Redwood High

Chapter 2:

School dragged on. The worst part about coming to a new school is seeing all the brand new faces. The new teachers, the new faculty, and the new students. I always expected my high school experience to be extraordinary and out of this world. Making new friends, being on the student council, striving for AP classes. Joining clubs and doing really fun projects with all the new friends I made. Never did I expect to be a newly orphaned teenage girl whose parents were murdered and had to move across the country to live with an aunt she never knew existed.

I finally made it to my 7th period, which was my program class. I gathered that at this school, your program matters. Your classes are based off your program. I will spend the next four years with the same people in my marketing program. When I first “applied” I was only given four choices: Cosmetology, Automotive, Medical, and Marketing. Out of all the four, Marketing seemed like the best bet.

The freshman Marketing teacher was Mr. Flores. He seemed young, maybe in his late twenties. He had dark hair that matched his dark eyes.

“Welcome students to your first year in Entertainment Marketing and Hospitality. The next four years will teach you how to think on a whim, work in groups, and be able to sell a damn good product. Now, since this is the first day, I want to welcome you. You will mingle with your classmates because for the next couple years? They are your new best friends.  You will see them a lot.

“I gathered some Sophomore’s that have Marketing this period with Ms. Kathy. She is the Sophomore Marketing teacher who you will have next year. First, acquaintance yourselves among each other.”

I sighed and looked around. There were six tables and in each table sat three to four students. In my table sat two girls and one guy. One girl had blonde hair and brown eyes. The other girl had copper hair with brown eyes as well. The boy had short black hair with dark brown eyes.

The blonde girl spoke first. “My name is Carol Shaw. I know all about the Marketing program and how it works because my brother attended last year. I know that our first project we will be getting very soon and will be about us marketing our own product.”

Oh my god. She wouldn’t stop talking.

The other girl spoke up. “I’m Riley. Riley Shaw. I’m related to her.”

“We’re fraternal twins. I got my mom’s beautiful gold locks, and she got the other genes,” quipped Carol.

“Oh, well, my name is Grace Arias. I moved here from Michigan a couple months ago-“

“Why did you move here from Michigan?” Interrupted Carol.

I hesitated. They all saw it.

“Carol she doesn’t have to share everything,” said the boy.

“Ethan, she’s talking. Let her speak,” said Carol.

I looked back and forth between them.

“She obviously doesn’t want to talk about it,” Ethan said again.

“Oh, like how you don’t want to talk about you breaking up with me in the beginning of the summer? Through a phone call. With no reason whatsoever?”

“Carol, I-“

“Your done talking. It’s Grace who is speaking. Zip it.” She turned back to me. “I’m sorry for my rude… acquaintance. You were saying?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I moved here because I wanted change. I live with my aunt.”

She smiled. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” The last part wasn’t directed to me. In fact, that whole sentence wasn’t directed towards me. She was looking at Ethan the whole time.

“As much as I love to see your booming teen angst drama, and trust me, I do. When you pushed Ethan into the lake? Pristine moment in your relationship. But I do believe it’s Ethan’s turn to talk.” Riley stared daggers at her sister.

As dysfunctional as they were, I liked this group of people. They had chemistry, no matter how bad it was.

“Okay well I’m Ethan-“

“Who is a dirty lying man-whore. You think I didn’t find out why you broke up with me? You broke up with me for Karen Ledvoski. KAREN.”

“Hey, I knew a Karen,” I mumbled quietly.

“She is actually nice. And shared her National Junior Honor Society gummy bears.”

Carol gasped. Before she could actually say anything, Mr. Flores interrupted.

“Alright, fifteen minutes passed. I hope you learned quite a bit from your table mates and actually liked them because these are your permanent seats.”

Riley groaned, Ethan sighed, and Carol? Carol took out a banana from her backpack and began eating. We all stared at her.

“Since we’ll be sitting with each other a while, you should know I eat after a big group discussion.”

“But you don’t share,” mumbled Ethan.

“I heard that!”

“Okay class. I have the sophomores ready for you. Come in guys!”

About seven sophomores entered the class. The one I noticed?

My PE savior. And he saw me too.

He winked at me and stared back at Mr. Flores who apparently was saying something.

“Ooh girl. That’s Mr. Chiseled Jaw. Grade-A man whore. Stay away,” Riley said to me.

I looked at her. ”Oh my God, did he cheat on you?” I asked.

She laughed. “Me? No way, not into penis. Unless it’s Sunday. Or served medium rare.”

I looked back at Mr. Flores. "One sophomore, and for one table there will be two, will come to your table and talk to you about their experiences in the Marketing program their freshmen year."

I watched as Mr. Chiseled Jaw walked straight towards our dysfunctional table.