I walk to school, a sullen look on my face. Today was the highschool talent show and I wasn't really what you would call prepared. I knew nobody was going to like me because of my reputation as a freak. Nonetheless, this morning I strapped my ukulele to the back of my backpack and faced the day with courage.

I walked into the school, trying not to be noticed. I slipped into a bathroom and waited until it sounded like nobody was in there, and then I snuck out and into my locker. I locked the metal door with a CLANG. 

I got lucky this year. My locker was the one with the vent inside. I usually used this to get to class without people getting all up in my biz. 

I took the lid of the vent and used the walls as climbing walls. I pulled myself through, and into the horizontal part of the system. I crawled on my hands and knees for a while, checking each vent for the one I was supposed to be getting to. 

Finally, I find Mr. Curtis's classroom vent and back up to the closet vent. I pushed the lid open and dropped down. Along with my books I had tied to my shoe with twine, so they would drag behind me like a dogsled. 

I peek through the door and see Mr. Curtis at his desk and a few other students. I snuck to my desk without anyone noticing and put my textbooks down.  

And the horrifying class begun.