Ticket to Ride - Luke Ross

Chapter One: In For A Long Ride

All I could feel was pure nervousness. I couldn't even feel my legs! Oh gosh.

Today was my first day at my new private school, Walden Academy. It was about a month into the school year and I was maybe sorta just a little bit freaking out.

Just a few minutes ago I had to ask for directions to my first class of the day which was Spanish class. Two seconds at school and I already had to face the horrors of social interaction. Yuck.

I stood by the wooden front door that led to the classroom. It was already a few minutes into the period so that made me even more anxious to go into the class. All the students' eyes would be on me!

Yeah, I know being late to school on my first day isn't a great first impression but hey, what can you do when you've got an older sister, who takes forever to get ready, that drives you to school every morning?

I wish I could just ride my skateboard. It'd be a whole lot quicker than Eleanor who takes an hour just to do her makeup! But no. Apparently the streets of New York are dangerous. And when you ride them without adult supervision, appArently you get your skateboard taken away by the adult.

What made this morning even worse was that my sister tried to get me to dress in... well, a dress. I'm so lucky my Grandma made her stop. Eleanor is such a girly girl! I can't stand it!

Oh, I'm El, by the way. Yeah. My name is super similar to my sister's, I know. I guess my parents were drunk when naming us because that was also their excuse for dropping us off at our Grandma's house and never coming back to pick us up.

My sister is four years older than me. Nineteen years old which obviously makes me fifteen. I'm a sophomore in high school, and I guess that takes us back to current time.

I gulped, swallowing the huge lump of fear stuck in my throat, and knocked on the door. It was a few moments before the door opened as I adjusted my backpack over my shoulder.

"Hi, you must be the new student, come on in," the teacher greeted me.

She had long black curly hair and bright green eyes. She was definitely Latina. She opened the door wide enough for me to enter the room and once I walked in she closed it again.

I stood there awkwardly as I had no idea where to sit. I didn't know if there was a seating chart or not.

"Class, this is our new student," the teacher said then looked at me to say my name.

"Oh," I spoke, catching on, "El, uh, my name is El."

"Welcome, El," the teacher said with a kind smile, "Let me just take a look at the seating chart real quick and we'll fix you up with a place to sit."

She went to grab her clipboard from her desk as I continued to stand awkwardly. I could feel the whole class's eyes boring into me, so I just looked down at my worn out black converse.

I know what you're thinking. Black converse? Basic much? Yeah, yeah, whatever. I get enough of that from my sister. I happen to like black and converse so... yeah.

"Aha!" the teacher, which I learned her name from looking at the whiteboard that read 'Señora Kapeles', said.

I looked up at her as she walked back to the front of the class where I stood.

"It looks like we have just one seat available and that's right at the back by Luke Ross," Señora Kapeles mentioned, pointing to an empty seat next to a black haired boy.

I nodded but didn't thank her because my anxiety wouldn't let me speak.

I quickly walked to the back of the class and sat down in the chair behind the desk. I wanted so bad to just dig a whole six feet under right there and bury myself alive.

"Hi, I'm Luke," a voice spoke, causing me to jump slightly out of startle.

I forgot there was a person next to me.

I looked at the black haired boy and smiled lightly. He was actually really cute. And that's saying something because I rarely ever find anyone attractive. But his adorable freckles and gorgeous brown eyes just stood out to me, I guess.

"Hi," I said quietly, still nervous, "I'm El."

"I know," he chuckled, "I listened to the teacher introduce you. Which is odd because I really don't listen to teachers that much."

I laughed lightly, almost like a giggle and when I realized it, I mentally threw up.

"What grade are you in?" Luke asked, his eyes looking straight at me while I could do nothing but avert his eyes.

At first his question sounded dumb to me, but then I remembered that it's a foreign language class. They're not exactly for just one single grade level.

"I'm a sophomore," I told him, my voice still quiet.

I wasn't sure if my voice was so quiet because I was nervous or just because we were in a classroom setting. I'm a talker in classes so I've learned how to keep my voice just quiet enough so I don't get in trouble.

"Really?" Luke said, "I'm a freshman."

"Oh cool," I commented.

"How old-" Luke began to ask another question when Señora Kapeles cleared her throat, looking directly at Luke.

He made a guilty expression then faced the front of the class again, just long enough for Señora Kapeles to look away. Once she did, he looked at me again.

"Well, looks like it's time for my daily first class nap," he mentioned, then crossed his arms on the desk and laid his head down on them, "Wake me up if there's partner work so you don't have to do all the work yourself."

I gave him a small nod and he closed his eyes. Something told me he didn't normally care if his partner had to do all the work themselves.

"He doesn't normally care if his partner has to do all the work themselves," a darker skinned boy in front of me said as he turned to face me, "You are one lucky gal."

Gal? Did he just say gal?

"I'm Ravi, Luke's brother," the boy introduced himself to me, "I have a feeling I'll be seeing you around a lot if Luke plays his cards right which he doesn't seem to have much luck with doing so I'd say chances are pretty slim."

I tilted my head slightly in confusion. I had no idea what this kid meant, nor was I sure if it was because it didn't make much sense or because I didn't know if I heard him correctly through his thick Indian accent.

Either way, somehow I knew I was in a long ride.