Today I got out of bed and got ready for my new school. My parents tried to get me excited for my first day at the Medford High School. It wasn't like that was ever going to happen. Before moving to Medford Wisconsin, I lived in Newport California. Considering how many friends I had there (not very many), I wasn't super upset about moving. That still didn't mean that I was going to be excited for this school. I had to meet new people, put up with the new-kid-at-school stuff (I hoped to god that there wasn't going to be any), and get used to seeing the different landscape every day.
I guess the landscape was interesting, even kind of picturesque sometimes, but it was nothing compared to living on a beach and seeing the sun touching the horizon; the tide rolling in onto your tanned feet. Picking up starfish every once in a while; and then throwing it back into the ocean. I will always miss the beach there more than any of my old friends.
✺
Today on the bus, it wasn't too bad, but it wasn't enjoyable either. I sat in the front because that's where the quiet kids usually sat. I'm not that quiet once you get to know me. I'm actually very talkative, almost too talkative for most people.
Two kids kept taking brisk glances at me. I wondered why when I realized how tan I was compared to the rest of them.
All of the kids' fashion was different than mine, too. I felt like the black sheep on the bus. I've always been the black sheep of my family too. I have blue eyes and blonde hair going down to my elbows. My hair is wavy and completely different than Mom's, Dad's, and Sydney's. All of them have brown hair; Dad's being wavy and the girls' straight. Sydney looks like a spitting image of Mom.
When I got off the bus, I took out my schedule and asked where Mrs. Johnston's room was. I followed my finger down the schedule to see how many classes I had with her. Two. Once during Chemistry and once during homeroom. I put my stuff in my locker and headed inside.
Since it was the first day of school, we did the whole introducing-all-of-your-life/summer agendas and hobbies to the whole class. This had to be the most annoying and anticipated routine that teachers did to get a nice introduction of each student. I hated it. I got my turn and started off with my name.
"My name is AlishaAleesha. I swim, play tennis, and paint. Over the summer I packed up my house and moved here from Newport, California.", I announced nonchalantly.
After everyone had finished, the bell announced the time for our next classes. People streamed out of the room and out into the the hallway.
✺
After my 5th hour class, it was lunchtime. I looked up from my locker, meeting the gaze of what had to be the geekiest kid I had ever seen.
Shutting my locker, I walked on, trying to avoid talking to anyone so I could get to lunch. So much for that. The kid walked up to me and extended a hand in my direction.
"Hey, I saw you earlier in French." he said.
He looked at me expectantly.
"Hi....and you are?" I asked impatiently. My hunger was beginning to win me over in the conversation. He didn't seem bothered.
"My name's Max. I have third period French with you in Miss Dumont's class. I noticed that you look foreign to Wisconsin. Judging by your extremely tan skin, of course.... I mean, not that it's noticeable." He shrugged it off like it was no big deal. After all, my tan was wearing away since I had been unpacking in Wisconsin for a month.
"Yeah", I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm originally from California. I grew up in Newport." I sighed. I really wasn't in the mood for socializing.
He looked at me with a hint of jealousy in his eyes. "Why'd you move up here then? I'd rather be in California, no questions asked."
"It's not like I could choose. By the way, my name's Aleesha. I have to go to lunch now. It was nice meeting you." I waved and left. I really needed some new allies since I was the new kid here, and he seemed like he would have qualified as my acquaintance.
✺
I walked down the aisle created by crowds of tables, ready to eat half a cow by now. I didn't care that the food on my tray had wilted and mushy strawberries, a bland turkey sandwich, and saggy green beans on it. I was starving.
I turned the corner, and without looking, managed to splatter mess of food (it kind of looked like it was a painting from Jackson Pollock) all over the front of a guy's shirt. Crap. Not only had I just embarrassed myself to a mortified state, but I managed to waste all of my food because of my clumsiness. Double crap. He wasn't only a guy, but a popular-looking guy. He had brown hair that was loose, and warm brown eyes. Almost like a caramel shade of brown.
"S-sorry," I mumbled. "I'm usually not so clumsy." God I sounded stupid! I kept my head down low, afraid that my face was turning a shade of scarlet or crimson.
When we got it all picked up, I apologized again.
His brown eyes looked up at me. "Hey, would you like me buy you another lunch?" he asked.
"No. It's fine. I wasn't hungry in the first place", I lied. "Thanks though."
"Well okay. See you later then." he said, sitting back down at his table to eat with a group of jocks.
Finding Max alone at the table in the back of the cafeteria, I decided to sit next to him.
"Hey. I saw you drop your lunch earlier. That really sucks. Here, take half of my sandwich." He took a half of his sandwich and handed it over to me. A turkey sandwich.
I mumbled thanks as I scarfed the whole thing into my mouth. It was just as I suspected. Bland. Turkey on whole-wheat bread.
✺
When school finished, I walked out of the front doors and a couple of girls strode up to me. They wore sequined tank tops with short-shorts. I sensed a large red beeping alarm going off in my head on my stupidity radar.
"Nice move at lunch today. Cain wasn't too happy with that." she sneered. The clique giggled in sync with hers.
"Cain?"
"Yeah. Cain. The boy you crashed into at lunchtime? Duh." If it was even possible, she giggled louder. "He's on the football team and he's dating me." She said it like she had won a prize.
"Cool. Maybe you should swallow your makeup so you're pretty on the inside. I think he'd like you better that way." And with that, I turned around, only taking a quick glance back to see her face having a battle between furiousness and disbelief. Well, I thought sarcastically, there goes option B for acquaintances.
"Nice job. No one ever stands up to Audia and her group." Max exclaimed as we made our way onto the bus.
