Cliché Gone Wrong

Chapter 1

The way back home was worse than ever. Quinn sat at the corner of the school bus, ignoring taunts coming from other kids while trying not to cry in front of them. She still couldn't believe what she witnessed. She couldn't stop thinking about that. What did she do to deserve this? Okay, maybe she wasn't the most social person in the universe but c'mon, everybody likes to be alone sometimes, what happened with her was that she liked to be alone most of times.

"Hey, freak, watch out!" A boy shouted to her, throwing a paper ball on her direction. Luckily, Quinn was fast enough to get up and get out of the way. The bus was arriving at the nearest stop to her house. She smirked after hearing the boy groan in frustation because he didn't hit her.

Her small victory was short lived though, because when the bus stopped someone put their leg on her way, making she trip and almost fall. The bus erupted with laughter, Quinn sighed but kept her head up high. 

"Haha well done, Mike! That freak deserved." Someone said. Quinn didn't mind it, she just exited the bus without saying a world. 

Arriving at her house, Quinn took a deep breath before opening the door. She always did that, just didn't know why. Maybe she liked to take a moment of peace in her life, for at least some seconds. The run down building always remembered her otherwhise. It seriously needed some reforms, it was an old house but that didn't mean it had to look old. It's walls needed some painting, the before white was turning into a lifeless gray. The windows needed to be changed, almost all of them were with visible cracks. 

Entering her house, Quinn noticed some beer cans plastered around the floor. She walked towards the living room and saw her mother, laying on the couch, watching some stupid tv show while drinking more beer cans. Quinn was used to that sight, but still hurt more than anything. 

"Hey mom." She greeted. Her mother lazyly looked at her but didn't say a thing. "Did you eat something?" Quinn walked towards the kitchen. Only a balcony separated the living room from the kitchen, Quinn looked at her mother one more time before opening the fridge to find the food she cooked for her still untouched.

"You need to eat something, mom. Drinking all day won't do." She picked the lasagna and was about to put it on a plate but her mother stopped her by talking.

"Shut up! I don't want to eat. Just go to your room and leave me alone." That line made Quinn's blood boil. She was tired of being dismissed for that day, she had reached the limit. Not that it took too long to reach her limit, her mom knew how to push her buttons even if unintentionally.

"Look, I cooked lasagna only for you. It's your favorite dish!! At least do something other than laying around all day while you get wasted!" Quinn knew her words were harsh, she even felt a pang of guilty after saying that, but the truth needed to be said, and her mother didn't seem to function properly without her having to (literally) slap some sense on her face.

"Go away, stupid child! You're a motherfucking Ms. Know-It-All. Just like your father!" Mentioning her ex-husband's name made Quinn's mother's words waver. Quinn knew she wasn't over him yet, actually, he was the main reason her mother only stayed at home, only sometimes going out to do illegal things.

"You're just like him...so unconsiderate...so full of yourself. Always hurting me..." The woman started to sob, Quinn went and sat by her side. 

"Mom, calm down. He's gone, he won't harm you." She patted her mother's back. "You'll be okay. We're going to be okay. All you need to do is move on." 

Her mother put her head on Quinn's shoulder, crying. That was a common sight for her daughter, who had to deal with her antics for years. Quinn could never be used to it though, she dreamed the day her mother would be back to be, well, her mother. She needed someone who would take care of her for once, who would say 'hello' and 'goodbye' every time she went out or in the house. It would have to wait...

Suddenly, her mother started to squirm on her arms. She pulled Quinn away, glaring at her. The bags under her eyes were more visible than ever, her before smooth brown hair looked like her daughter's, her face was thiner than before too, due to too much alcohol and lack of eating. 

"Go away! Get out!!" She screamed, hidding her face to cry some more. Quinn touched her shoulder, trying to comfort her. She got pulled away again though. 

"Go to your room! You useless child!" 

"Am I really the useless one right here?" Quinn got up, fumming. She then went to her room, climbing the staurs and slamming the door shut.

Already at her room, Quinn fell on her bed. Her day was being the worst of all week. First was the people who wouldn't leave her alone, then it was her mother, who was an alcoholic mess, abusive and always so childish. And the cherry at the top just had to be Liam Woods accepting a dare to break her heart. 

Liam Woods...

She wondered if he did that out of spite for her or because he was pressured to agree. She didn't want to know though, he accept and that was proof enough to say he wanted her head, or better saying, heart. However, she was tired of being the victim, tired of being the ugly, nerdy girl who was "abused" both at home and school. All she needed was revenge, something to satisfy her growing desire for justice.

Quinn was never one to complain much about her life, she learned how to take care of herself and her mother, she learned how to ignore mean comments and taunts people constantly threw at her. But someone isn't that strong to handle it much longer. And Quinn had just reached her breaking point.

Sighing, she decided it was useless to drow into self pity for much longer. It could for later. Getting up, she walked towards her backpack and looked at the books, groaning because studying wasn't her favorite thing to do.

Despite her appearence and label at school, she was never a nerd. People just assumed that because she was always quiet, sitting at the front of classroom and ,obviously, wore glasses and big sweaters. Fools, all of them. Her grades weren't that great to begin with, she just did enough to pass. Also, she didn't liked to read that much.

"Okay, Quinn. Let's do it." She opened the book and began to read. After some minutes, she caught herself drifting off , focusing on other things. Like her laptop, which seemed to look at her with puppy dog eyes, pleading her to use it.

Shaking her head, she turned her focus to the book again. Her grades needed to get better if she wanted to go to a good college and have a better life. But nobody is made of iron, so after one hour of study, she ran to her laptop, opening it. Checking her sanctuary, commonly known as Tumblr, her lips formed a smile when she saw how manny people rebbloged her recent post. It was only a black image with a quote by Dr. Seuss, one of the few author she liked.

You have brains in your head

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself in any

Direction you choose

That was her favorite quote, it gave her hope to don't give up and keep trying. Alone in her room, behind a keyboard, she felt like the queen of the world. The rules? she didn't follow. People? she didn't mind. It was only her and her laptop, the only time she felt like a normal girl. 

She spent so much time on internet, that lost track of time. Looking at her nightstand clock, Quinn noticed it was already time to dinner and go to sleep. Sleeping early was good for her, she forgot about her day faster. Deciding not to eat anything, Quinn went to her bed and stared at the ceiling. It was time for dwelling in self pity. At least for a night, she wanted to cry her sorrows.

And she cried, she cried to sleep. She let herself cry because tomorrow she knew her tears would be dry, and she wouldn't feel the need to cry more.

---

The following day, Quinn entered school with a refreshed mind and thirst for revenge. She just didn't knew how to do it properly. Opening her locker, she noticed a huge presence behind her. Being short was a real drag, specially when she didn't want to deal with her bullies.

"Hey!" Someone said cheefuly. Quinn frowned. Why was someone being gentle to her? She then turned around and her brown eyes met green ones. It was Liam Woods.

"Hi..." She trailed, thinking of what to do. Her revenge was about to begin, but it could've been planned in a better way.

"So...I've noticed you're always alone and.." Quinn arched an eyebrow at this, thinking:

Oh, you don't say... even when YOU are one of the people who never talk to me.

"...wanted to be the first one to meet you." Quinn frowned again, was that kind of approach the best he could do? The biggest player of school yet he wanted to win her with a lame excuse like that? Oh, please. Or... perhaps he thought that by only being gentle to her would make her fall head over heels to him?

"Nice." Was all she could say. She hated to have to deal with people, but for her sake it was something needed. Quinn tried to smile happily at him, but deep inside she knew she looked like a creep trying to sound kind.

"Cool! What period do you have now?" Liam asked

"English." 

"Crap, I have Physics." 

"If we don't have any shared period...could I meet you at lunch?" Quinn said then prayed to her lie work. She knew they shared Maths together but ,as expected, Liam didn't. She couldn't risk her plan and reveal she knew about their shared class.

"Oh! Sure!" Liam's eyes widened in glee. She had to admit he was attractive, but looks wouldn't make it for her.

It was time for the next phase. 

Quinn held her heavy English book with several smaller ones, then pretended they were too heavy for her to carry alone. Liam noticed this and held one of the books. Quinn bit her lip to not laugh, her plan was working.

"They are so heavy..." She complained.

"Can I help you?" Liam offered his hands.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" She asked and he said it was fine with him. Quinn smirked and dumped all the books on his hands. 

"Thanks. I owe you one!" She then started to walk towards the English classrom. Liam following her like a dog.

Arriving at the class, Quinn caught the books again. She heard Liam sighing in relief and smirked once again. Then he opened the door for her and she smiled "sweetly" at him. He smirked and assured her he did nothing. 

"Thanks again." Quinn put a lock behind her ear. "See you at lunch?" 

"I'll be counting the seconds." Liam winked at her then gave his signature smirk. Quinn smiled, trying not roll her eyes in annoyance. 

When Quinn entered the class, a bright smile was on her face. She had fooled Liam into doing things for her. She then remembered how he said she would become his "personal assistant" after he was done with her. Ha. The tables had turned, and Quinn would make sure to give him a taste of his own medicine.