"Look, it's her."

"God, I can't believe she's still coming here. I heard even her parents hate her, can't she take a hint?"

Aline pretended like she couldn't hear the whispers behind her as she brushed imaginary dust off of her desk. After a decade of hearing people talk badly about her, she had learned to ignore everyone. Also, it was the last period of the day, which meant Aline could go home after fifty minutes.

In the front of the classroom, her English teacher stepped to the front.

"Good afternoon, class," he said, quieting the chaos behind Aline. "Well, what are you all waiting for? Take out your books."

Aline quietly reached into her bag and pulled out her copy of The Great Gatsby. Today, they were going to discuss one of the themes of the book, and she prayed the teacher wouldn't call on her.

"Today, we are going to discuss the theme of love in The Great Gatsby," the teacher announced. "Somebody give me an example of when this theme was used?"

Not a single hand was raised.

"Very well, I'll pick someone." The teacher cast his eyes around the room and opened his mouth before Aline could pray for him to pick on someone else. "Aline, how about you?"

Drat! There were thirty one other students to pick from, but of course she was the one who had to be picked. Why did all the bad things happen to her, anyways? As Aline pondered over her bad luck, it took her a while to realize the teacher was calling her name.

"Aline? Aline!"

Aline's head shot up in surprise to face the now-angry teacher. Right, she had been called on to answer the question. Well, better late than never. "Um . . ."

"You can't blame her for not being able to answer, sir!' a voice suddenly interrupted from the back. "What do you expect from someone who's never received love before?"

Laughter rang throughout the classroom as Aline felt her face turn red. She looked up at her teacher to see if he would do anything, but even he seemed to be hiding a smile.

"Alright, alright, settle down," the teacher finally said. "Dani, why don't you answer my question?"

Aline faced downwards as the smartest girl in the class began an in-depth explanation of Jay's love to Daisy. Absentmindedly, Aline began writing the word "LOVE" in her notebook over and over again. The guy from before had been right; Aline had never experienced love before. What was it like to love? To be loved?

A paper ball hitting the side of Aline's head stopped her thoughts. She knew the paper would have a degrading message, but she still bent down to pick it up when the teacher wasn't looking. There was a 1% chance that there was at least one person in the class who was on her side. . . .

Useless bitch. No one here would miss you if you killed yourself.

Aline tried not to show how disappointed and humiliated she was. This wasn't the first time she had received such a message, and it probably wouldn't be her last. She crumpled up the note into the ball it had been before, and placed it inside her desk, along with the other fifty-something balls of paper. She probably should give up searching for a positive note or a friend, but she couldn't help but take the chance. What if one person changed his or her mind, and Aline threw that opportunity away?

". . . definition of love?" The English teacher was saying when Aline started paying attention again. "Does it mean to do whatever makes the other person happy? Or to try and impress them as much as possible? Or going out with someone because he or she is 'hot?'"

People laughed at the teacher's joke, although Aline kept a straight face. I want someone to love me because I'm me, she thought gloomily. Someone who will know exactly what'll make me feel better, someone who'll make me feel happy and important and loved. Then, Aline sighed. What was the point of dreaming? 'No one will ever love me, anyways," she muttered under her breath.

For the rest of the period, the class had to analyze different scenes in the book where the aspect of love was shown, and Aline couldn't help but look at the clock every few minutes. She was probably the second smartest student in the class, as she always had nothing to do but study, but even she wanted a break from school sometimes. Especially if the main discussion was about a feeling Aline never knew about.

Finally, at exactly four P.M,, the bell rang. It was finally time to go back to the place she had to call her home. Mixed emotions ran through Aline as she prepared to leave; half of her was glad to get away from the topic of love, the other half dreaded her having to go home.

"Most of you will probably be meeting with your guidance counselor tomorrow," the teacher said, not that anyone was listening. All the other kids were running out of the room quickly, eager to run home to their large mansions or expensive sports cars.

Aline also came from a rich family -- she had to, as the tuition fee for her school was quite expensive -- but she never found pleasure in having as much money as she could have. She was more interested in having someone, anyone, to care and love for her.

Unfortunately, Aline had yet to find someone like that in her life.