Anger

Florence is going to have one strange story to tell, I haven't finished the entire story yet but I can tell haha

I crumple up the stupid paper. Everything about it just pisses me off. I throw it onto the floor along with my charcoal. I start to sob in front of every one. They stare at me as I crumble and slump down on the floor.
Malinda is there, by my side comforting me, in a matter of seconds. She pulls me off of the floor and rubs my arms. She tells me to sit down with her, that it's all okay. I follow without a word.
"Florence," She says in her kind and soft voice. "Is there something that has been bothering you?"
I shrug. I can't tell her one thing that bothers me, because there isn't a single reason. For some reason I don't feel well and things get to me more than they should. "I'm fine." I respond simply.
"Florence..." A new voice calls my name. I look up. There's a guy holding my crumpled paper. He gently unfolds it and looks at it.
"Throw that thing away." I glare at him.
"It's really good." He turns it to face Malinda and I.
"Throw the stupid thing away!" I shout at him. Students in the class watch me. Their eyes scold me, tell me that I am no good, that I'm crazy.
"Flo, do you want to go work in the darkroom? I know that you have some undeveloped film still." Malinda doesn't say it like a suggestion, she says it like she is telling me to leave now.
I get up and walk out of the room. As I pass the boy with my sketch I snatch it out of his hands and throw it into the trash.
I hate this school.
In the darkroom it's quiet and there isn't anyone to scold me for being upset. The chemicals are harsh on my nose, but that is easily forgotten in a few minutes. The darkroom has always been my escape when things upset me. I can be alone but not have to think because I have work to occupy my mind.
The door opens and I turn around. I practically run into the person that walked in. My eyes haven't adjusted all the way yet and the darkroom is a tiny space. I try to take a step back, but behind me is a sink. Instead of backing up I slide to the side, feeling for where the counter is.
"Hey, I'm Kenneth?" I recognize the voice. It's the guy with my sketch.
"Why do you think that I care what you're name is?" I angrily speak.
"I... Sorry, you're upset." Kenneth turns towards the door.
"No! Don't leave!" I shout. He gives me a strange look. "The light will ruin my film." I explain. He nods and moves away from the door a few inches.
"Do you want to get coffee after classes?" Kenneth asks.
"I don't drink coffee." I answer. It's true, coffee gives me panic attacks and I can't have it.
"Oh. Do you want to get some tea then?" He says. "I want to talk about your sketch."
"If you buy." I say smugly.
"Okay." Kenneth laughs quietly.
I hate talking to people in the darkroom because I can't see their faces. For some reason, though, I don't mind not being able to see Kenneth's face. Maybe it's because I can hear what he is thinking by the tone in his voice.
"So, do you mind that I grabbed the sketch?" He asks uncertainly, holding out a folded piece of paper.
I look at it, a little bit of anger in my eyes. That dumb sketch. "Whatever." I turn back to my work. If I don't get the paper into the chemicals soon it will be messed up.
Kenneth stands by the door as I continue working. I bump into him a few times, but I can see more now and can navigate my way around all the weird things in the room. I wonder why Kenneth isn't leaving. It's not really interesting here and the entire room stinks. He's strange.

Author's Note

I'm trying something here. I'm going to see how starting in the middle of action and then backtracking will work out.

Reviews

[Calypso]

Nice beginning.

I think this works. The jerky narration is effective for a mentally unstable character.