The Days After

Schoolyard Angst

"Starting 8th grade today. I don't feel any different from last year, but everybody on this bus looks different. They got more pimples, cracking voices, and won't shut up about High School. Can we finish this year first? Jeez." thought Grace.

As soon as she came to the end of her thoughts, the mustard yellow bus pulled into her least favorite place in the world: High Sierra Middle School.

"Welcome back ya'll!" the bus driver started. "Y'all gon' in there and have a good day ya hear?"

The student's trickled off the bus with a fervor that only the first day back can provide. Friend groups immediately found each other, and some started sharing the new information they had gathered over the summer about 8th grade. Grace slowly exited the bus, took a deep breath, and started to put in her earphones.

"Grace!!"

The instant her name was called, she scanned the crowd until she found the source of the call.

"Lucas!!" Grace yelled back.

Grace began to run toward him, and as she got closer, there they were. Grace couldn't believe what she was seeing. She got to Lucas with a stunned look on her face and could only utter one word.

"How!?

Lucas chuckled. "Didn't you read my text?"
"I mean, yea but you said you all were moving"
"And we did...Right into your neighborhood!"
"Oh, My God. You're serious?
Lucas smiled confidently. "Yep"

Grace's jaw dropped as she looked at the smiling faces of Lucas, Danielle, Marie, Daryl, and Robin.

Danielle walked over and threw her arm around Grace.

"Well, I appreciate you gawking at us like that. It's so adorable, but you know we still have to go to class. Remember cuz' like. School," Danielle said, pointing to the school building.
Grace smiled. "I should be telling you that! 7th grader!"
"Well, you didn't because I beat you to it!"

Before Grace could respond, Danielle was already dragging her into the school building.

Marie shrugged her shoulders. "Dani's gonna run the entire school by second quarter."
"I say first quarter," said Robin.
"By the close of business today, she'll have all the keys to the building," said Daryl cooly.

They all snickered and walked on behind Grace and Danielle. As they all entered the building, Grace began to have this eerie feeling that she was being watched, but when she looked around, there was no one. So she went about her day until her last class.

Grace and Marie had the same class for last period, so they met up and walked to class together.

"You like any of your teachers?" asked Grace.
"Yea, just one," replied Marie.

Her cheeks turned into a deep red color, reminiscent of a rosebud. Grace jumped in front of her.

"Are you blushing?"
"What? Of course not. I-"
"What's the teacher's name, Marie!"
"No, it's not like that! Can we just get to class!"
"Fine, but I'll find out. One way or another"

Grace and Marie turned down the hallway where the class was, and two teachers were whispering among themselves. When one of the teachers looked up and saw them, one made a face, while the other continued whispering, and then the two split apart.

"Umm...What was that? Asked Marie.
"I don't know. All my teachers have been giving me weird looks today."
"Really?"
"Yea, adults, are strange creatures, but come on, let's finish this last period," Grace said, opening the classroom door.

When the pair walked in, the class was half full, but the teacher froze when she saw Grace.

"See," whispered Grace.

Marie nodded before they both took their seats. Throughout the entire class, the teacher's gaze would glide over to where Grace was sitting, making the hairs on Grace's neck stand up. It was as if her eyes were drawn to Grace, like a magnet to metal. The strange glances continued until there were 15 minutes left in the school day, and an announcement was made over the loudspeakers.

"Grace Stewart! Report to Principal Cardin's office. Grace Stewart, please report to Principal Cardin's office."

All eyes were on Grace, and she froze.

"Ms. Stewart, Here's your pass," said the teacher.

Grace got up and walked slowly to the teacher's desk.

"Do you know what this is about?" Grace asked.
"No, I'm afraid I don't," then she lowered her voice, "but it must be important."

Grace could feel the perspiration build under her arms, and her heartbeat quicken as she took the hall pass. As she walked toward the door, she looked back at Marie, who had anxiety written all over her face. Grace sighed and slipped out of the classroom.

As she walked down the hallway, Grace saw a few teachers watching her walk to the office with blank expressions. She was more than nervous at this point, so when she finally made it to the main office, she could barely put together words, but she didn't have to.

"Good Afternoon, Ms. Stewart. Principal Cardin is in his office. Go ahead back," the receptionist said with a chill in her voice.

Grace nodded and walked to Principal's door, which was already open.

"Come on in, Ms.Stewart, let's have a chat."