As the school bus pulls in to Mililani College I look out to a sea of faces. It's my second year here so I recognise most of the kids and teachers. With only 500 students it is a relatively small high school. I like it though, I know nearly everyone.
3 17 32. I get the combination right first try and as I pull the long door open I smile as I look around at the memories. Photos of all different sizes stuck in nearly every possible spot. I reach into my backpack for my newest addition to the collection. Benny and I watching the sunrise on our special rock.
"Annica!!" a loud voice yells.
I turn and see my friend Milly running towards me, dodging and swerving around groups and clusters.
We embrace in a hug and then we both start chattering about which subjects we chose.
As it turned out Milly chose quite different subjects to me. Geography, English, Woodwork, Maths, and Chemistry.
I chose Maths, Art, Agriculture/Horticulture, Biology and Business Management.
"Sorry Anni but I have to go and see Miss. Robertson before class. See you later!"
So I am left at my locker clutching my photo. I stick it on with a bit of blue tack and smile as memories flood in from years ago and first having an encounter with a horse.
...............
"Annica?" My Art teacher calls as she goes down the long list of names on the class roll.
"Here!" I reply
I look around and realise there is no one at my table. There are four other tables all full with all the "groups". As you have probably realised I don't have a "group" of my own. I am basically friends with everyone but I am not quite sure if everyone is friends with me! Oh well, I live in a positive state of mind not a negative.
We are in the middle of sketching self portraits when a loud knock on the door interrupts everyone.
The principal is standing there with a boy that I don't recognise. We all stand and address the principal.
Mr. Johnston strides over to Miss. Tiller's desk and talks quietly and looks at the boy standing next to him. Before I realise he has left and Miss. Tiller is standing at her desk with the boy.
"Class this is Lenny who is starting in Year 8 today. Please make him welcome and show him around the school."
He comes over and sits next to me, probably because it's the only seat left but all the girls start oohing and whispering. That's kind of the overall sum up of the girls in my class. Too focused on boys and fashion to worry about real life dilemmas.
Over the next 45minutes, I discover that this boy "Lenny" is a little like me. He lives with his Mum on a farm. Mainly a goat farm, but still he LOVES goats!!
I think I may have discovered my new friend!
YOU ARE READING
Light and Dark
Teen FictionWhen Annica was 12 she had the life that you would expect any 12 year old to have. School five days a week and dinner served hot on the table. But on her 14th birthday all that changed, which left Annica, three friends and her dog alone, on a farm...
