the one

Chapter 3: Welcome

It was Nina's first day of school. She was super excited but nervous at the same time. She was already told that she'll have a guide today to help her around. She was sitting in her room putting her shoes on when she heard her mom yell up to her.

"NINA! YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE!"

She quickly jumps up and runs downstairs, holding her backpack.

"I'm here. I'm here.", she says looking at her moms. They took some 'first day of school' pictures and then Nina got on her way to school. She didn't have to walk far; it was only about 10 minutes down the road.

After some time, she arrived. She stood in front of the school just staring at it. She couldn't believe she was actually going to East High. She took a deep breath in and then made her way through the doors. As she walked in, her ears filled with chatter and noise. There were kids everywhere, talking to their friends, standing at their lockers, some of them were staring at her too. She made her way to the principal's office.

"Principal Gutierrez?", she said.

"Oh Nina! Come in, come in!", he greeted. Nina took a seat in front of his desk.

"Welcome to East High! Like I told you, you will have a guide...I don't know where he is but he sho- ", he got interrupted.

"I'm here.", a boy said, groaned.

Nina turned around and then froze, staring at him. The boy stood there too, staring at her.

"I take it you both have already met...?", the principal asked.

Nina broke the stare and looked back at the principal who was staring at the two.

"Well...anyways." He started again, "This is Richard Bowen. He will be your guide. I will let him show you to your locker."

Nina smiled at him and then got up. The boy following. They silently walked to where her locker was.

"Richard huh?" Nina said.

"Ooh...yeah...you can call me Ricky..." He said back.

Both were thinking the same thing...this isn't the first time they've met.

"I'm Nina...", she said as she put her hand out to shake it. Ricky ignoring it.

"Anyways uh...this is your locker. And...your first class is right there.", he said pointing down the hall.

"Okay...thanks.", she smiled as she watched him walk off with his buddies.

Nina sat there getting stuff put away in her locker when a group of four walked up to her.

"Already got you under his spell huh?", a girl said.

Nina looked over confused, "I'm sorry, wha-"

"Gina.", the girl said, reaching out to shake her hand, "I'm Gina. And these are my friends Carlos, Seb, and Ashlyn. I'm assuming your new?"

"I'm Nina...and uh...yeah I'm new." She still had the puzzled look on her face.

"You're guide. That's Ricky Bowen.", Ashlyn said.

"He's the most popular kid in school and he is such a jerk.", Carlos finishes.

Nina's eyes widen, "Oh? Why's that?"

"He's always playing with girls' feelings. Trust me. He's done it to me...before I got with his friend EJ.", Gina explained.

"If I were you...I'd stay far away from him.", Seb said.

"You can be friends with us." Gina smiled.