Maia

12

Word Count: 1591

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MAIA'S POV

A few days later

Today is the first day of school. The last time I went to school, I was living with both Mama and Papa, but those times were hazy. The whole idea of school scared me. Will I be able to make friends? I've longed for some since... well, forever.

Yesterday, Alessandro arrived home with my freshly pressed uniform neatly folded in his arms. As he handed it to me, he shared the news that I would be starting at my new school today. The overwhelming sense of nervousness and fear washed over me as I contemplated all that was to come.

As I got dressed, I put on a black pleated skirt that was a little too loose around my waist, but fortunately, I had a belt to keep it in place. The skirt was thick and came to just above my knees. Paired with the skirt, I wore a light grey shirt with small, barely noticeable thin straight lines going down. I received a black tie adorned with the school's logo at the bottom. Clutching the tie in my hand, I realized I didn't know how to tie it. The uniform also consisted of a matching blazer. Additionally, we were instructed to wear white socks that rose above the ankle, paired with black shoes. Alessandro mentioned that I was attending a prestigious private school where maintaining an impeccable appearance was essential, hence the uniform.

I picked up my bag, which was filled with the school supplies that Alessandro had brought for me. It was the same bag that I had brought with me. I threw it over my shoulder and nervously made my way downstairs to where Wiremu was waiting. He was standing at the bottom of the staircase, holding his phone. When he heard me approaching, he quickly looked up and greeted me with a warm smile.

As he smiled at me, I stood by his side. His gaze shifted to the tie I was holding, and he raised an eyebrow, asking, "Do you need some help?" Feeling a bit embarrassed, I nodded in response.

As his fingers wrapped around the delicate tie, he gently lifted it from my open palm and carefully placed it around my neck. Despite my instinct to flinch, I resisted the urge, knowing that he was only trying to help. I closed my eyes and nervously chewed on my inner cheek as I waited for the moment to pass.

After completing his task, he took a step back, flashed a smile at me, and then asked, "Are you ready to go?" I nodded and followed him to the garage, where he selected one of the many cars to drive.

As I settled into the passenger seat, I carefully placed the backpack by my legs. Wiremu selected a song and revved up the engine. Looking out the window, I watched as we drove away from the familiar surroundings of the house. Feeling my nerves creeping in, I unconsciously intertwined my fingers on my lap and found myself chewing on the inside of my cheek. With each passing mile, the distance from the house seemed to amplify my unease.

As I chew on my cheek, I can't help but notice the familiar metallic taste that accompanies the action. My teeth dug into my flesh painfully. As I sat there, my knees involuntarily bobbed up and down with nervous energy as I gazed at the colossal building emerging in the distance. Its face bore the identical logo to the one embroidered on my uniform.

As Wiremu pulled into the bustling parking lot, he slowed down to navigate through the students emerging from various directions. After finding a spot, he turned to me with an excited expression. Returning his gaze, I noticed a broad smile lighting up his face.

As he spoke, I sensed that he had noticed my anxiety. "Hey Maia, don't worry about school. You'll love it, trust me. It was some of the best years of my life," he said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. Involuntarily, I flinched, causing him to quickly retract his hand while maintaining a reassuring smile. I responded with a simple nod.

I glance upwards, trying to locate the main office. Carefully stepping to the side to avoid colliding with anyone, I continue walking until I finally spot the sign. A rush of relief floods over me as I make my way inside. However, as I open the door, I accidentally crash into someone and stumble to the ground.

As I let out a hiss due to the pain coursing through my body, I looked up and noticed a brooding student standing above me. He gazes down at me with a curious expression before shrugging me off and walking away, allowing the door to slam shut behind him.

As a shiver runs down my spine, I slowly stand up, the sound of a laugh echoing from behind. Intentionally choosing not to glance back, I carefully push open the office door and step inside. A wave of embarrassment and fear washes over me as I enter.

As I approached the desk, I noticed an elderly lady squinting at the computer screen. When she looked up and saw me, a warm smile spread across her face. "Oh, hello, dear. How can I help you?" she greeted me kindly.

I felt quite nervous as I fidgeted with my tie and timidly mentioned, "It's my first day and I was told to pick up my timetable from here."

After nodding in understanding, she reached for the folder placed next to her computer. Opening it, she inquired, "May I have your name, please?"

"Maia," I replied. She hummed thoughtfully while flipping through a series of papers. "Ah, here we go," she said, as she retrieved several sheets stapled together and handed them over to me."Beneath the timetable, you'll find a map showing the locations of your classes. You should allow yourself 5 minutes to travel to and from each class."

After checking her watch, she said, "You have just two minutes to get to your next class, dear. I suggest leaving now, as some teachers may not take kindly to students being late."

As I left the room, I noticed that the hallway was quite empty. I checked my schedule and saw that my first class was homeroom. Confused about what homeroom meant, I turned to the next page to look at the map. It became clear that my homeroom was located on the other side of the building. Frustrated, I cursed under my breath, realizing that I would be late. The last thing I wanted was to get in trouble on my very first day of school, and the thought of it alone sent a shiver down my spine.

As I quickened my pace, I carefully followed the maps given instructions, desperately hoping that I was heading in the correct direction. There was a burning sensation in my lower legs and a small sense of tiredness hit me. Upon reaching the door, I realized I was already late. Mentally preparing myself to open the door, I found myself freezing up at the mere thought of it. The impending sense of panic was so overwhelming that I feared of having a panic attack before even stepping inside.

I attempted to soothe my nerves by inhaling deeply, closing my eyes tightly, and concentrating on counting to ten in an effort to regain my composure.

One.

Two.

Three.

As I was about to count to four, a voice suddenly spoke from behind, catching me off guard. I jumped and swiftly turned around to see who it was. It was the same guy I had bumped into earlier. With a mocking tone, he said, "You know, it's really simple. You just put your hand on the doorknob and twist." His condescending gaze made me feel belittled, as if he thought I was incapable or foolish. Despite feeling increasingly nervous, I remained silent.

As my lower lip trembles, I take a step back, feeling my heart race with increasing speed as he moves closer to me. I gaze up at his imposing figure with a sense of dread. With a smirk, he grasps the doorknob, turning it slowly, as if emphasizing his control, before finally opening the door.

The teacher, sounding annoyed, said, "Nice of you to join us, Nikolia. And you are?" I slowly turned around, extremely aware of his looming presence behind me.As I scanned the room, I noticed all the students staring at me. Taking a small step back, I could feel Nikolia's chest. The mere contact made me shiver. He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against my skin, his lips almost touching my ear as he whispered, "Wrong way, sweetheart."

The teacher appeared increasingly agitated when I failed to respond, so I hurriedly whispered "Maia." It seemed she didn't hear me, as she asked, "Do I need to repeat myself?" I promptly shook my head and spoke my name louder."Ah, the new student. I can see you've already settled in. Such behavior is not tolerated at this school; we expect more from our students," she said, shooting me a disapproving look. "Please take a seat over there," she gestured towards a seat at the front. I slowly made my way over and dropped my bag. As I glanced over, I noticed Nikolia heading towards the back. I quickly turned around to avoid meeting his gaze and focused on the teacher as the lesson began.