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If there was a competition for the worst first day at a new school, I’d be the all time champion. But this first day is no doubt the worst it could have possibly gone. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXw4IvktoQ
My new school was, get this: A public school. I didn’t even know there were any in the area that hadn’t black-listed me yet. Sure, it was a good hour away, but it was still in the same state. Crazy, right? Unlikely, perhaps. Suspicious, even. As the bus pulled into the parking lot of the school, I began to realise that this time, there wouldn’t be some satyr disguised as a student sent to pretend to be my friend. This was my one shot at a normal high school experience. The glass door squeaked open, and I reminded myself to take a breath.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJJZVxd8CD
Don’t fuck this up, Bella. You’re a normal high school student. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvOfEIAfwb
Walking through the large doors and into the sea of sleepy students still not recovered from spring break, I was reminded of elementary school. Grade four specifically, the last year I was allowed at a public school, before I got expelled for accidentally setting fire to the cafeteria while making rice krispie squares. Which, obviously, was not my fault. Who lets a nine year old operate a gas stove? Sure, I was the one who stuck the wooden spoon in there, but who was the one who gave me the spoon? Exactly. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCuo35sN1Z
I followed the signs down a bunch of hallways until I reached the office, which was decorated just as depressingly as the secretaries that worked there. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpHuCLthdd
“Um, hello?” I asked when neither of them even acknowledged my presence for several minutes. Too busy filing papers into extra tall cabinets while muttering unhappily about their lives, I guess.
“Oh,” one of them finally sniffed, an older looking guy, “Who are you?”
“Bella Cooper,” I answered, a little put off by his obvious grumpiness, but I can’t blame him. I’m sure if I had to look after a bunch of annoying highschool kids for eight hours a day on minimum wage, I’d be pretty irritable too.
“Cooper?” he repeated, frowning.
“I’m new.”
“Oh,” he mumbled, turning around to dig in another filing cabinet. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ksdpsIobD
I waited for a while, until another person walked into the office. It was a girl with wavy hair, such a deep red that it was almost purple, looking a little unsure. Like I had, she waited a while before getting the secretary’s attention. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SFpMJtfe8
“Excuse me,” she said politely, smiling a little awkwardly. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf5jLaoLoH
The slow secretary turned to her, again looking confused. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzai2Kf2dI
“Um,” she hesitated when he didn’t say anything, “I was told I could get my schedule at the office? My name is Acacia Hale, I just transferred here.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKyYGOJx9l
All he did was nod, slowly turning back around to continue digging in the filing cabinet, leaving the girl and I to stand in unpleasant silence. I fiddled with my necklace uncomfortably, trying to avoid her gaze. The bell rang, and students began making their way to their classes. I sighed, watching as the secretary didn’t seem to notice. If he did, he definitely didn’t care.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglDeaYhfhR
God, can this guy go any slower?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14jLIKhZDD
“So,” the girl cleared her throat slightly, “Are you also new?”
“Yeah,” I nodded, forcing a somewhat polite smile.
“What school did you transfer from?” she asked, clearly trying to prompt a conversation. I tried not to sigh.
“I was, um… homeschooled,” I lied.
“Oh, cool. I transferred from Bronx Science.”
I absentmindedly nodded again, before frowning, “Wait, that really big school by Jerome Park?”
“Uh, I-I guess it’s pretty big. Have you heard of it?
“Isn’t it, like, one of the top schools in America?” I frowned. What was she doing in this small, no-name high school in Longwood if she went to Bronx Science before spring break?
“Oh, um,” she hesitated, the smile leaving her face slightly, “I don’t know.”
My frown deepened, confused. But, she stopped talking, and I wasn’t planning on continuing the awkward conversation.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVj3kxBrnr
“You’re both in homeroom 307,” the secretary finally said, closing the filing cabinet, “Here are your schedules.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoJlRcoTeW
He handed us each a paper with a timetable on it, and sat back down. No directions to the stairs or anything. I tried not to grumble. This school was doing its best to get me to screw up, but I was determined to stay out of trouble. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnVbdZyxFJ
I turned to leave, annoyed, but she quickly asked, “Could I come with you?”
“I mean, I guess so,” I mumbled again, “I don’t really know where I’m going, though.”
She smiled, “It’s okay, I don’t know, either.”
“Right.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UKkfHPYj7
In a painfully awkward silence, we wandered up two flights of stairs, trying to dodge people making a break for their classes before they were marked late. I forgot how loud and smelly public schools are. At least Lowell’s had that going for it. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb762tmMlT
“303, 305, 307,” I counted the tiny silver numbers on the doors to myself, mostly to break the silence, “I think it’s this one.”
All she did was nod, and I withheld a sigh as she followed me in. I sat down as far back as I could, and she sat next to me. Clearly, she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe7REom0pl
She could be another satyr, I thought tensely, but reminded myself that now I could see through the mist. I should be able to tell, right?
As inconspicuous as I could, I tried to get a quick, good glance at her. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvGd7WHpvE
The girl was wearing a short dress covered in white flowers with puffy sleeves, so I could see her legs and arms clearly. No fur. Her shoes were platform mary janes, and no wobbly satyr hooves could ever walk in those. She wasn’t wearing a hat or head covering of any kind to disguise horns. All evidence pointed to her being a normal, mortal girl.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0vHsLfQIi
“I’m Acacia,” the girl said suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts abruptly.
“Bella,” I replied, letting myself relax. There was no way she was a satyr. Besides, I haven’t had any contact from Camp Half-Blood since the quest, which was ages ago. No way they were still spying on me right?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4ZLuoUvoz
“Um, I like your pants,” Acacia smiled, again bringing me back down to earth. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q3yf3vnR4
I looked down at my pants, because I actually didn’t have any time to think about what I was putting on this morning. They were just some black cargo pants with some silver jean chains I forgot to take off since the last time I wore them, and some doodles I made in fabric marker ages ago. In fact, I’m pretty sure the shirt I was wearing was the one I went to sleep in the night before… which meant it was the one I wore to the festival yesterday.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBrDMVpS2C
Gross, Bella. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XRwfx9gGf
“Um, thanks,” I said slowly, taking another look at her. Acacia dressed like a princess in disguise, with her stylish dress and delicate gold jewelry on her neck and wrists. Her flawless complexion and minimal yet glamorous makeup made her look like the daughter of a celebrity trying to attend a normal highschool. In other words, I was confused why she bothered to compliment my shitty outfit. Usually, I get made fun of by people like her.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oGw7STkWz
As the teacher made their way to the front of the room, I reminded myself of what mattered: Staying out of trouble until 3:00. No science labs, no scaring kids with pentagrams and demons, no fire, no fights, and absolutely no Greek magic. Today, I was just Bella the high schooler. Not Bella the empousa, great granddaughter of the Titan Perses, or the intricate creation of Hecate. Just Bella. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHFjlDuc6G
“Good morning, class,” the teacher beamed, “I hope you all had a wonderful spring break.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUbNEPF5oS
I wanted to scoff, but choked it down at the last second. She began the usual perky teacher spiel, asking everyone what they did on their break, how excited they were for their classes, blah blah. With some time on my hands, I checked out my schedule, crossing my fingers in hopes that it was halfway decent.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmGvhEBNl1
“What classes do you have?” Acacia asked, having the same idea, “I have music, math, English and socials.”
“Pre-calc, metals, English, and…” I sighed, “...Chemistry…”
Better drop that last one. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba6dn1JM5e
“Looks like we have English together,” she looked over her paper, “So, I guess I’ll see you then?”
“Um, yeah,” I nodded, sighing, “Sure.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXPAocZ0aK
As if math first thing in the morning wasn’t bad enough, the moment I walked into the class, something felt off. There were two teachers, the man looked very confused as he was escorted out of the room, the woman apparently taking his place. I frowned, but shrugged it off. Maybe it was a sub mix up or something. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxssuQpP9q
As students slowly filed in, we were startled awake when the lady knocked hard on the white board in front of her with a ruler, like this was the 60s or something. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrCCkzYMTF
“Since we have a new student, please find your desk as stated in the updated seating arrangement,” she smiled sweetly, but her aggressive body language and tone gave me a bit of emotional whiplash. The students grumbled. Of course, I was put right at the front, directly next to the teacher. What a crazy coincidence, you might be thinking. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that, too. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ET4e2jbLG
But, I’m not trying to get detention before 9:00 am at least, so I begrudgingly sat in the front of the class. I swear she smiled mockingly at me.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHBirrufoU
“I’m Ms. Melanie,” she beamed, her overwhelming happiness sounding a little forced. I frowned. What kind of last name was Melanie? “I’m the precalculus teacher, and for some, your English teacher.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzYY4VAJRo
I looked down at my schedule. I swear I didn’t see a Ms. Melanie on there earlier, but I did now. I sighed. I just knew this was going to be the longest day ever. Math class first thing in the morning, already starving because I didn’t have breakfast, and now my eyes were so heavy that I was drifting in and out of consciousness. Not a fun place to be, especially in the front of the class where everyone can see you doze off like a moron. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEMxTgidSD
Suddenly, I was pulled out of my sleepy state by a loud crack, like a huge lightning strike. But when my eyes snapped to the window, it was perfectly sunny. Not a cloud to be seen. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ5vLEx0zp
I guess I’m just tired. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPCHXsAg8w
“Something interesting out there, Ms. Cooper?” I heard Ms. Melanie ask sharply. When I turned to look at her, she looked angry. More than your typical you-interrupted-my-dumb-math-lesson angry, like it was… personal. Wasn’t she just radiating with joy a few minutes ago?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZJkH3jpVm
“Um, no, sorry,” I mumbled, then frowned, “How do you know my name?”
She suddenly smiled again, “You were in my class before the break, Ms. Cooper. Don’t be silly!”
Maybe it was because I was tired, or maybe because of how casually she said it, but I believed her for a moment. But only for a moment. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQn6CKGMvq
“Wait, what? No I wasn’t,” I scoffed before I could stop myself, “This is my first day here.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmTC5v4lIh
I cursed myself silently as she stared daggers at me, a few students laughing confusedly. I thought for sure she would send me down to the office, but she didn’t. She just licked her lips, and continued on with the lesson like nothing happened. Weird.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgUiy8LVib
I was basically counting down the seconds until class was over, but when the bell finally rang, Ms Melanie called me over to her desk. I nodded, stifling my annoyed sigh. I guess I would be getting into trouble, after all. Her sudden switch between cold, glazed over eyes that stared at me like they could carve a hole in my head, and overwhelming sticky-sweet happiness was more than just odd, it was suspicious. Her strange sort of charisma that had all the students going along with her, but with an air of confusion, felt wrong. I just didn’t like her. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKygouhZtK
“I don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot, Bella,” she smiled artificially, a strange look in her yellowish green eyes, “And I’m sure you’re just as determined to stay out of trouble, right?”
How does she know that? I tried not to show my confusion on my face.
“Um, yeah, right,” I mumbled.
“I suggest,” she said slowly, “That you relax. No need to stress, I’m sure today will be just fine.”
“I-I guess so,” I nodded. I was running late this morning, and starting at a new school with a history like I have is more than a little stressful. I barely got any sleep last night, so maybe I’m just reading into things a little too hard. Besides, Ms. Melanie was giving me a second chance, which is not something that I get often. The least I can do is nod along to her words of encouragement. She smiled, and motioned for me to leave. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nFmRs0dWg
Maybe I do just need to calm down. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvZfEuaslG
I left the classroom, pulling out my schedule again.
wMetals, I thought, Sounds cool. At least it was an elective that was fun, and not something stupid like ballroom dancing. Maybe this new school wouldn’t be so bad, after all. As I made my way to the staircase, a few people that were sort of familiar waved at me. I waved back, trying to remember where I knew them from. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevLLBXbxjs
“Hey, Bella. How was your break in New Orleans?”
“Oh, it was pretty g-”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08y5A1TD9N
I stopped mid sentence. A boy’s voice called out to me, and when I looked up from my schedule, suddenly confused, it was a kid I didn’t know at all. Why was I just about to answer him?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQPQRKw494
“S-sorry,” I mumbled, frowning in confusion, “Who are you?”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8nc8pFJer
“Ha-ha, very funny, Bella,” he rolled his eyes at me, “Just tell me. How was Claudia?”
“What? How do you know her?”
“Whatever, Bella. See you in metals.”219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll9gjo0Ree
The boy and his friends walked away. I thought it was some sort of joke, but how did he know my name? Or that I was in New Orleans?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFikOPS7Nc
Shaking it off, I walked down the stairs to get to the metals shop class. More people waved to me, but slowly I realised that even though they were familiar, I couldn’t completely recognize a single one of them. I knew faces but no names, and some names without faces. I knew better than to assume they were former classmates at my old schools. Something was up.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJQac7Wm3R
“Oh, Bella!” A girl called, another person that had an aura of familiarity to them, “Do you have an answer yet?”
“...Answer for what?” I frowned.
“You know, from your mom.”
I froze, feeling my heart beat a little faster, “What do you mean?”
“I asked you if your mom had reached out to you yet. Did she?”
If my mom reached out to me?
My mouth was left open for a moment. Okay, this was getting too specific. What was happening?
“When did I tell you that?” I asked. Suddenly, I was alone in the stairwell. I could feel panic bubbling inside of me, but something was keeping it down. It was like my body was completely relaxed, but my mind was buzzing. I swore someone was here, talking to me…219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0nEqPjHgG
Just as I thought about texting Nico or Claudia, a piercing shriek rang through the hall, nearly making me drop my phone and trip over myself. Everyone looked around cautiously, the loud chatter shrinking to concerned whispers. No one moved, so I carefully walked to the end of the hall to see what was happening. I thought I was trying to walk fast, but it felt like I was in slow-motion, as if my legs were made of heavy copper. Why did I feel so stuck in my body like this?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS3cDu04AZ
As soon as I rounded the corner, the hall was completely empty. It didn’t make sense, because the hallway before was overrun with startled highschoolers. There were a few dented lockers and a classroom door swung wide open across from them, like something had come barreling through here. I looked into the classroom, which looked like a music room. Sheets of music and stands were scattered all over the place, as if an earthquake shook just this one room or something. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPibsJwWXS
Clearly, there was a struggle of some kind. The hall was covered in a bunch of black skid marks and strange, large gashes in the rubber floor, maybe claw marks. The door at the end of the hall was smashed open, glass from the window scattered around the wreck. Something big did this, something fast enough to escape that quickly. I felt something under my foot as I was examining the marks. As I looked down, I saw that it was a small, gold necklace with a star shaped flower pendant. I bent down to pick it up, and a warm liquid spread across my fingers. I looked down.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5m09SJmkz
Blood.
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTR0VwmgAi
