How could you...?

IV:

After some time, I finally stagger my way through the school, ignoring the stares and consistent mutters from other students as if the place had never had a new girl start there. The school, having been opened since 1892, clearly hadn't been decorated since and had a musty smell to it, along with the smell of gym and bad body odour, with some perfume furling the air to go with it.

I ask around for the office and finally I'm pointed the right way after the rest just walk straight past me

A school full of snobby kids, not a good start!

I push the door open to a warm and bland place, full of a mixture of old and younger woman, typing away on computers in their own little desks, some even answering the phone. I head to an older woman with geeky glasses and a mole on her face.

"Hello, I'm new to the school, I'm m Cheryl Grayson I was wondering if-"

"I don't care"

The old woman's deep voice interrupts me and her eyes find mine, flaring at me.

"But I need my schedule and locker combo?"

I question her. She tuts and removes her glasses.

"Then go over there and ask for that stuff, I'm a busy lady"

She spits at me. My eyes widen but no one can be as rude as her so I just walk away and head over to a younger woman with a clear warm smile and light brunette hair.

"Good morning, how can I help you?"

She beams at me. I was relived at her sweetness.

"Oh hello, I was told to come over here and get my schedule and locker combo?"

I ask. Her light up and she opens a drawer.

"Of course, you're Cheryl Grayson and you've just moved here from Chicago, correct?"

She says, getting a file from the drawer and some paper and hands it to me.

"Er-yeah, how did you know? Does this town not get a lot of newbies here?"

I ask, grabbing the papers and shoving them into my bag. She chuckles kindly.

"Not really, plus everyone knows your mom and dad, they were royalty at this school. I was actually a freshmen when they were seniors so I worshipped the ground they walked on"

I smile kindly while she chats some more about mom and dad.

"Oh, and I wanted to send my condolences to you and your family"

I raise my eyebrows and hum in confusion.

"Oh, your older brother...George? The principal told the staff at a meeting a couple of days ago-"

She chatters on and momentarily, my heart stops beating. I didn't want to be treated any differently than I was before George died and I certainly didn't want my peers to know and have something to tease and gossip about.

"-such a sad way to lose your life, and so young as well"

She sighs. I clear my throat to try and hide the tear I was feeling in my eye.

"D-do the other kids know? About my brother?"

I ask, fiddling with my hands. Her smile instantly drops.

"Oh honey no, the principal just had to make us aware just in case you needed a minute during class time, no other kids no from what I'm aware"

She assures me; my heart starts pumping normally again and I smile at her, thanking her as she reaches for the phone to bring my 'buddy' in to the office.

After a couple of minute, the office door opens and in walks a girl with long, brownish/ blonde hair, black floored jeans and a floral shirt bounces in, a smile on her face as she reaches towards me and shockingly embraces me into a warm hug, which I reward with an awkward back pat.

"Hi, I'm Galena Babich, your buddy here, you're Cheryl, yes?"

The girl speaks, an accent coming from her mouth which I'm assuming was from Ukraine. I nod kindly and she squeals. She grabs my wrist and pulls me out of the office.

"Oh, you don't know how excited the school is to have a new kid for once, nothing interesting or anyone interesting actually happens in this town"

She tells me, finally removing herself from my arm as we walk down the hall. I get to know her and find some more stuff out about her: because we were considered friends, I was to call her Lena, she moved here from the Ukraine 13 years ago due to the corrupt police force, she has two other friends, not including one of their boyfriends and from what I'm aware, she didn't know anything about me.

"So Cheryl, anything you want to learn about the school?"

She asks me but before I can answer, groups of the students start staring at me and whispering to one and other again.

"Just one...I get this is a small town and nothing new really happens and certainly not a new girl, but why does everyone keep whispering and staring at me when I walk past, so I have a zit or something?"

I ask. She just laughs and punches my shoulder lightly.

"No silly, it's because you're so interesting; your mom and dad ruled this school back in the day and your brother was murdered, so your life is considered exciting"

My eyes widen when she mentions my brother and I stop, put my hand across her body to stop her from walking and face her.

"Wait...everyone knows?"

I question and she nods.

"Yep! People must have searched you up when principal Scott told us you were coming, the news spread like wildfire when they found out about your brother, and how his brain was fully splattered around the murder scene just life...gore"

She starts motioning with her hands to show how extreme she thinks it is and I'm disgusted at her and the rest of these kids. Did they have no shame, spreading rumours about a dead guy they never met and adding information that wasn't even true?

"Okay, can I stop you there?"

I put my index up to her face to stop her yapping and she nods to which I scoff.

"Let's get one thing straight, you know nothing about me or my brother, so you and this stupid gossipy town can go and suck it, for all I care!"

I snap harshly at the girl as she looks shocked and blinks at me. I suck my teeth and pull my bag up and storm down the hallway, ignoring Galenas calls of my name.

I just want to go home.