My Life as a Background Character

Part 1

There are many names for it. Side character. Supporting character. Background Character. NPC. Red shirt. Throwaway Character. Whatever you want to call it. A prime example of that would be me. My name is Anna Hemlock, and I am the least interesting person that you will ever meet. That is, of course, if you ever even meet me. My purpose is just that. To remain likely unknown and unnoticed in the background. I have played my part well enough. Reluctantly, might I add. I have also had the displeasure of meeting too many main characters in my time. I can't stand them. They have everything. Once a main character speaks to you, your timer starts to tick down... down... until something horrible happens to you. Why? All so the main character can have their character arc.

I have gotten hit by a car. I have fallen out of a tree. I have been chased by zombies. I have gotten lost in the woods - at night. I was the sacrifice in an occult ritual once. I only survived that one because the main character needed their hero points. Look, my point is that being a side character is just the worst. If we could just live our little background lives without any drama, that would be great. Peaceful even. Living a life of no consequence. Minding my own business. But no. See, the main characters need their progression. Them, with their stupid powers of persuasion. We have no choice but to agree and go along with them.

"Hey, Anna, wanna go into that very clearly haunted house?" They will ask. Of course, I wouldn't want to go into that haunted house. I have homework to do. I am trying to focus on not dying and passing my classes so I can get into a decent university and live a quiet life down the road with silence.

Saying "no" to a main character is physically impossible. Frankly, I am sick of it. It has gotten to the point where I try to avoid anyone who looks even remotely interesting in order to avoid running into a main character. If someone has rainbow hair? Forget it. I immediately turn around and walk out of the room. I have zero time to play any part in whatever shenanigans that a main character wishes to get all mixed up in.

It is like living in some kind of multiplayer, open world, roleplaying game. Seeing all the PC's running around with their cool gear and goals. You just have to hope they don't run into your cart of cabbages. Otherwise, you have a whole mess to clean up while they carry on with their adventure. There really should be some kind of law to protect the persons and properties of all background characters. We have lives too, you know. Less interesting, but still very much valid.

I know it sounds like all I do is complain. But you can only take so much. You can only be a stepping stone so many times before you begin to get annoyed. How many times does a city have to burn down and the town come together to clean everything up and rebuild, all because someone decided to have a villain arc. Villains. Heroes. Makes no difference to me. All of them disrupt the peace and flow of time in one way or another.

Just last week, we got a new student in our class. Pink hair and bright blue eyes. No chance. I asked the office if I could change classes or if I could move furthest away from her in the classroom. I am more than happy to just be in the background with no face or character at all. At least then, I don't get hurt. All while hoping she never notices me. Wouldn't you know it, she was bullied her first day. Because, of course, she needs the attention. Oh, brother. I wonder if she will become the next school villain or if she will develop into the queen bee that everyone loves. It makes me sick.

Thankfully, she has not noticed me. Yet. Celine, I think her name was. Gross. Sorry if that is also your name while you are reading this. No offense to you. Unless you also have pink hair. In that case, you might be Celine herself. In which case, yes, offense. Oh no, now I am a bully. See how hard it is to remain uninvolved in a main character's arc? It is just all about them all the time. Narcissists, the lot of them. They are not only main characters. The annoying bit is that they know they are main characters, and they act like it. Rude. Self-centered. Egotistical. Entitled. I can only roll my eyes so far back before I am worried they will come loose and get stuck in the back of my head.

So, I know what you are thinking. Why even bother coming out about this? Hard to remain in the background if I start an account of all of this, right? Well, considering I am a nobody, it is not likely this blog will get any attention anyway. Therefore, this one is for all the other nobodies. This is to help others feel a little more understood and a little less alone in the world. Maybe I speak for a lot of us. Or maybe I am just the biggest bitter person on the planet. Who knows. I will keep this account going for as long as I can. Likely until I get killed off to boost someone I don't even know. We will see.

I should probably make a name or title for all of you. My fellow nobodies. Very fitting, if not a bit rude. I'm aware that some of you wish to be main characters. Maybe my own hatred also stems from a spot of jealousy. Wishing to have more control over things in my life. Waking up every day to put on a smile and plot armor. Wouldn't it be nice to know everything you did mattered? To know that your choices can make a difference? I mean, I am sure it comes with its own pressures. For those that wish to remain a good influence, that is. I imagine things may become a bit stressful if you knew that your decisions could lead to the death of someone else. In a sense, that makes being a nobody relaxing. Unless you happen to be the stepping stone. I swear. I have seen people get all kinds of messed up just so the main character can have their time in the spotlight. It is a miracle that I have survived this long so far. There should seriously be a support group for us nobodies. Maybe I should start one. How does that sound? On Wednesdays we could meet in the library during study hour. If anyone is reading this and you are a nobody like me, you are welcome to come share your woes.

I am making this account in the school library now. And wouldn't you know it. Celine just came in. If you will excuse me, I am going to bail out of here before she says anything to me. Stay strong, my fellow background characters. My Nobodies. You are not alone. I'll update again as soon as I can.