Hopeless Wanderer

A Helping Hand

The bright hallways were beyond full as I tried to squeeze my way to my locker. It was the second week in and I was a bit ashamed I had to start this late, and far more ashamed that I had no friends here.

I've always been known as the outcast. At my old school there was no diversity. Everyone was the same, except me. My old principal suggested I talk to Mr. Simpson about Degrassi, and when I did he told me about how many different types of people there were here which was the first point that I was sold on. The second being that this year Degrassi was getting a bunch of players from the Toronto Ice Hounds hockey team. Hockey is my passion and I needed this type of release at school. Hopefully joining the team would give me a sense of belonging because as any hockey player knows, the team is your family. No matter what you always stick together.

I was lost in my thoughts while digging through my bag in the hallway when I felt someone grab my butt, causing me to spill my books all over the floor. I turned around, infuriated, to face Mike Dallas, captain of the hockey team. "Excuse me? Just because your mister hotshot top prospect doesn't give you the right to go around violating girls."

"Oh, so you know who I am? Maybe you can teach me how to behave.", he said with a wink as he continued down the hall without bothering to help me pick my stuff up.

"Ugh. What a pervert. I can't wait to show him who's boss on the ice." I muttered to myself as I crouched down to pick up my books and papers that had spilt all across the hall.

"Sorry about Dallas ... He doesn't really know how to behave himself. Let me help you." came a calm voice from over my shoulder.

I turned to see a shorter boy standing above me. He had light brown hair, but the parts that were illuminated by the sunlight coming through the windows were nearing on a shade of caramel. As he crouched down to my level his puppy-dog like chocolaty brown eyes really became the true draw about him. His perfect skin was glowing and with his bright grin came the slight hint of dimples. Gosh he was adorable.

I must have been staring open mouthed for a while because he laughed and offered me his hand "I'm Campbell Saunders."

"I'm Rylee Dawson-Mitchell. Nice to meet you.", I said with what I hoped was an extremely charming and attractive smile as I shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you." he repeated while laughing again. I flushed a bright shade of pink. Do normal people say nice to meet you? Was that weird? Does he think I'm weird? Had I messed everything up? He turned to me and saw my wide-eyed expression and the blush that had settled on my cheeks, causing him to start laughing. Again. God he makes me nervous, it's like when you know the weight of the team's championship title is on your shoulders and your team is down by one in the third period. One minuscule mistake and you've failed.

The five minute warning bell rang and the hallway began to clear. "Where are you headed?" Campbell asked while handing over my textbooks.

I began to dig around in my pockets and finally pulled out my schedule. My shaky hands struggled to unfold the paper. "French in room 322 ... Is that anywhere near here?"

Campbell, being the gentleman that he is, walked me to my class before heading off to his own. Before he left, he gave me a smile and promised to join me at lunch so I wasn't alone. I'll admit it, I was excited.