riven by maggie morris (best novels to read for students TXT) 📕

“I’m Alice,” I say shyly, aware of how close we are. My hand is still pressed against the bathroom door, so I let it finish swinging shut. I turn my other arm sideways and grab hold of my right arm, shifting into a comfortable position.

“I know.” I had forgotten I had said something, I was so focused on looking natural, so his voice made me jump.

“Forgot me already?” Bryce teased.

“No, I...I mean you’re very hard to forget…” I stammered.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” He smiled. Was he...flirting with me? After everything that I’d done to make a fool out myself? I started wondering if he was making fun of me.

“Was that a compliment or an insult?” I chose a wisecrack as my response, because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings if he wasn’t making fun of me. He smiled, then told me we probably needed to get back. I nodded and followed him down the hallway.

For some reason, Bryce made me feel more embarrassed, but less embarrassed at the same time. But, by the time we reached the class, I had forgotten all about the “incident” that had occurred and was ready to start my new life.

Bryce held the door for me and I entered the room. Other than a few snickers, I was given no hard time about what had happened. The class seemed distracted, though. They were all staring at my face. Which I guess, was no surprise.

I smiled at anyone who dared look me in the eye, pretending it hadn’t bothered me at all, even though deep down I felt stings of mental pain. I turned to face the front as Mrs. Whitney called everyone’s attention.

“Please take out a book and read until the end of class. You may leave as soon as the bell rings.” I had a feeling I was going to like her. I pulled out my book, The Giver, and buried myself deep in its pages.

I was just getting to the part where Jonas was transmitting memories to Gabe to help make him relaxed, when the bell rang. My heart practically leapt out of my chest, and I scrambled to collect my belongings.

I yanked my schedule out of my pocket and checked my next class-social studies, room 104. I trailed out behind the rest of my homeroom class and stepped out into the crowded hall.

Within my first five steps, I was nearly tackled by a football player, tripped by a goth kid, and smacked by a popular. I could tell this was going to be a rough year. Surprisingly, though, nobody looked at my face weirdly. I guess everyone was used to people looking strange, so they didn’t pay attention anymore.

I walked down the hallway, finally spotting the 100’s. Feeling relieved, I found 103 and looked around for 104. It wasn’t there. I suddenly became aware of the dispersing crowd behind me. A locker slammed, and then everything was quiet. Everybody had gone to class. I could feel little beads of perspiration forming at the top of my forehead.

It was then that I spotted a girl who looked to be a junior, just like me.

“Hi,” I said walking over to her. She froze and spun around, and I caught a glimpse of
her face. She was gorgeous, except for a big pimple planted right in the middle of her forehead. The girl must’ve felt my eyes on it, and said, “You should see your face!” I blushed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I was just wondering if you could help me find room 104. I’m new here, and it wasn’t next to 103.” Her face softened.

“Oh. Well, the odds are all grouped on this side of the building, and the evens are all on the other side. It makes it really confusing, but you get used to it. Actually, I was just heading to 106 myself. I’ll walk you there,” she smiled. I followed her, happy that someone was willing to help me.

“Um, I didn’t seem to catch your name,” I told her.

“That’s because I didn’t give it,” she winked. “I’m Claire. Nice to meet you. And just between you and me, the only reason I’m still out here is because of this.” She gestures to her forehead. “Hey, do you want to sit with me at lunch? I normally sit with my friend Sophie, but she’s drifting towards the Dark Side, if you know what I mean.”

I try to smile knowingly, and respond, “I’d love to, thanks.” Claire started walking, and within minutes we were in the other half of the building.

“Here you are,” Claire told me, stopping in front of room 104.

“Thanks so much!” I gushed.

“No prob.” She gave me a little half-smile and jogged to her class. I opened the door just as the bell rang.

“Late, miss. Do you have a tardy slip?” The teacher asked.

“No, sorry, I just-this is my first day here,” I flushed.

“That’s no excuse. Here is a detention slip. You will be serving one hour.” I jerked back. This was the first day! Detention already?

“Sorry, it won’t happen again,” I said glumly, taking the paper from him. I went to the only empty seat at the back of the class.

“I apologize for the interruption, class,” the teacher said, his eyes shooting daggers at me. “I am Mr. Snat. Today we will be talking about the earth, and what we have done to it over the last century.”

Like a lightbulb, an idea lit up in my brain. Mr. Snot. His last name was practically begging for me to nickname it. Maybe this class wouldn’t be horrible, after all. I watched as Mr. Snot shuffled his papers, and prepared to talk. Hunkering down in my seat, I closed my eyes.

“2034. That is the year, as you all should know. Cars. Artificial flavoring. Drones. Technology that no other country has discovered. 1805. The year that Lewis and Clark started their journey. The year that they met the Indians who grew their own food. The Indians planted plants as seeds and watered them through their growth and harvested them with their own two hands. And here we are, with plants that can carry electricity through their stems.” My eyes snapped open, and I began listening intently. Mr. Snot continued.

“Our world has changed over the years. People have changed, customs have changed, technology has changed. But I can’t say this change has been for the better. Look at our skies-they used to be a lovely blue, but now most of them are light grey. Not a good thing. And what are we doing about this? Nothing. We have a room full of brains and people with power, but has any of us tried to stop this? No. Now, if you’ll open your textbooks to page 273.”

I stared in awe at Mr. Snot. I was forming a new respect for him. That was an emotional speech. An inspiring speech. Maybe I could change the world.

* * * * *

“So how’s your day been?” Claire asked me as she opened her paper lunch sack. I opened my Walmart sack that was filled with apples, carrots, and a PB and J. A little childish, but no one was watching.

“Good! Other than this,” I said, gesturing to my face.

“Wait, that happened today?” She asked.

“Yeah. Homeroom.” I took a bite into my sandwich.

“Ouch,” she winced. “Yeah, my fault has been there for almost a week. I was hoping it would be gone by today, but no.” Claire shrugs. “Want a cookie?” She held out a chocolate chip cookie.

“Sure! Thanks!” I said, snatching the cookie. “For everything,” I added.

She smiled warmly. “You’re absolutely welcome.”

School was boring. Life was boring. Everything was boring in Missouri. In Kentucky, we went to horse derbies every weekend. But in Missouri, I sat at home reading books and doing homework.

The most interesting thing that had happened to me so far was applying for a job at

Le Sapphire Café, the coffee shop in Kansas City that sells blue-dyed coffee. It’s weird, but the coffee was good and I assumed it payed well.

I had just received an email stating that my resume was exceptional and  no interview would be needed for my admittance.

I found this strange, because my resume consisted of an internship for a company called Jone & Joan and a job at McDonald’s. However, I took the news with ecstasy, and headed downtown to pick up my uniform and to learn about my tasks.

The small shop was painted dark blue on the outside, teal on the inside. Everything was blue, and when I walked in, blues music played. I felt like I was inside of a Smurf. I walked up to the counter.

“Hello! I’m Alicia Hillman. I applied for the waitress job?” I smiled and tried to be super polite. The boy at the register glanced up.

“Kim will see you in back,” he said in a flat voice. Before I walked past, I caught a glimpse of his face. His eyes were sunken in and he looked very sad. I shuddered and pushed the door open to the office.

At the desk sat a plump woman in blue coveralls-the same outfit the boy had been wearing.

“Hello! I’m Alic-”

“I know. Sit.” The woman who I guessed was Kim glared at me and pointed to a chair. I sat down and looked around the room. It reminded me of a principal’s office, with file cabinets, food awards, and an office desk. “So you applied for the job? I see. Well, have Jake get you a uniform get to work. Paychecks will be given weekly, so don’t ask when you’ll be receiving them.”

“Okay…thanks?” I stood up to leave but Kim grabbed my arm.

“One more thing-you screw up, your fired. Have a nice day!” She flashed me a fake smile and unclenched her hand. I hurried out of the room, my arm throbbing where she had touched me.

It wasn’t until the door was fully shut that I slowed down. I was standing behind the front counter, and blue decorations blocked my view of the front door. I didn’t know who Jake was, so I decided to look around for the coveralls.

Without even turning a full 360, I saw them hanging from a hook next to the coffee creamers. I lifted them slowly off the hook, sniffed them, and when I had proof they didn’t smell, put them on.

I looked at my reflection in a blue-framed mirror and smiled-I looked cute. I went back behind the counter and searched for recipes. Kim hadn’t given me any instructions as how to make the coffee, but I found a huge book of different types of coffee in a cabinet. Just as I walked up to the register (the other boy was gone), my first customer arrived.

It was a tall boy with-wait, that was Bryce, the guy who I met after my incident!

“Hey!” He said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Didn’t think I’d see you here! How’s your eye?”
“Good,” I said, absentmindedly rubbing the fading bruise. “Yeah, and this is literally my first day here.”

“Oh,