Elle's only friend was her pet duck, Salamander. She tried to make friends, but of course she never had the "right" clothes, she didn't know any of the new styles, her parents wouldn't let her wear makeup, but mostly she was just weird. It probably didn't help that she came from an Asian family and her mother forced her to study all the time. So, whenever anyone asks, Elle always says that the reason she has no social life is because of her crazy, fat, mother. But that's beside the point.

It was Monday morning and Elle's alarm clock went off at 5:00 am. After unplugging the alarm clock, whispering some Japanese swear words under her breath, and having Salamander jump on her like he always does in the morning and practically clawing her to death, Elle rose from her deep sleep in which she dreamt about talking Big Macs. She began talking to herself.

"Crap! If my mother finds out that I didn't do my science project yesterday, she's going to slap me upside the head with her ugly, fat hands."

"Elle! What are you doing awake at this hour?" came a loud shrieking voice from the room down the hall.

"Nothing mother!" replied Elle.

But that wasn't the truth. The truth was that she had to get that fricking science project done by first period.

After a very long three hours of hard work, Elle emerged from her place on the sofa. She looked at the clock on the mantel. 8:00 it read.

"Damn it!" cried Elle. She grabbed her backpack and ran outside. It was the third time in the same week that she had missed the school bus. It was also the third time the same week that she got hit by the school bus. When she ran outside, she could still the bus. After chasing closely behind it for about half a block, it suddenly stopped at a stop sign and she ran in to the back of it. This is exactly how it had happened the other two times that week and several times before that. She felt the cold pavement beneath her and without opening her eyes, she could hear her mother waddling her fat self up towards where she lie on the ground.

"Elle! You stupid girl!" came the familiar voice of her mother.

"I told you not to run into the school bus again!"

Elle could hear the whispering and giggling of the girls and several boys on the school bus. She could also feel her face turning red.

When she finally opened her eyes, Elle could see her mothers' furious face staring down at her. Standing next to her was the scrawny, old bus driver. He should have been fired. He was about eighty years old and as blind as a bat. Elle picked herself up off the ground.

"I'm fine mom."

"Did I ask you how you were doing?" Elle's mom yelled loud enough for all of the kids on the bus to hear.

"Get the hell on that bus before I smack you. Don't you be trying to stay home either, I know about that project of yours due today!" Elle groaned and boarded the bus.

As Elle was searching the bus for an empty space, she spotted Aristotle, "the fat kid" was what the popular girls renamed him, but really Aristotle was bad enough Elle thought. Anyways, he always sat in the back since he was known for puking on the bus. It wasn't the first time that he had puked on Elise either. But, anyways, as she was walking to her seat, she could hear the most popular girl in school, Hailey whispering to her friends. Elle tried to ignore her, but Elle has an anger problem that she gets from her mother.

"I can't help it that my mother won't leave me alone and I can't help it that she makes me study all the time" she screamed.

"And I suppose that you can't help it that you don't have any friends either." Elle went silent.

"Snap!" said Hailey satisfied and gave her friend Laurie a high five.

"Okay, you can like go now. You're kinda creeping me out," said Hailie. Elise gave up. It was no use.

"Tough break," said Aristotle after Elle quietly walked herself to the seat next to him, he only seat ever open. Elle just stared at him. She couldn't help but notice that after every word he said, he had to take a break to catch his breath. She was disgusted, but also grateful at the same time that someone was actually talking to her without insulting her.

"Yeah," said Elle and took her seat.

"I'm Aristotle" he said kind of awkwardly, but holding out his sweaty hand.

"Yes...I know," said Elle trying not to look directly at him. "I've heard all about you." She carefully took his hand and shook it right before pulling away and wiping her now sweatly palm on her jeans.

"You have?"

"Well no offense, but everyone makes fun of you," Elle said quietly trying not to be seen by the popular girls talking to him.

"Really? I thought that everyone makes fun of you," said Aristotle loud enough for everyone on the bus to hear. Elle felt her face burning up from embarrassment.

"Hey, it's not your fault," siad Aristotle after seeing Elle's reaction.

Elle started to cry. She couldn't help it. She turned her face towards the window so that Aristotle couldn't see her.

"Aww, don't cry. If it makes you feel any better, I don't have any friends either."

"Yeah, It kinda does," said Elle wiping the tears from her eyes. She looked at Aristotle. She felt her stomach turn and she gulped. She knew what was coming.

"How'd you like to go see a movie with me on Friday?" asked Aristotle right before puking all over her new jeans.