173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlZN1fCgvH
AP Biology was an interesting fifteen minutes. Maybe it’s because my mom is my mom but I think I understand more of why she didn’t want me to go here. Is there a third floor or does B mean basement?
Suddenly my schedule was taken out of my hands with a, “Whow wait.” from my new, obligation-made, friend Jerome.
“Why are you following me?” I asked.
His voice refreshed me like a hot cup of coffee, “You’re new and you're lost.”
Somewhere along the walk, he must have wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He’s a bit touchy but in a comforting way and he’s six-two armed with black pearl eyes. He kinda looks like Miguel the singer and a boy band scientifically generated a baby. He smells like an inviting campfire.
“Oh looks like Jerome’s got sites on a new girl. Is she a freshman?” Someone mocked.
A short frail-looking brunette glanced over at me from across the hall. Its either this guy must be a big deal or somehow mean girls are real? That is the pinkest get-up I’ve seen since the girl's toy section at Target. It's only a Monday.
Our eyes met, “Someone should tell her about the —…or she’ll be—."
And that was all I could hear from them. Finally, he floated off after walking me to class.
Mrs. Beckett looked like the coolest teacher in school. Massive red and gray afro out and frizzy. Tied back with a scarf. Giving off Ms. Frizzle vibes.
"Oh, you're the new face. Can you stand right here for a minute?" She asked nobly.
What could she want to say to me before class? I got the cardigan on at least. Standing behind her I realized that I might be above average height. Perhaps she might be four foot-something at least. Standing awkwardly standing off to the side, I was told to stay on and watch every student get into class. Some people were excited to be here. This might be a cool class in actuality. That is unless she has it out for me. The girl in the pink pastel poncho came rushing in before the bell. For a moment she peered into my line of sight. There is one appeal to a consistent monochrome.
She announced over the band of scuttling, "Alright students, Malory is in charge until I'm done."
She waved me over to be out of view from the other students as she closed the door. This is surprisingly respectful for an old lady.
"It is only the first day and you're already reshaping the world. I have to say you are an interesting young lady. Keep in mind, the way I run my classroom, I would appreciate it if you would write down any questions until the end of class. My classroom is a safe space for a whole lot of topics. You have the option to have a public discussion or one on one at the end of class and during lunch. I also run the school’s after-school study hall. Don’t knock an old girl, I have taught every subject in this town for years." She smiled warmly.
Is this the saint amongst saints? An elder worthy of learning from? There's a seat right in front of a window at the far end of the classroom. Oh sweet sweet sunlight may your warmth comfort me.
She went on as routine, "Alrighty then, Ms. Potner, do you have a roll call all finished up? Everyone, this is Feyisha … do you have a shorter name?"
"It’s Fye," I replied as I sat down.
"Well, now I’m done." Ms. Potner chimed.
Ms. Potner is the teacher's assistant, she sat behind the bulky wooden desk. Goth must be making a comeback because this woman looked like a funeral director playing it casually. I got to sit behind the girl in pink, sandwiched between the window and her. She even smelled like strawberry shortcakes. Is she really a senior?
"Here are your syllabi, pass them down. New year, same politics. We are going to start with political alignments." The teacher trailed off.
A note was passed down with my syllabus.
'Hey I know you don't know me but my name is Valeria and I just wanted to say welcome to Madison High. It’s a madhouse. If you want to know how this place is really run. I'm your girl.'
Now the school is getting interesting? It's time to reinvent myself. The Coven was much too awkward and clumsy but that's the family I've grown up with. They're allowed to see all of the fuck ups. Now who do I want to be in the real world? Who am I in relation to everyone else?
Her rattly old voice boomed over the class, "Where you place yourself doesn't matter, what matters are your beliefs and how they are reinforced through action. That is how we all determine what political alignment each individual has. But that does not mean all beliefs are concrete so repeat after me. You live you learn you grow."
Just then a hand shot up from the back. She told me the rules. I guess that hasn't reached everyone.
"Write it down to ask later Mr. Edwards." She replied.
Finally, orchestra, third period and that’s when I’m able to go to lunch. The large lunchroom couldn't hold the spillover of students. It's like a playground out here. I turned to make my way back up the stairs. Hopefully, I won't have to scarf down my auntie's well-prepared lunch box like a wild animal. Now I see why all the kids who brought their lunches stayed in practice rooms. I’m not eating in this mess.
Just then a guy called out to me, a familiar voice. “Hey, Feyisha was it?”
Why are my deepest weaknesses revealed by people I've never met before now? The smile with the dimples himself. My focus was on his dreads pulled back, Not on his words. Say something, Fye, he'll catch on that you think he's divine.
"Oh yeah, I was just checking out the cafeteria food-"
"Are you going to sit with us?" He charmingly smiled.
Stunned. Invisible eyes watched me. Is it the combination that made it so I can't refuse or is it his laid-back attitude nonchalantly taking care of me?
"I don't know, it's really loud in here." I cautioned.
His eyebrow raised a bit before responding with, "Nah don't worry about it, we got a table in front of the desert line."
He guided me to the small band of eight at one of the illustrious round tables. Most of them weren't eating but luckily I wasn't the only girl there. A girl from the second period was munching up a cafeteria burger and making light conversation.
"Look who decided to join us. You weren't kidding Jerome, she's hard to miss." Another cheered.
All attention was then placed on me. I don't like this attention but Jerome got me a seat next to his. Have I been claimed? I think I like this newer interaction with more people. I'll look like an asshole flirting with anyone else. How can I justify not being a cool friend now? I'm the popular new face after all.
I leaned over and whispered into Jerome’s ear, "Thank you for inviting me. I really appreciate this."
It felt like the coven. They must have been a tight-knit all throughout the public school life. If I had gone here earlier I don't think I'd be so buddy buddy with a group as attractive as this. He leaned into me and opened the bento box Aunt Min packed. It's laced with a Lots of Lucky Spell. This is really meant to boost confidence in the rest of my classes, not only to be a hearty meal.
"What in the world is that?" Jerome exclaimed.
I sat there a bit confused but ultimately disappointed.
A click of the tongue."My lunch."
"What exactly is your lunch, I mean the rice and stuff look good but, what is that? Why does it look like that?" He mocked coyly.
I huffed, "Kimchi, miso soup, rice and salted herring, a salad, and I think an oatmeal chocolate recess thing?"
Everyone turned their attention back on me but for some other reason entirely, the girls side eyed me as if I stepped out of line.
"So what's in this?" One of the guys teased me.
I took a fork to it, holding it out to him. "Taste it and find out."
Disgusted silence.
Jerome started, "If you can't list all the ingredients it's probably unhealthy for"
With a mouthful of kimchi maybe he'll leave me alone? If it's a group of people willingly being ignorant because it sounds cool l, they're no longer that cool to me. I continued to drink my soup and eat my food till my cup slipped out of my hands and again into his.
"Can I have some of this too? This is really good. A little spicy though." He said as he comically rubbed his neck.
Jerome Henderson is pretty cute. I want to keep my guard up but something about a man maintaining composure even after I shoved foreign food in his mouth. Does being the principal's son make him hotter? There's a bit of curiosity I had to admit. I was aiming for a full freak out plus immediate disownment but why was it that when this man stole my food, to get a little more, getting to my-
"Well, I guess you already know Jerome. I'm Rachel." She finally spoke up.
"H-hi name's Fye. I'm new here." I managed to cough.
"Cool. What's your sign? I'm a Leo sun Scorpio moon."
More surprising interest, an astrology girl. I might have been a little impressed.
"Taurus sun, Gemini moon. You like astrology?"
Her eyes sparkled up like Christmas lights. She might be a cool addition to my friend's list. Maybe?
"Yeah, I'm kinda like one of the boys in this group. I throw all the biggest parties and I'm in the lacrosse team. Midfielder."
"Um cool, I don’t do a lot." I nodded along.
Is she…what do I think she is? But high school parties are on the bucket list so maybe knowing the right people is exactly what I need. I can butter her up for invites.
"Yo, so like what do you do, or are you like boring or something?" A guy hopped in.
The Star linebacker of this high school's football team. Light skin guy with a massive muscular build. He was too bulky to hide behind anyone. The whole time in class I was looking over his shoulders but now that I see him face to face it was clear that this is THE popular guy. And I just got an in with Jerome. This is the group of the kind of guy girls in middle school would have dreams about and I'd be one of them. No matter how flashy the flytrap looks. Parties Fye. The coolest high school experience I could ever have. Being impartial and divested from drama is key. That is what I’ll do.
He cleared his throat, "Hey was that like…a not cool question to ask?"
"Oh no, you're good. I mean I do a lot in actuality I just can’t pull an example out. I don't know, I just never had to think about what to wear until today. You kinda just put me on the spot you know. This is my first time in any public school so go easy on me."
"Wait, why? Never been dress-coded before?" Rachel grinned.
"Homeschooled. I wore pj's most of the time and well my mom did so because schools haven’t really been safe for a while."
Jerome became much closer than before. He took the liberty to rub his leg onto mine. "Oh is that why you're so prickly? Not socialized very well?"
Immediately I scooted my chair from his so that his thigh had enough room but now I'm looking at his massive glistening thighs.
"No, I'm well socialized with my-" I paused.
The last thing I want is to be the scary weirdo at school. Witches are like Carrie's levels of stay away from bringing up. I may be prom Queen if I stay in Switzerland.
"Community. Yeah, I garden with a retirement community and volunteer at summer camps. I'm actually a former Eagle Scout." I blurted out.
Everyone paused for a moment as if glass shattered. Why did I say all of that?
"Eagle scout?" The blonde guy next to me asked.
"Yeah no, boys scouts is what I heard." The guy sitting on him replied.
I pulled out my phone. "Um yeah, Eagle Scouts. My mom didn't believe in the boys-only, girls-only club things. Plus Eagles had wilderness survival classes and that's what I really wanted to do at the time."
Displaying my embarrassing "fourth-grade" camping trip. Everyone could clearly see my front teeth missing but the fish I fell in the creek for proudly displayed in my dorky little fists. Many badges to my accomplishments.
"Wow, you're really not like other girls aren't you?" Rachel chimed.
What did I do? There's like one other girl here too but she's too wrapped up in her boyfriend to care. Rachel seemed interesting with the neon streaks in her blonde curls but why are you so hostile?
"Want me to walk you back to class?" Jerome asked.
I turned to face his patronizing gaze, "Oh no I don't want to take too much of your time. You've done a lot to help me get around here easier and for that I'm thankful."
It was like a switch flipped behind his eyes. He hadn't had a meal in years, and finally, I had just so happened to walk into his line of sight. I couldn't feel the breath in my lungs. The distance needs to be widened drastically now before I end up developing anything more than a crush. Its only been one day. Everything was scarfed down within seconds of the bell ringing over the PA system. My feet went rushing up the stairs and into the orchestra room without a moment to catch my breath.
"Hey…you okay. You look kinda nervous to be here." A short, gentle kid gestured.
Wasn't that the kid from this morning?
I threw out my hand awkwardly, "Feyisha. I think I met you this morning, I didn't get to thank you earlier."
"Um, Charles? I just thought you needed help." He smiled back.
His warm demeanor was accompanied by freckles from cheek to cheek and brownie curly hair. Playing the clarinet left to my violin. We became fast acquaintances. Turns out he's a sophomore. His older sister was a senior but she moved back to Ireland after graduation. I’m so glad I got to meet someone like Charles. With all the heart racing today, the vibe with him is like talking to my bestie Yoshi. Wow, it’s been years since my old covenmates and I got together. I really do miss them.
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