I should have known it was a bad idea, but that didn’t stop me. I was tired of being the rule-follower, the goody-two shoes. Teachers loved me and parents envied me, but I hated all the attention. I didn’t want to be known as “the teacher’s pet.” If I was going to be remembered, I was going out with a bang. It wasn’t going to be easy, but hey, is life a straight path?
It might be best for me to back up a bit. The name’s Sadie, and people have known me as the perfect child before I could even talk. Flawless body, successful family, straight-A student, you get the gist. But behind all the glamour, I was a totally different person. I loved combat boots, the entire opposite of my pristine white sneakers. I’d choose ripped jeans and a crop top over a sundress any day. No one really knew the real me, but was all about to change.
May 21, 2026. An infamous day that would go down in the history books of Yancy Academy. The day started out normally. Or, as normal as it would get for me.
“There’s my favorite student! How are you doing?”
“Hey, Sadie. Say hi to your mother for me! Or is she too busy modeling?”
“Bro, can I borrow your homework?”
You get my point. Educators and students alike love me. Too bad I was about to turn that perfect picture upside down.
In order to not raise suspicion, I followed my class schedule per usual. Mythology, history, dance, and ELA. Each class, same routine. It was getting boring, not going to lie. I didn’t really have friends, only people who wanted to get close to my parents. School was generally easy, so could you blame me for wanting to stir up some trouble? Anyways, after ELA, was the best part of the day. Lunch. Today, however, I have quite the surprise for everyone.
I walked with the crowd headed towards the dining hall, but slowed down to let everyone pass. I slung my backpack off my shoulder, dropped it against a locker, and ran the opposite direction. A few passing teachers glanced at me weirdly, but didn’t say anything. I guess being a teachers’ favorite has its advantages. I hurried upstairs and peeked into the classrooms to make sure they were empty. When I was one classroom away from reaching my destination, my PE coach, Coach Hedge, strolled out of the boys’ restroom. I flung myself into a classroom, pressed against the wall, and counted each passing second as he ambled away. As soon as I heard his footsteps fading, I burst out of the classroom and rushed over to the huge red button attached to the wall. The fire alarm.
I glanced behind, pausing for a moment to confirm that no one would come. I sighed, then placed my hand on the alarm. One press was all it would take to put my plan in motion.
Are you actually going to do this? I thought. I’m pretty sure this is illegal.
Forget it, too late now. Before I could chicken out, I brought my hand down on the lever. Immediately, alarms started blaring and lights began to flash, nearly blinding me. Every instinct in my body was yelling *GET OUT OF **HERE!*, but my plan wasn’t over. Not just yet. I turned to the window in front of me. At this point, teachers were freaking out and kids were screaming, so I took the distraction and bolted straight at the glass panel. It shattered upon impact, raining down on the stage in the dining hall. I took a deep breath…and jumped.
For the three seconds when I was weightless, I imagined this is what John Wilkes Booth felt like when he jumped off the Presidents' Booth in Ford’s Theater. To my surprise, I landed on my feet, then crouched down with my hands on the floor, making me look like I was about to start a rebellion. Probably against plastic chairs. Those things HURT. Wait, where was I? Oh right, I jumped out of a window. To continue with my drama, I snapped my head up, basking in the horror of my fellow classmates. I slowly rose, facing my crowd. I leaped off the stage and dashed toward the exit. Before shoving open the door, I turned around and yelled one final thing.
“I’m not the perfect little girl you all see! The only thing here that’s flawless is this escape plan!”
end