Everyone knows Dorina. She is the known-by-all and loved-by-all Student Body President. At the very mention of her name, it seems like the entire school’s population gets on their knees and bows down. Miss Perfect Dorina. What could possibly be so great about her? I just don’t get it. Jesus Christ, not agai- “F**k!”

Oh my gosh oh my gosh I can’t believe this is happening to me but shoot I can’t go home I just need to get to the bathroom, wait “What the… watch where you’re going!!!”

So this was the Dorina. Lying on top of me in the middle of the hallway and screaming. I don’t think anyone heard her scream before.

I had never screamed before, for Mother and Father had taught me better. Then again, this seemed as good a time as any to try. “What are you doing?! Hellooooo. Could you PLEASE get out of my way?”

Everyone always tells me I have anger management issues, especially my parents, but they don’t even know me. “Get out of your way?? YOU’RE ON TOP OF ME!”

He had a point there. Before I could say anything I was called to the principal’s office, along with someone named Tyler.

We got called into the principal’s office, and she seemed surprised that I walked into the room with her and then slumped down into one of the ever-uncomfortable brown chairs. What, did she think I was her escort?

I guess the boy is Tyler. I had never heard of him before, but the principal knows him by name. The principal asked what had happened in the hall, and I couldn’t stop myself from yelling. I could feel my heart beating faster and faster and my palms starting to sweat and my gold hoop earrings banging against my jaw as my head apparently began to shake with the screams. “I was walking down the hall and for some reason he tripped me! This is insane I don’t even know why I’m here.”

I didn’t want to yell at a girl. I wish I could say my parents taught me better, but they hadn’t. So I yelled. “First of all, you were running, there was no way that was walking, and I didn’t mean to trip you. I tripped over my jeans and I’m sooo sorry that I inconvenienced you, but you’re the one who fell over me! Maybe just look up next time.”

“Fine, I was running! But you don’t know why, and I had a good reason, s-so you shouldn’t be pretending that you didn’t trip right in front of me!!” I was not used to yelling and my arguments weren’t coming out as strongly as I had hoped.

“I’m not pretending that I didn’t trip are you serious?! You’re pretending that you’re the only one with a reason! You don’t know who I am or what I deal with. Stop making it seem like only you can have a bad day.”

I didn’t know what to say. Tyler was on the verge of tears and was starting to sweat profusely; it smelled like he hadn’t had access to a shower, or even deodorant, in months. He was right, I didn’t know his story at all.

The principal told us to explain ourselves. “I trust you not to say anything?” She nodded, and I believed her. “My family isn’t the most present in my life… I guess you could say my parents are non-existent in general. Everything I have, including my jeans, are my older brother’s hand-me-downs. I haven’t seen him in months. He’s been doing community service to get out of serving jail time.” I don’t know why I told her that. “I don’t have money, and neither does my family. These are way too big, as you can see. I can’t even afford a belt, let alone a new pair. They fall down every day, and I trip every day, but I didn’t trip you. I’m sorry.”

Jeez. “I’m sorry for yelling. You’re right, I didn't know what was going on in your life and I shouldn’t have been so quick to judge. My parents are the opposite when it comes to everything going on with me. I just failed a chemistry test, and that’s why I was running down the hall. I wanted to get to the bathroom before anyone saw me crying over a grade. I know it seems dumb to cry, but that’s the first test I’ve ever failed. My parents are relentless when it comes to my schoolwork. They do, um, unspeakable things, things I have no control over, and they won’t stop until I’m better than everyone else. My grades are the one thing I can control, and I thought I was getting back on track. I’m sorry for running into you.” I had never told anyone that before.

Everyone knows Dorina. She is the known-by-all and loved-by-all  Student Body President. At the very mention of her name, it seems like the entire school’s population gets on their knees and bows down. She’s definitely not Miss Perfect, but there are endless things that are great about her. I get it.