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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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1iXqJWLSa
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hbbl0sfcK
Don’t fuck this up, Bella. You’re a normal high school student. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqle9Ll7yj
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoUT5GRhaO
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ypJr71yGZ
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYwk1YiSGJ
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73jIGT1OTj
“Excuse me,” she said politely, smiling a little awkwardly. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcamsxuo4mj
The slow secretary turned to her, again looking confused. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxkKgodn8z
“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.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JfqFJx7Vh
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM545A6Hd9Y
God, can this guy go any slower?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrPfwGsr7b
“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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXTymBh1Fs
“You’re both in homeroom 307,” the secretary finally said, closing the filing cabinet, “Here are your schedules.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYpgag3AVd
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCrhsHFKzL
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.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwSAEyl22K
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjg1if6513
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ECG2FR4em
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s1ab61dV5
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6TbTEhpR4
“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?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8swjZgsqnp
“Um, I like your pants,” Acacia smiled, again bringing me back down to earth. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs9Xo9Z4JI
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5Cp0KmgRc
Gross, Bella. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP0IAvLKIm
“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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gD0k8FKgY
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoeJvmC0iC
“Good morning, class,” the teacher beamed, “I hope you all had a wonderful spring break.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFo8kP7hr7
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56mv2VTglK
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOFZCK4P0I
“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.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvqwaTGW44
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG42ZAEDJK
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9DIL05bi1
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZBnM6DENZ
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVa6UBcott
“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.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIDhYA6Asz
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiphU4ZQ41s
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAGYnln0vv
I guess I’m just tired. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQYIbt6PL8
“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?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhFG0uijmz
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprPTVoP1OJ
“Wait, what? No I wasn’t,” I scoffed before I could stop myself, “This is my first day here.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a7lJu2Fno
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR2gYDSq1A
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPnlcrL46T
“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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ghdLRtxi
Maybe I do just need to calm down. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRmKPSKyOG
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfipnH2Zuz
“Hey, Bella. How was your break in New Orleans?”
“Oh, it was pretty g-”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZJdqxwSjA
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?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lpelpxuzY
“S-sorry,” I mumbled, frowning in confusion, “Who are you?”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwTepmRvNX
“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.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkTtBW3NAl
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?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVKCxsOK8f
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjQxMa8jPa
“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…256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQgpm4Apmu
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?256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7cjT7sN76
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. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA710DY3m1T
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.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcrQ1Up11o
Blood.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLhQqp48jh
