Castle On The Hill

Chapter Four

It's been a week since moving to Dansville and even though I haven't started school yet, I like it so far. Katie has been dragging me around, showing me places around town. She admitted I'm nicer than the previous two they took in. Tina and Pete like to party, but they are friendly drunks so it doesn't bother me.

Today my case manager is coming at nine to enroll me into school. I have the option of being a bus rider, but opted to walk to and from school instead. The GPS says its only a mile walk and I can walk a mile easily. I just have to figure out what to wear! I plan on starting classes today.

After ten minutes of debate, I decided on a pair of black skinny jeans with holes in the knees and a black and white striped long sleeve shirt that I got from Katie. When I was finished applying my makeup, there was a knock on the door downstairs. When I got there, Tina was standing with my case manager.

"Good morning." I greeted.

"Good morning. Are you ready to start school?" My case manager asked.

"Yes. Let's go."

"First, I need to do the wellness visit, that way I can go do my other visits today."

"Okay."

The three of us went into the kitchen. I made myself a cup of coffee and Tina got herself a Coke. She won't drink coffee, but drinks Coca-Cola like water. I'm more of a Pepsi fan but I've learned to not be picky. We sat at the table and talked for twenty minutes before she was satisfied and scheduled a visit for next month. I rode with Tina in her beat up Chevy Tahoe up to the school.

"How do you feel about going to a new school?" she asked.

"Part of me is nervous, but I'm used to it."

"What's the shortest time you attended a school before moving?"

"I went to Wayland for three days. She showed up for a visit and saw how they were punishing another kid and pulled us out."

"Let me drive up the hill to Wayland and fight them for you."

I laughed. "I was like seven, I don't even know if they still live there. I don't even remember where the house is."

"Lucky them then. When we finish at the school, I have to go to work. If you make it home before Katie, there's a key velcroed to the back of the thermostat."

"Okay. That's a smart idea of where to hide it."

"Most people look towards the ground for a hidden key. Not at our house."

I smiled. She pulled onto the property of Dansville Central School and drove us to the high school. She parked next to my case manager and we all went inside.

"Are you excited?" my case manager asked.

"No." I admitted. "I'm a senior. They all have their cliques and whatever and who am I? The new kid? I'll be hiding in the bathroom during lunch eating on the toilet because nobody will want me to sit with them."

"Im sure you will make friends, you always do."

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a dirty look. We made it to the office and they went up to the desk. I chose to sit in a corner and text Josh who was in the process of getting enrolled at Attica Central School. He admitted he considered dropping out, but his case manager won't allow him to. Why quit now when we graduate in June? Unfortunately, he got finished with his enrollment process before I did. I hate that we broke up and had to move, but I'm glad we're still talking.

After ten minutes of complete boredom and scrolling social media, the office door opened and it took everything I had in me to stop my jaw from falling to the floor. The guy who just walked in has messy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He has a stubble on his face and in a leather jacket. He looks like he belongs on the back of a motorcycle, not on a high school campus. He went up to the desk and they told him to wait. He walked over and sat two chairs down from where I was. I couldn't stop checking him out. He glanced over at me and his dark brown eyes trailed down my body before he smiled.

"I don't recognize you." He greeted.

I let off a small smile. "Today is my first day."

"What grade are you in?"

"I'm a senior."

"So am I. Wait, you're a senior and you're switching schools? That blows."

"It does indeed, but I have no control over anything in my life until I turn eighteen."

He laughed. "You got that right. I'm counting down the days."

"Me too."

We both smiled and I blushed. Why did the first student I crossed paths with have to be the attractive rugged bad boy? Ugh. I'm going to end up gaining a crush on him, just wait and see. As good looking as he is, he probably has a girlfriend. I can see a blonde cheerleader hanging on his arm with her fake giggles. I want a boyfriend again, but should probably survive my first week here.

Tina and my case manager finished up with the paperwork and called me to the desk. While we were making my schedule, another staff member came out and called for Parker. The rugged bad boy got up and went into the office. At least now I have a name to go with the pretty face. Once my schedule was made and in my hand, my case manager rushed off to go to her next appointment.

"You going to start classes? I have enough time to drop you at the house if you want to start tomorrow."

"No, I can stay and start. Sitting home is getting boring."

"You deep cleaned the whole house and I appreciate it."

I smiled. "I like cleaning."

"Okay, I'm going to head to work. I'll see you tonight and you can tell me all about that cute boy. I saw you and him eyeing each other."

My eyes went wide and I covered my cheeks to hide the blushing. She hugged me and headed out the front door to go to SUNY Geneseo. After I mentally collected myself, I studied my schedule. The lady at the desk said I'm supposed to go to English 4. Now, where the hell is that?

As I was about to go back in and ask for directions, Parker walked out of the office. He saw me looking confused and smiled.

"Do you need help finding your class?" He asked.

"Yes." I blushed.

His smile grew. "Can I see your schedule?"

I nodded and handed him my schedule. His eyes lit up and I felt a blush start to rise in my cheeks. Yep, I'm gaining a crush on a guy I don't know. Get it together Tara, he's just a boy!

"You're in three of my classes, including the English class that there's only ten minutes left of."

"What about the one after that?"

"Physics? Yes."

"Cool."

"Do you know anyone here?"

"No. Well, I met a girl named Cate on Saturday who is a senior. Dusty and Katie I met too, but they're freshmen."

"Do you know how to find Cate?"

"No, but she didn't seem too thrilled with Mama Tina and Mrs. Wendy trying to force us to be friends."

Parker laughed. "Mrs. Wendy and Mama Tina are both very outgoing."

I looked at him in surprise. "You know them?"

"Everyone knows everyone in this town, especially if you're a native."

My shoulders dropped. "I'm a transplant."

Parker placed his hand on my back and I looked up at him curiously. "Don't take it too hard. Would you like to hang out? I can show you around campus and around town."

"I'm single."

Parker chuckled. "I'm single too, but I don't even know your name."

"I'm Tara."

"I'm Parker."

We both smiled. Parker handed me back my schedule which I decided to fold up and put in my pocket.

"You always went to Dansville?" I asked.

"Yes. How many schools have you been to?"

I frowned. "There's only now two schools in this county I haven't been to."

"Damn. Parents have it rough?"

"Don't know. They dropped me at a fire station when I was two weeks old."

His eyes went wide and I couldn't help but sigh. Hopefully he will still want to be my friend knowing I don't have real parents. We reached our English class and he let me lead the way in there.

"I went to see my counselor and ran into the new girl on my way back." He announced.

"Let me see your schedule."

I walked up to the teacher and we used the few minutes left in the period to add me to the roster and assign me a textbook. By the time we were finished, the bell rang.

"Do you need help finding your next class?" the teacher asked.

"I got it Mr. Baker, she's in my next period." Parker replied as he walked up next to me.

I smiled. "Thank you."

Parker put his hand on my back and led the way out of class.

"Why did you leave your last home?" Parker asked.

"Got caught kissing my boyfriend and chased down the street with a bat."

"That's wild."

"You're telling me. This family I'm with now seems nice. Hopefully I can stay until I'm eighteen."

"When will that be?"

"July. What about you?"

"Two weeks."

I looked at him in surprise. "Happy early birthday."

He smiled. "Thanks. Happy late birthday to you too."

I couldn't help it, I started laughing. He started laughing too.

"Are you doing anything for your birthday?" I asked when we stopped laughing.

"My parents are having a party, but the real party will be the after party at the castle."

"That red brick thing?"

"That's the one. It has gates, but theres openings to go in. We sneak up there all the time."

"I'd like to go up there sometime."

"Maybe I can take you up there."

I perked up. "Really?"

"Yes. Maybe I'll use helping you as inspiration for my college essay."

I giggled. "Okay."

Parker smiled and led the way to our class. I am so glad I met him and he's going to be my guide. I think I'll transition into Dansville just fine.