She woke up. That was it.
If she hadn't opened her eyes at that moment, perhaps we wouldn't be in this God-forsaken moment we are now.
"What moment?" You might ask.
Take a seat. This is gonna be a long drive.
* * * * * * * * *
It was never news that Samantha was weird. She had always been that odd child you find digging for worms at the princess-themed birthday party, or the one who believed in the extraterrestrial and supernatural.
Most people who knew her, had learned to ignore it, or simply not react to it. However, that didn't deter Samantha. She would get what she wanted! She just had to figure out what that was.
"Sam, sweetie, you gotta stop doing things like this if you wanna have friends," her mother had once told her on the drive back home
"Things like what?" Samantha had answered, as innocently as it could be answered, like she hadn't just spent the last 5 minutes shoving mud down someone's back because they needed to be more "down to earth"
"You know what I mean," her mom had answered exasperated. "Please, just promise me you'll work on it."
Samantha sighed. She didn't exactly enjoy being the rambunctious daredevil that Everyone saw her as she just couldn't help it. "I will, mom."
That promise had lasted approximately 2 weeks before she decided she'd had enough.
There were too many tempting things begging for retaliation. Why was it so that when she had decided to behave, the so-called "school jocks" picked that as the very best time to irritate her to no end?
"Hey, freak!" One of them had so uncreatively called the previous day, "better watch your back, or we're gonna crush you. "
Samantha wondered if it was best to say that she thought he couldn't possibly do anything with his stick figure legs and less than average IQ, but then decided against it for the sake of peace. Her conviction didn't stop the elongated eye roll that escaped her sockets, though, and at that moment, it felt so satisfying.
It was now the next day at school, and Samantha had had enough! Coming to school to find your favourite textbook drenched in diet soda wasn't exactly the best way to start a Wednesday morning, but her "bullies " had so graciously granted her the experience.
She stood there for a split second, watching them snicker amongst themselves, high fiving. Like they had just completed the world's greatest task. She took a deep breath and muttered below her breath. " I'm sorry, mom. I really tried this time. "
She had her head down the entire walk towards the bullies in the corner, her mind plotting different ways she could make them feel pain, but also not overdoing it so she wasn't at risk of expulsion.
"Look who it is. What do you want, geek? Come back for more because you couldn't cry enough tears?" .
Samantha noticed it was the same guy who kept speaking up, so she assumed he had to be the self appointed leader of their little "clique" and the others just went along with it because they're stupid.
"Did you pour your disgusting excuse of a beverage into my locker and damage my books?" Samantha was surprised at how calmly she had managed to ask that question.
"What if I did? What are you gonna do about it, loser?"
Samantha was all but livid! Her brain worked at the speed of light, trying to find a suitable punishment. She ran her eyes down his stupid testosterone enhanced appearance and finally settled on his football jacket that he wore everywhere.
"That's it" Samantha thought to herself. Why hadn't she realised sooner? He was an athlete. Of course.
A slow smile spread across her lips as she finally locked eyes with him.
She knew the exact punishment to give this disrespectful buffoon.