someone. WHO?’
I sighed. ‘There was a gorgeous boy there,’ I said, pointing toward the lockers. ‘He had brown eyes and brown hair and was wearing a black t-shirt.’
‘OH!’ Giggled Bubblegum. ‘Marcus Wood?’
‘OHHH yeah!’ Lucia said. ‘He’s in the basketball team. Like me. And the football team. Like me. And the Tennis team. Like me. And the..’
Nature clasped her hand over Lucia’s mouth and giggled.
Just then, the bell rung, and we parted ways.
Throughout History class, Lisa kept whispering to her friend, Amy. I suddenly got a nervous feeling. What was Lisa up to now??
I soon realised.
The bell rung for the end of class, and I was packing my bag, when Lisa came up to me, smiling sweetly.
‘Hey, Mackenzie!’ She pouted. ‘Listen, I had to say sorry about how I treated you today. It’s SO horrible how something comes over you! I apologise.’
‘Yeah, that’s fine,’ I muttered.
Then, she put her hands on my desk. ‘How do you like my nails? They were done at The Nail Girl beauty salon yesterday for JUST 20,000$. You should try! Honestly, they make us pay SO less for it!’
Then, she strutted off.
But when I was about to leave the room, I saw Lisa and Amy whispering and giggling again. When they caught me looking, a burst of giggles erupted from their mouths again.
Just then, my teacher, Mrs. Parks called me over. She sounded angry.
‘Mackenzie! You normally get A’s in these tests! Plus, we’ve revised these concepts the whole week!’
‘Mrs. Parks! I answered ALL these correctly!’ I said, feeling confused.
‘Oh really?’ She snarled, and shoved the paper for me to read.
‘OMG!’ I muttered.
That’s when I saw little eraser marks! Someone CHANGED my answers! And there were only TWO people who got every question wrong..
‘Mrs. Parks, I didn’t get these wrong! Look at those eraser marks. Lisa and Amy did this! They never get answers right! AND they’ve been bullying me!’
Mrs. Parks eyes lit up with recognition. She leaned towards me.
‘Mackenzie, this must be very tough. But bullies don’t change. YOU need to change. Middle school may be hard. But you are smart, clever, and stunning, may I say,’ She said, smiling at me. ‘Ignore them,’ She whispered. ‘Here they come.’
I whipped around to see Lisa, smirking alongside Amy.
‘LOSER! OMG, I’m NOT gonna be friends with some F-grade student! AND you’re poor!’
‘But you’re rich. Go buy a new personality, GIRLFRIEND!’ I smirked, and walked out.
When I got to the cafeteria, I spotted my BFF’s. They had a whole tray full of food for me! They were SO nice.
As I told them everything, they nodded and smiled. But when I got to the end, Lucia threw her arms around me.
‘YOU GO, GIRL!’ She giggled.
After that, we just hung around. At one point, I saw Marcus, so I excused myself from my friends to talk to him.
‘Hey,’ I smiled.
‘Oh, hey! You’re the new girl, Mackenzie, right?’
‘Yep,’ I said.
He brushed his messy hair behind with his hand.
‘See you later?’
’Sure!’ I said.
When I got home, I was beyond exhausted. I ate dinner, brushed my teeth, and dozed into a blissful sleep with images of Marcus’s face in my head.
xxx
The next day, I woke up, bathed, brushed my hair into a loose braid, then slipped on some pants and a crop-top. I walked down for breakfast.
Sitting at the bar, I drowned my cereal in some milk. Gulping it down, I headed to school.
At my locker, I saw Marcus walk over to me. He smiled.
‘Hey, Mackenzie! I was just wondering, would you like to hang out after school today?’
’Sure, Marcus, why not!’ I giggled. But as I was about to say any further, Lisa lunged at me.
-TO BE CONTINUED..