i hate it here

Chapter 1 - The New Girl

For River Carinõ this was a first day of school like any other. Wake up, get dressed in casual clothing as to not be seen, teacher takes attendance as they ask what her last name means and proceeds to say "Oh that's beautiful" Oh really? You don't say. Sure it was her first day of high school but they've been going to Williams since seventh grade, surely it can't be that different.

As she predicted, she walks into homeroom as their math teacher rambles about how beautiful her name is. However, before she calls for the next person in attendance, which happens to be their best friend, Saturn, the teacher says "Oh, River?" What she says actually sounds important, so they lower the volume of their music and turns her head towards her teacher as she continues. "The secretary said to go down to the office after you were marked as present" Their eyes widen. Shit.

"We'll just be going over the basic class rules and greatest common factors which you learned last year so you should be fine. The office said they shouldn't need you for 30 minutes, max. Her heart started to race as her body went numb as they stood up and walked from the back of the class to get to the door. As she was walking, Saturn grabbed their hand and squeezed, a comfort feeling they had since they were both kids. A sign that everything's gonna be okay

Everything is gonna be okay.

~~

As she walks to the office, they see someone her age talking with the secretary Gladys or Mary or something.

"Ahem?" River cleared her throat at an obnoxiously loud volume and the two turn to look at her and River thinks she just had a minor heart attack. The person standing there was about 5'3 with short dark ginger hair and green eyes you could find yourself getting lost in. Sure you could say they developed a crush in the two seconds she made eye contact with a complete stranger but she has this whole little miss perfect, straight A's, straight forward, straight girl vibe going on. Emphasis on straight which makes River block off any romantic feelings creeping up on her.

"Oh are you River from Ms Ainslee's class? Random secretary lady asks them

"That's me" she sighs. She honestly would like to just get to the root of why she was sent to the office on the first day of school.

"Perfect" she says as she points to the person she was having a conversation with. "This is Evelyn Lancaster, a new student at Williams HS" what does this have to do with her??

"The principal was looking for a student to tour the with her and he thought, why not River?" Literally anybody else could of done this job, why them?

"So we'll hand her over to you and you two can get to know each other. But please do try to be quit in the halls" and with that, she finished up her conversation with Evelyn and turns back to her computer.

As the two girls walk out of the office, Evelyn shouts back "Thanks Ruth, see you around" Damn River wasn't even close with the name, were they?

After they out of the office the girl says, with a slight robotic sound to it, like she's been practicing it in her mirror "Hi I'm Evelyn. You can call me Eve if you want though. River was it?"

"Pronouns?" River says testing the waters.

"What? Oh! she/her, and yours? Evelyn shoots back

"She/they" keeping it nice and short, never one for small talk.

"...Okay? Show me around?" Evelyn asks a little uneasy. She could've honestly just ditched her but looking at this bitch, she would find some way to tattle and that would involve a call to her parents and lord only knows what would happen when she got home. An involuntary shiver runs up their spine but, lucky for them, new girl doesn't seem to notice.

"What do you wanna see?" This was literally sprung on her how was she supposed to know how to be a tourist?

"Oh, uh I don't know. I guess just walking around the school seems nice. Oh! But I do need to stop at my locker so. I'll just let you know when we pass it" She says

Well that just made their life at 52% easier.

~~
Both of the girls make their way across the school, River pointing out any room that might be useful like the library or gym. New girl seems so excited by everything. It's kinda cute. No, not cute. Just so weirdly amusing it makes your stomach churn. The very last thing River needs is to be falling for a straight girl only to get rejected. Well that and failing knowing the repercussions her parents would deal.

"So what classes do you have?" River asks before she can even think about it. She just wants to be prepared in case she has any classes with this chick so she can avoid her. Yeah, that's why.

"Oh! Uh let's see. Science with Mr. Harper, Geography with Ms. Reese, Art with Ms. Ryerson and Gym with Mr. Ainslee. All in that order." She says a bit pleased with herself.

"Wow. Organized much?" River sus slowly going through her schedule and fuck. She has Art and Gym with this do-gooder.

"I try. Some people say it's a gift." She says it a little glum. Like it's a curse.

"Ok Ms. Straight A's let's find your locker"They say. Through they're a bit confused as to why the other girl starts to walk the other way." Uh where are you going?"

"Oh we passed my locker a few minutes ago but I was having so much fun talking I just decided I'd go back when we were done with our conversation."

River can just feel the blush creeping up over her face. So she just follows goody two shoes back to her locker without a single word.

As they walked River realized this area of the school is giving them deja vu. Oh god no. She realized her locker was just a few feet away from Ms. Teacher's pet. She decides to to tell her and hopefully, she doesn't see them at their locker. Fat chance, but worth a try. As Evelyn pull out her lock, it looks like she doodles on it a little and there's are little flower with pink, blue and yellow petals. Huh, interesting.

"You impressed?" Evelyn said a bit snarky as she caught River looking a little too long.

"Hu- what? No I just thought the color choice was interesting."

"Oh! Uh yea, I guess they are" River watches as she practically shoves her whole face into her locker. Weird but ok.

Once she's done with her locker, the two girls get Evelyn to her class.

"Alright well have fun learning about mitochondria's or some shit" River says but Evelyn just stares back.

"...What?" River says curiously and a bit uncomfortable.

"You remembered my class. What do you like me or something?" Evelyn said playfully.

"Yeah or something. Go in little ms perfect"

"Y'know calling me by my name won't kill you, right?" But River already started walking away.

"See you around, Evelyn" they said back with a quip.

~~

When River gets back to class she looks straight at Saturn and just gives her a nod.

I'm good. I'll tell you the details later.

She sits back down and puts her music at full blast for the best hour and a half of class and just took a picture of the board at the end of class.

On the way she thinks about her morning and can just feel her life is about to change.

They're not the best with change.