Clockwork Daisy

Chapter 7

Ellie

Chapter 7

It was a rarity: I was actually paying attention on the first day of school. Prior to St. Wisteria, the first day of school had basically been an extension of summer, only stuck in a three story building. A day to converse with friends you hadn't seen since June, a day to brag about your dark summer tan, and a day to hear what a teacher said, but let it pass right through your head. Being the new kid wasn't so simple. I was like a newborn baby blinded by harsh hospital lights; I knew nothing. 

Every time a teacher scribbled their name on a sparkling white board, I write it down in felt tip on a blank page in my planner. I highlighted the location of each of my classes on my already crinkled school map. I clearly labeled all of my notebooks to avoid confusion, I introduced myself to each of the janitors in case I got locked out of the school and needed assistance. I hated that I was such a worry wart, but it comforted me to know I had something to fall back on. 

It wasn't even lunch time and I was exhausted. My life was like a car commercial; too much new merchandise being thrown at my face in head ache inducing explosive colors. By fourth period Geometry my forehead was pounding. I could barely concentrate on the sixth grade level equation glaring from my desktop. I was thankful that I sat in the back of the classroom. I was also thankful that very few people had bombarded me with questions in that class. I figured that, as the day wore on, people were getting the answers they wanted. Maybe even from other people. 

I still hadn't plopped an answer on my worksheet by the time the lunch bell rang. I folded the crisp white paper and shoved it into my bag, crossing my fingers it wasn't homework, because I certainly wasn't going to do it. I realized I hadn't thought about who I'd sit with during lunch once I reached the hallway. I'd gotten plenty of offers in every class, but I hadn't taken any of them into consideration. Truthfully, I'd forgotten who had proposed it to me at all. I bit my manicured nails out of nervousness as I was swallowed into an ocean of faces. 

"Found you!" Beth materialized next to me, primping her lustrous hair. 

"Thank God!" I exclaimed. "I was worried I'd be spending lunch with a bathroom stall."

Confusion crossed over Beth's flawless face. "Uh," She lowered her voice. "You don't...make yourself throw up, do you?"

I felt my eyebrows shoot up in shock. "No, no, no! I meant that I'd be eating alone...in the bathroom. You've never seen nerds do that in teen movies before?"

Beth placed a hand on her chest in relief. "I guess not. Then again, I haven't been to the movies in awhile."

"We'll have to go sometime then." I said.

"Totally!" Beth seemed thrilled by the idea. "Say the word and I'll check the listings."

"I'll hold you to that." I was pleased to have plans with a new friend. It made me feel like a lot less of an outsider. 

Once we reached the cafeteria, Beth grabbed my wrist and played tour guide through the lunch line. She told me the foods to avoid and the ones to gobble up like Thanksgiving dinner. Ten minutes later, our trays filled, she took me to a large circular table in the corner, overflowing with classmates. Beth went around introducing me to everyone. Some names I recognized from earlier in my day, but it didn't matter because I knew I'd forget them all anyway. 

As I munched on my bag of chips, I mentally gave Beth credit for sitting at such a diverse table. Sure there was a breed of steroid pumping jocks and orange skinned cheer leaders, but I also noticed two girls with thick rimmed hipster glasses, a scrawny boy buried in a banned novel, two boys discussing an upcoming Renaissance fair, and a girl who fiddled with her braids whilst talking about her sheep, which she showed in 4H.