Love, Lies and Mistaken Sexual Orientation

Chapter One

I stare at the not yet familiar walls of my new room and try to muster up the energy to stand up. I have realised that no matter how old you are, starting school is never easy. Letting go of your old life, growing accustomed to new rooms, teachers and students makes it that way. I would go as far as to say that starting fresh is harder the closer you are to graduating.

Starting high school with your friends is one thing, ending high school with none is another.

Scrawling my name on the inside of my bag, something my mother always insisted I do in the rare case that I misplace it, stirs something within me. Lara Anderson. A pretty plain name, but I am happy with it none the less. I, despite my 'plain' name, like to believe I am not a plain person. Maybe on the exterior, but inside I'm pretty wild. Everyone at my old school knew the real me. The loud, funny girl who wasn't scared to try anything. Except moving to a new school. Too bad no one here is ever going to meet me.

"Lara, get your ass here now!" calls my older cousin, Corrie. I roll my eyes. I was planning to stay home on my first day of school 'sick', but knowing my stubborn-but-lovable cousin, that isn't going to happen. I run down the stairs, skipping two at a time. Corrie eyes me wearily, "Is that what you're wearing?"

"Yeah, why?" I ask, looking down. Nothing out of the ordinary; dark grey skinny jeans, a viridian green hoodie and a pair of converse.

"Your outfit is so..." she searches for a word, "Tomboyish.”

“I’m not trying to impress anyone," I reply, shrugging.

Corrie rolls her eyes and shrugs, "First impressions are important."

"As I said, I don’t care what anyone here thinks about me," I retort. Corrie flips her ringlets of dark hair over her shoulder and glances at the clock.

"You better go. Don't want to miss your first day!" She says, shoving me out the door and waves. I walk slowly towards the school. If there's anything worse than going to a new school, it is going to a new school in your second last year- a month after it started. If I was in my last year of school I might manage, I wouldn't have to see these people again after I graduate. But no, I had to come here during grade eleven.

Reaching the large brick office building, I gain stares from a few people. I realise I better get used to the looks. I eye a guy leaning against the door, chatting up some girl and I try to pass them awkwardly. After failing to squish past them without disturbing their conversation, they split, allowing me to pass through. I try not to shiver from the close proximity with this rather good looking boy and he winks, a stupid smirk on his face. I roll my eyes in response and ignore his surprised expression.

I then approach the sour faced woman sitting at the front desk and wait. And wait...

"Excuse me," I finally say. She peers up at me from behind her thick framed glasses, coldly.

"Yes?" she asks.

"Uhh… I’m new,”

She gives me a look and sighs, "Name?"