Bridgit Iris Bowen

It's just Bridgit to you. I'm seventeen, a Junior at Westwood High, and whatever people say, I am not "one of the Wordies."

[reneenomorely]

“Rickard went on a work trip over in Italy to meet a client for the rest of the month, so I have the house to myself. Admittedly I’m not planning on doing anything with that. But other than his sudden leave, with assistant in tow mind you, I’ve got literally nothing planned for the summer.”

[bridgitbowen]

“Read a book. Take initiative...Here--” Bridgit held out her latest book, the cover facing up. “...Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury.”

[yeahjonny-blog]

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

And the truth is, this patriotically dyed popcorn is not as great tasting as advertised. Bleugh. 

[bridgitbowen]

She stared at the popcorn for a while before drawing out a long, soft sigh. “Artificial food coloring is commonly linked to organ tumors, along with possibly-severe hypersensitivity. Blue dye specializes in brain tumors, red accelerates immune system tumors, and...” She pulled the popcorn bag closer to her so she could peer at it some more; “I’ve never even heard of white dye. So...that one could be made up of anything from toilet paper to chalk.”

[walkthewind-blog]

“It’s called irrational anger, and there’s no responsibility to it. But hey, it seems like you’ve got your own things to worry about – what with that stick up your rear. So I’ll let you handle that all good and well, and if you feel like you need something to ease the pain of the removal I’ve still got half of my prescribed oxys that I can sell you for a nice price.”

[bridgitbowen]

Shrugging, Bridgit replied quietly, “Maybe it’d be more beneficial to your health to learn how to channel those involuntary, reckless sorts of emotions--” She suddenly stopped scribbling and hesitated. “Wait, you just...offered to sell drugs to me.” Not that she wanted to be Captain Obvious, but Bridgit wasn’t even sure what “oxys” were, and silently refrained from admitting it.

[maggie-christianson-blog]

Maggie raised an eyebrow in response to the other girl’s outburst. “Who rained on your parade?” she asked. She glanced over at the boys. “Cute, Bridg, but I’m not a cougar, and I’m also not a child. Complaining is my right as an American.”

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit paused, thinking slowly. Then she shrugged and responded, “Perhaps, but I...bet you can’t name when, how, and in what circumstances the Constitution was signed. Bill of Rights? Declaration of Independence? It is all kind of important to know as an American, too.”

[cliftonthecreator-blog]

Question.

[cliftonthecreator-blog]

“Nice sarcasm.” But Clifton smiled all the same. “And it’s just for my ears and nose, since I’ve got this dumb hat on.”

[bridgitbowen]

“You should get one of these big yellow floppy summer hats that my mother wears. Ten times more practical.” Glancing back and forth between her book and the backpack’s opening, she started shuffling through the numerous supplies (mostly books) she had in there.

[bridgitbowen]

BlessTask #1: Anger

Hey, Bridgit. I’m just going to ask you a few questions about yourself. Is that okay?

Fine. But keep it short; I need to get back to homework soon.

All right. So, today’s topic is anger. Do you have anything to say about it? (And, by the way, anything we say will just be between you and me.)

...Well, personally, I don’t really get angry with people. Nothing I see these days is ever truly worth wasting those sorts of emotions on, anyway. I think it’s childish not to be able to control your anger, or suppress it, or, ultimately, make it go away. Anger is great--it can show you a lot about who a person really is. I love to see other people’s true colors, because people are generally as dumb as they seem. But as for me, no; expressing my anger like that isn’t my thing.

When’s the last time you got angry?

Uh, let’s see--I think it might’ve been with my mother. A few weeks ago. She was worried that I would be taking too many classes next year, and had forced me to drop AP Computer Science. Little does she know, I didn’t actually drop the course. I think the worst thing I did that day was slam the refrigerator door shut really hard--a couple of eggs in there cracked and exploded. I cleaned it up, then went back to my room to read. End of story.

Wow, you have a lot of self-control. Is your anger as subtle as that all the time?

Haha, I wish. Sometimes, if I’m really pissed off, I’ll start an argument. I’ll say something to someone, someone’s feelings will get hurt, they’ll try to insult me back but fail in doing so, and I’ll just feel a little bit better. That’s usually the way things go.

I’ve noticed that you tend to make fun of people a lot of times.

Being irritated while talking to someone--which is all the time--is different from being, like, sincerely angry. Like I said, I’m not an angsty, attention-needing person. I don’t feel the need to show that something’s turned me upside-down, because I’ll give no one that satisfaction. If you make a mess, you clean it up yourself, and get over it, right?

Right, right. So, if I hypothetically feel like you’re a little pissed off at me, what should I think? What should I do?

Ugh, you’re not as bad as other people in my school, so get over yourself...--Anyway, first, if I’m obviously annoyed at you, you most likely need to shut up. I hate it when people talk too much. But, since 99% of the people I meet don’t shut up, I’ve had to adapt to other means of passively aggressively telling people that I don’t want to talk to them. For some reason, they never work. But whatever. People will be people.

So that’s just one normal, everyday thing. People get used to it. You should get used to it.

As for what you should do, well...just try not to say anything stupid.

Thanks, Bridgit. I’ll try to do what you say. Okay, here’s another one for you: I’ve heard you dislike summer. What’s that all about?

Ugh, please, summer is definitely the worst season to be alive. Not only is it humid and uncomfortable here in California, but there aren’t the regular school days to keep my educational progress on track. And, summer is definitely the time teenagers go wild and think they’re free and unstoppable and invincible, when they’re not. Summer is just another chance for immature teenagers to try prove how fancy and social they are. Most of the time, they fail and end up looking stupid.

What about losing or failing? 

Who does like to lose or fail? Seriously, you need a little bit of common sense.

I’m sorry about that--

Whatever. The thing is, I hate seeing any of my work or effort go to waste. Hate to break it to myself, but losing arguments just sort of sucks. That also goes for failing tests, failing essays, failing assignments--I grew up obligating myself to succeed at everything I do. I’ve never let anything get in my way.

Good. We’re almost done here. What do you dislike about spicy food?

It’s difficult to eat, period. It’s like trying to eat you that’s biting you from the inside, and it’s just, blech. People who enjoy that sort of stuff drive me nuts.

How about dating? I’ve heard that you dislike dating.

Uh...yeah. I do. I loathe it.

Want to tell me more about it?

No. Just like anger, dating simply isn’t my thing.

Okay, Bridgit. That’s all for now. 

Thank goodness. I swear, talking about all that made me just about to slam another refrigerator door--with you in it. Goodbye.

[dontcallmejosie-deactivated2015]

Hey, I’m about to order these crazy red white and blue shots, do you want one? I hear they’re killer.

[bridgitbowen]

She glared at him, disgusted. “Wha--no. No, I don’t drink. Nor should you, Josiah. It’s an idiotic way to pass the time.” She rolled her eyes, fiddling with her book.

[wildkatastrophe]

Dyed my hair red white and blue for the holiday! Is it totally lame?

[bridgitbowen]

“Yeah. Just slightly. Independence Day is only 24 hours. What’re you going to do thereafter?”

[maggie-christianson-blog]

Thanks Mom for dragging me to a carnival like I’m five. Okay. Is there actually anything fun to do at this thing?

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit scowled at Maggie and then shrugged. “There’s a bench,” she suggested, indicating one. “Those are for sitting. And there are some hot dogs and burgers and carnival games.” She pointed across the area. “And there are some cute guys for you.” She gestured at a cluster of boys, unaware that they were freshmen. “Knock yourself out. Stop being a child.” 

[weareyourfriendsrp-blog]

“‘Ey, miúdo–” The Brazilian accent was alive as she directed her words at the person on the sidewalk. She recognised the kid on her street from school, which would be normal considering she lived in an area near a lot of richer students– but this one definitely wasn’t one of her irritating neighbours… And if they were a friend visiting, she couldn’t tell completely; the sun was blinding at the moment.  

And, they look well dressed enough, so a small part of her was hoping they weren’t another tasteless being in the universe. “Mind if I use your mind and opinions for a moment?” She needed a good guinea pig.

[weareyourfriendsrp-blog]

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit stopped in her tracks when she heard someone call, reluctantly taking her nose out of the book it’d taken so much concentration to bury herself in. Disappointed that she hadn’t managed to dress discretely enough so that nobody from school would be able to recognize her, she registered the girl who’d spoken--she was one of the more popular girls from school, that much she could tell at a glance. Bridgit stared back for a moment or two so that she could be sure that that girl really did want to speak to her--and, unfortunately, yep, it was her. 

Before her staring could become awkward, she cleared her throat quickly. “What’s up...?” she asked cautiously, not moving from where she stood. 

[notcaulfield]

“How am I? Well, they’ve started filming the X-Files again, so I’m ecstatic. I mean, it’s only a few episodes, but that’s probably more than enough. Twin Peaks, too! Although that’s coming back 2016…           Sorry. I mean, what about you? How are you? ”

[notcaulfield]

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit couldn’t help but laugh a little. “I’m good, thanks. Summer’s good. Books and homework are good.” She shrugged, not being able to keep a grin from creeping onto her face. “Although I have no clue about anything you just mentioned, Holden--I’m glad to see that you’re keeping yourself occupied, as usual.”

[sososloane]

“What? Oh –– Yeah of course I’m excited for summer, I mean, I guess. But it’s not really a new concept y’know? It’s the same thing every year, school’s out, and the madness begins. Then the summer craze ends and school starts again…so…Sorry I don’t mean to be lame or anything. Do you have anything cool planned?”

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the too-vague question. She also resisted the urge to remain silent altogether and resume staring at the book in her lap. Instead, she replied with her filler answer for whenever she was asked about her summer plans: “Library. Books. Work. Summer homework. To me, it’s pretty cool. I don’t know what you’d think about it, though.” 

For a second, she shifted her bag onto her shoulder and shuffled her feet, ready to get up and make a run for it. Then she suddenly realized that this was the first human-to-human interaction she’d had in literally a week--and forced herself to slide back down. Even she knew that permanent isolation wasn’t particularly healthy.

[walkthewind-blog]

“Ugh. I’ve had the week from hell. Spent some time upstate, which was nice. Got a flat on the way back. That’s fine, so I pull into the shoulder to change that. Ran out of gas because apparently the gas gauge on my bike is shot. That’s fine. Get home, get into a tiff with pops. Put my fist through a window – hospital, twenty-seven stitches up my arm to my elbow from my wrist. There was so much blood. Wanna see the stitches?”

[bridgitbowen]

Bridgit stared for a bit, then narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed. “No, I don’t want to see it.” Her gaze returned to the notebook in her lap that she was scribbling in. “How irresponsible do you have to be to punch a window?” she murmured irritably, keeping her eyes on her notebook.

[cliftonthecreator-blog]

Question.

Can I borrow your sunscreen?

[bridgitbowen]

“Reply--” she mimicked. “Maybe. As long as you don’t use too much. Where’d yours run off to?” She started reaching slowly for her bag to check if she did in fact bring a bottle, her eyes flitting back to the book in her lap.

[chercheslafemme-deactivated2016]

[cocochambers-deactivated2015111]

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