I was pacing across my room for the past sixteen minutes, trying to control 'it'. One of my seven evil cousins was doing goodness knows what in the toilet. I was actually an expert in controlling, but not that much early in the morning. I was resisting the urge to barge in and drag him out by his hair. I knew he was doing it on purpose.

He knew that it was my turn to read out my book report on any history book; as I haven't read any, I decided to copy and read out the one Nancy wrote.

Nancy, the joke of our class, the girl who picks her nose and eats it! She isn't exactly my friend but she is always stuck with me (and I with her) because no one wants to pair up with me (or her) for any presentation, assignment or activity. I am not amusing or popular. I don't have expensive clothes or jewelry. I have no mother who can bake us cookies to munch while working.

So it isn't much of a surprise that people always try to make me feel unwanted. And by people, I mean Hilda Francis.

Her highness, Hilda Francis, is the most popular girl in the history of popular girls. She has rich parents and amazing looks. Her father is a business man rolling in money (imagine a big burly man with a thick moustache rolling over notes of money like a dog trying to please his master). Her mother is a lady. A real royal lady, all high and mighty, not a fake one. At least it's what she says.

Lucky Hilda, at least she has parents even if they look like jokers (to me anyway). I don't even have parents, forget sensible or not. I live with my one and only aunt who hates me (kind of) and anyone or anything related to me. So, where was I? Yes, sitting in front of the toilet door.

At last, I heard the flush working inside. The door opened and idiot Ian poked out his head.

"Come out already," I said in a frustrated voice.

"What's in it for me?" asked Ian.

Arghhh! I should have known he would say that.

"What do you want, Ian?" I asked.

"Your lucky bracelet."

"Get lost," I yelled.

"Don't yell at me. I'll tell mom," he threatened.

"Fine! But only for today. Now get out. I want to get ready," I said.

He walked out of the toilet very very slowly just to torture me. I waited patiently because I know he would have taken much longer if I showed impatience.

After fifteen minutes, I was ready for school. I ran to the bus stop and was just in time to see the bus racing away from me. This is what happens when you give your lucky bracelet to someone, especially your most annoying cousin. I didn't mind waking to school, that's what I mostly did, but not if I was running late.

As soon as I entered the huge building of the school, which was painted a dull off white, inside out, I heard the bell ring. I ran towards my locker and skidded to a halt at a very dreadful sight.

Hilda was standing in front of my locker, talking to her best friend, Lisa Jones.

Hilda was wearing a red top paired with a denim jacket and a denim skirt. She was wearing a pair of red sneakers. Her blond hair was straightened to perfection.

Lisa was wearing a sleeveless pink top, with black tights and pink heels. Her naturally red hair was held back with several pink hairpins. I must admit, both of them looked cool.

I, on the other hand, was wearing a green top with a blue flowery design, and a pair of my favourite blue tights. I was also wearing sneakers, but mine were worn out and probably more comfortable than Hilda's. My jet black hair was tied into a messy ponytail. Only because I didn't have time to brush it. So yeah, even if I was late, in no way was I looking any less cooler than Hilda or Lisa.

As soon as Hilda saw me, she stopped in mid sentence. Her face broke into an evil grin. Lisa turned around and smirked. She stood behind Hilda and gestured that she was slaughtering herself with a knife.

I understood that it was meant for me. My heart started beating loudly.

'Could this day get any worse?' I thought.

Hilda jerked open my locker. Apparently, it could.

"How did you know my combination?" I asked in a drowning voice.

"Oh! I dunno. Maybe I just forced it open," she giggled.

Did I ever mention I hate Hilda.

"What did you take?" I demanded.

"Oh, I was just looking through your stuff and happened to find this." She pulled out a photo from her jacket pocket. My mouth fell open.

"This is mine." I tried to snatch it from her slimy hand.

"Calm down. Let's make a deal," she cooed.

I stood silently with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

"I will give this photo back only if you promise to act as my slave for the rest of the week," said Hilda, with a smug smile on her face.

"No way! It's a free country you know," I said.

"Oh well, then my freedom allows me to act as I wish." She stuffed the photo back into her jacket pocket.

"Hey! I didn't say no," I said.

She pulled out the despicable photo again and held it in front of my face.

"Say yes on your life. Keep your hands where I can see them. No crossed fingers."

I had a good mind to say no, but another glance on the photo changed my mind.

"Yes," I said in a dying voice.

"Say. Yes, I promise to be your slave for one whole week."

"Arghhh. Yes, I promise to be your slave for one whole week," I growled.

"That's the spirit." She smirked and handed the photo to me. "Bye, see you later, slave." She laughed her special high pitched laugh which I loathed. She turned around and catwalked towards the classroom, followed by Lisa.

I slammed my locker shut and stuffed the photo into my bag. From now on I couldn't even put my private stuff in my own locker. I ran towards the classroom, a few steps behind Hilda.

"May we come in, Mam," she asked in her sickly sweet voice which I clearly hated.

"Yes," answered Miss David. Hilda and Lisa turned around and stuck out their tongues at me before walking in.

I mentally rolled my eyes at their childishness. 

"May I come in, Mam?" I asked.

"No."

I started walking towards my seat at the front of the class. I couldn't concentrate if I sat at the back.

"Where do you think you are going?" asked Miss David.

"To my seat, Miss David," I answered politely.

"I said no. Are you deaf Mangy?" The class erupted into laughter, even Nancy laughed.

"My name's Mary, Miss," I replied, feeling embarrassed.

"What ever. Stay out. I will report you to the principal today," she snapped.

"But you let Hilda and Lisa in," I said, trying to control my anger.

"You are not up to Hilda's status," she said.

"What status? And you say your ideal personality is Martin Luther King junior," I mumbled loud enough only for a few students to hear.

And can you believe it, wannabe Martin repeated what I said, in a voice loud enough for the whole class to hear.

"That's it! You are in big trouble," said Miss David angrily.

I stomped out of the classroom and leaned against the wall. Miss David was a good teacher and wasn't mean to anyone except me. When I started sophmore year, about a month ago, I had Miss David for History, and since the very beginning, she had had some kind of grudge against me.

I wasn't used to teachers acting in this way. Especially towards me. I had always been every teacher's favourite. I was nick named, 'teacher's pet' in primary school. The nick name was even used in middle school sometimes.

As for the students, I could easily deal with them. I wasn't like those weak girls who let others bully them. I made them pay. Even if it didn't stop them from troubling me, at least I stood up for myself.

I pulled out the troublesome photo and saw 15 year old me, standing in an underwear over my normal clothes and a cape tied around my neck. A piece of paper was taped to my chest saying, 'SUPER WOMAN'.

Last year, Ian had made me dress up like a dorky superhero, because I lost a bet, and he had taken a photo. He had printed it and given one to every member of the family. Only I know what it took to prevent him from giving it to anyone else.

I had absent mindedly slipped it into my biology book and then to my locker. Now hideous Hilda had seen it and was trying to force me to obey her each and every order like a slave. But I know better than to obey Hilda. She had been foolish enough to give the photo back and I could easily break my promise.

'Wonder why Harvey wasn't with them today. He wasn't in the class either. Maybe he's sick.' I thought.

Sick! I laughed out loud at a childhood memory.

We were in primary school, in first grade. I wasn't feeling very well, but I didn't tell my aunt about it. I knew she would make me stay at home and I didn't want to.

In the middle of the second lecture, I started feeling worse than before. I felt as if my stomach was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Suddenly, I bent over and puked all over the kid sitting next to me.

He was cleaned up, and I was sent home. The day after the next, I went to school and everyone kept calling me 'Pukey', a nick name given to me by Harvey.

I waited patiently for a chance, and got one about a week later. We were cutting and pasting shapes, in art class. I sneaked behind Harvey, who had his head down and was sleeping peacefully.

I snipped off his hair. Little by little. When he woke up, he got really angry with me. I apologised to him in front of the teacher. He couldn't do anything about it.

When he went home, his father took him to the barber to shave off his head, because his uneven hair looked ridiculous. Then I started calling him 'Baldy'.

It was the start of our enmity, which evolved as years passed and we grew up.

Author's note:

What do you think of the first part? I wrote it in a bus while travelling from Islamabad to Multan.

Photo attached above / to the side. Just to make it clear, the written stuff was not in the real photo.

More votes will bring quicker updates. It will show me that this novel is worth finishing.

This isn't going to be a cliché novel in which the popular boy will help poor Mary. I'm going to show girls don't need guys.

What do you think, will Mary's photo be exposed? Give your views in the comments. To find out wait for the next chapter.

Thanks for reading everybody.