We must survive

I make my way to my room and find a black tee, skinny jeans, pink converse and pink beanie. I don't bother so much with my hair and just give it a rough brush, letting the long cherry red strands flow down my back. I check my watch and realise if I don't start moving I'm going to be late for my last exam before summer holidays. I quickly rush downstairs to ask my brother Fred if he can give my sister Dolly and I a life to school. I would usually take my skateboard, but I won't make it in time. A few houses down we stop at my best friend Tanner's house and he hops into the front with Fred. He turns around and starts to laugh. "What?" I grouch at him "Nothing, it's just you two have very different personality's that's all". I know what he's talking about. My four year old sister is wearing a pink ballet outfit while I'm mainly dressed in black. I stick my tongue out at him then we both start to laugh. We arrive at the school gates and Fred tries to kiss me on the cheek. "Eww, Fred don't, you're my brother gross" I say as I push him away. He waves goodbye to us and I take Dolly's petite hand in mine "I'll catch up with you later Tanner" I say. The childcare is just around the corner, but Dolly doesn't like people just dumping her and running so I help her put her bag in her locker and say goodbye to her when I know some of her friends are there. By the time I get to class I'm already 2 minutes late. Luckily the teacher isn't there yet, but when I go to take a seat someone pulls the chair out from under me just as the teacher walks in. "Briar, please be seated" he says sighing loudly with disdain. Snickering comes from the table next to me and I don't have to look to know Claire, the head cheerleader and all her friends are laughing at me. I don't get it, what's their problem with me, they always do this. I take a seat at the back of the classroom and Tanner moves to sit next to me as I shake my head no. Either he's too stupid or too caring, but he sits next to me anyway. He reaches under the table to take my hand as soon as the lecture begins and gives it a gentle squeeze reassuring me. "You okay?" he whispers over in my ear. I just shake my head 'no'. He gives my hand another light squeeze "you want to take about it?" again I shake my head 'no'. "Okay". He leaves it at that and doesn't ask anymore questions. The thing I like about Tanner is he won't keep pressuring you to talk, he'll just be there no matter what. "Hey, Tanner" Claire calls out, "you single?" she says as she giggles and bats her lashes at him. He rolls his eyes and sticks his middle finger up at her "yeah, but there's no way I'll ever date you". I turn away with a small smile on my face. I'm so lucky I have a best friends like him.