Dissension of the Mind

Chapter Two: Things aren't always what they seem...

Chapter Two

Things aren’t always what they seem…

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“What is going on here?”

I could barely hear my mom as she started pacing back and forth.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the road in front of me. There was nothing there.

“I-I felt the bump…I saw the person run out in front of us…shouldn’t they be here?” I said with a shaky voice.

My mom shook her head.

“It had to be some kind of “trick of the eye” situation. No one would’ve been able to survive a bump that hard.

“B-But how could we have both seen the same thing?”

My mother sighs loudly.

“I have no idea. Guess we’ll have to forget about getting to school on time. It’s already quarter after 7.”

I sat back down in the car seat, leaving the door open to give myself some fresh air. My mom soon followed me inside the car, breathing heavily.

“I think what we need to do is just forget this whole situation happened. It might not be easy to do, but it would be the best thing to do.

I nod, still a little shaky from the whole experience. But, looking at the school makes me forget about the strange person and focus on a whole new kind of terror: Highschool.

I drive slower than the pace I was going before, not only because I don’t want another scare like that, but because I want to take as long as possible before going into this school.

I pull up to the entrance and give the large school a nervous look.

“Honey, don’t worry. I know this may seem like it’s going to be rough, but trust me. You have a great personality and I know you’ll make some friends!!! Now get in there before the gas runs out.”

I laugh, hugging my mom goodbye as I exit the car. A swarm of people push past me as I walk up the steps, and I have to hold on to the railing so I don’t fall down. As I walk into the school I notice a plaque on the wall:

“In honor of Lakewood Mental Institute for the Criminally Insane, est. 1780”

I stare at it for a few seconds before getting practically bulldozed through the door. I turn to see who pushed me and stand face to face with the meanest looking girl you could ever see.

“What are you looking at, freak?” she retorts before pushing past me once again.

“What are we here, 10 year olds?” I think to myself, shaking my head.

I slip through the crowd and search for a way to the principal’s office. I don’t have to take very long to see the huge sign pointing me to the office.

I casually open the door and walk inside, walk to the main desk, and ask what to do.

“Hi, My name is Alexandria Clark. I’m new to this school and was wondering if there’s anything special that needs to be done?”

The receptionist smiles, reaches under the desk, and pulls out a large file containing student profiles.

“You’re Miss. Alex correct?”

I nod.

“Well, it seems like your mother pretty much took care of everything! I’ll call Mr. Jack Lankston down, uh…he’s the student body president.”

I smile and sit back down on the plastic chair, feeling very jittery and nervous.

The receptionist hangs the phone up and motions me to stand up.

“Here’s a map of the school layout. It will give you the class names and numbers plus locker numbers as well. Oh, and here’s your hall pass. Be sure not to lose it. I suggest putting it in your wallet.”

“Thank you, I will definitely be sure to do that,” I say with a grin.

Suddenly the door swings open, and in the doorway stands a guy around my age wearing a very..ehem…preppy outfit.

“Are you Alexandria Clark?”

“You can call me Alex,” I say with a small smile.

He nods.

“Alright then. The first place I’m going to take you to is the cafeteria, then I’ll show you where all your classes are.”

He extends his hand to lead me through the doorway, and then he walks steadily through the crowd of people like a pro.

“So, where’d you move from?” he asks, his greyish eyes piercing into mine.

“Oh, I actually didn’t move, I just transferred here from homeschool.”

“Ah, ok. So is this your first time to brick and mortar school?”

I shake my head yes.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a new experience!” I say with a laugh.

He grins.

“I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it. Of course you will, I’m the one showing you around!”

I chuckle.

He guides me through a wave of people and then stops in front of a windowed room.

“This is the cafeteria. I think you know what we do here.”

I nod, and then guides me to all of my classrooms.

Once we come to Calculous, my last period class, he stops next to a locker.

“And this will be your locker!” he says with a radiant smile.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank God. This backpack was getting a little too heavy to carry.”

He watches as I put all of my books and supplies in my locker, and then a thought crosses my mind.

“Hey Jack, what is that plaque on the schools wall all about?”

His head shoots towards me, his eyes wide.

He quickly regains his composure and stuffs his hands in his pockets.

“Uh…that’s-that’s really nothing. It’s just some kind of remembrance plaque or whatever. Lots of schools have them.”

“Oh…” I say, with uncertainty in my voice.

“Hey listen, I gotta get to my 1st period. I think you’re in the same class as me. Wanna go?”

I reluctantly pull myself to go.

“Why in the world did he get so uptight when I mentioned that?” I asked myself.

Little did I know it would get a LOT stranger here on out.