Once Brianna got off the bus, she scanned the front of the school. There were two security guards. One was looking in the opposite direction, and the other was distracted by a student complaining that someone had stolen his backpack. It was the perfect opportunity for escape. Bri took a sharp left, ran past the school building, cut through the baseball field, and disappeared into the woods. She trudged down a dirt path surrounded by blossoming trees until she reached a small wooden bridge.
A tall guy leaned against the side of the bridge, his arm around a small, skinny girl. Her face was framed by side-swept purple bangs that covered one eye. Her visible brown eye was accented by an eyebrow piercing. The boy's green-and-blue-striped Mohawk stood up six inches. They smiled when Brianna came into view.
"Hey, Bri!" The girl almost tripped over her clunky lace-up boots as she ran over to greet her. Brianna embraced her best friend.
"Hey, Eva. Hey, Dave."
"What's wrong?" Eva's eyes widened with concern.
It always amazed Brianna the way Eva could sense her mood within moments of being in her presence. Brianna sucked in a deep breath, overcome with emotions from the morning, along with a profound sense of gratitude that she'd had the same best friend since pre-school. They knew each other inside and out. Eva knew all of her faults, but loved her just the same.
"Oh, where do I start? My mom was sick again this morning. She passed out in the kitchen."
"Oh, no! Is she okay?"
"Yes, this time, but I worry about her. Oh, and Ryan broke up with me. Via text message."
"What a jerk! He wasn't good enough for you anyway."
"Whatever." Brianna shrugged. "He was probably just using me to try to get closer to Mandy. Just like Brad Sullivan, Chris Horn, and Vinny Perillo admitted after they dropped me."
"You don't need a boyfriend anyway. You're a strong, independent young woman. We don't need men!" Eva threw her fist in the air.
"Oh, really?" Dave raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.
"I don't need you, babe. I want you. There is a difference." Eva pecked Dave on the cheek. "You're a great guy. Ryan is a typical dirt bag."
Dave nodded. "I never liked that kid. Want me to beat him up? I'll do it for you, Bri."
"Me, too," a male voice called from the end of the path. Pat puffed out his puny chest as he approached the group.
"What are you going to do? Attack him with your hair?" Dave laughed.
Pat frowned and smoothed his unruly crop of orange hair.
"Not a bad idea." Brianna greeted her friend with a hug. "Using your hair as a weapon could be very manly."
Pat's whole face lit up.
"There will be no fighting." Eva's voice had an authoritarian tone. She glared at Dave. "The principal already warned you. One more fight and you will be expelled."
"Eva's right," Brianna said. "I need you guys here for my sanity. It's hard enough living with Princess Perfect. Sometimes I can't believe we're related, let alone identical twins."
"You're identical?" Pat's jaw dropped.
"Yes, one-hundred percent, except I dye my hair black."
"It's not just the hair. I don't think you look the same. Ow!" Pat howled as Eva kicked him in the shin. "Hey, don't get me wrong! I think you're gorgeous. I just don't think you look like Mandy."
"You can just say it. She's prettier than me." Or she appears to be, because of her magic. It's so unfair.
"You're more beautiful on the inside than Mandy will ever be. And that's what counts." Eva handed her best friend a sheet of notebook paper. "Read it. I have been working on lyrics for our new song."
Brianna held the paper and Pat leaned in to read over her shoulder. Unruly orange frizz blocked Brianna's view. She laughed as she brushed Pat's hair out of her face. "These are awesome, Eva."
"Oh yeah, definitely. Solid," Pat said.
"Band practice tonight. Five o'clock. Don't be late," Eva said.
Brianna checked her watch. "We have to get back to school. Starting bell is going to ring in five minutes."
Eva draped her arm over Brianna’s shoulder and the four friends headed back to school together. When they entered the building, a surly security guard named Lou looked up from his post and stood. As he waddled towards them, his protruding belly jiggled over his belt. He ran his hand through his receding hairline, grimaced, and signaled for them to stop.
"Miss Hernandez, do you think that apparel is appropriate for school?" the security guard asked.
Eva examined the black letters on her purple T-shirt—Women belong in the House… and the Senate.
"I think it's very appropriate," Eva said, hands on her hips. "Women are highly underrepresented in the government. In my opinion, this is the direct cause of many of our country's problems today."
Lou sighed. "We are all entitled to our opinions, Ms. Hernandez. However, that doesn't mean we can broadcast them on our shirts at school."
"Why, Lou? Does a young woman with an opinion intimidate you? Don't I have a right to express myself like everyone else?"
"Writing and logos on T-shirts are against the dress code for both boys and girls, Ms. Hernandez. You know that. We have been over this quite a few times before."
"Well, that's just ridiculous! Haven't you ever heard of the First Amendment? It was passed in 1791, and it gives all Americans the right to freedom of speech. Look it up."
"Eva, walk with me to Principal Meyers's office. Now."
"Fine, I'll go, and I'll tell Principal Meyers exactly where he can put his dress code."
As Lou escorted Eva to the principal's office, Dave, Pat, and Brianna griped about the way the authorities running the school imposed their conformist standards on the students.