The New Guy

Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 1:
I hate school. Why do we need it anyway? My mum says that education will help with everything in life; I know this is true but school work is just so hard for me. It has never been one of my strong points, but I don't want to be one of the geniuses that kiss up to the teacher. I swear, nearly everyone in my class is like that, but the main bitch is Mia Siddleton. It's like she shows off just to prove to everyone that she is the better person. Even if you do somehow beat her, she will always come back.

My mum is just like this. She is always on my back like, 'Have you done your homework?' or 'Get off that damn skateboard and do your studying!' For the record, skateboarding is way more fun than sitting at a table meant for a dolls house, reading a 1000 page book about nothing interesting with your mother looking over your shoulder every 5 minutes, just to see how fast you are reading. It's torture!! It doesn't help that my mum is the principal's assistant, so she knows if I have any homework due.

Mum thinks she can turn me into some sort of polite, sophisticated, teenage royalty, but I won't let her. She's always saying, 'Why can't you be more like Mia Siddleton? She is really nice and gets excellent grades.' And I would always reply with the same answer: 'She is not nice and I don't want to be a freaking teachers pet!' Then I always run up to my room and slam my door.

My mum used to be nice. She would help me with everything and we would laugh and go on walks to the park together, but when my dad left when I was 12, everything had changed. I always hear her crying from her room, still to this day. I never knew why my dad left and mum would never tell me, she would just run away to her room in tears. When he left, I would comfort her and help her dry away her tears, but as I grow up, I realise more and more why my dad would have left my mum.

The only thing that stops me from running away is my small group of best friends, Molly, Michael and Will. Molly and I have been friends since we both came to Ravenhood High School, then Will and Michael came 2 years later. You could say we're the outcasts, the wallflowers if you want, but we don't care what you think of us because we have each other.

*****

I rush out of my classroom, hand in hand with Molly. We stuff our books in our lockers and sprint towards the oval, laughing the whole way. We find Will and Michael lounging in the sun at the very top of the bleachers, already eating their lunch. Molly and I race up the steps, taking 2 at a time.

'Hey! What took you so long?' Michael cries as soon as he sees us.

'One of Mia's lectures.' Molly says as she tries unsuccessfully to steal some of Michael's burnt pizza as she sits down next to him.

"What was it about this time?' Will asks.

'Some sort of "Saving the Rabbits" rubbish.' I say, laying down on the bench below them with my elbows propping me up.

I close my eyes as I tilt my head back to soak up the summer sun; my long brown hair blowing in the slight breeze.

'Are you comfy there? You want me to get you a pillow, beach umbrella, fancy drink...?' Michael say, trying not to laugh.

'Shut up.' I say, trying not to laugh too.

I sit up and cross my legs on the bench and turn around to face the oval. Trees outline the oval and keep going for as far as I can see. Mountains dot the horizon and nearly no clouds float through the sky. The school is placed in the middle of a forest, but the whole town is just outside the forest, so it's not a far drive to school. The school football team trains on the oval, and right down the bottom of the bleachers is Mia and her group of girls cheering on Mia's boyfriend and his team mates. Mia's boyfriend, James Clayton, runs off the oval towards Mia and kisses her before running back to training. Mia and her friends squeal and jump up and down straight after James is out of earshot.

'I swear he's been going over to her every 30 seconds! It's disgusting!' Michael complains, waving a hand towards Mia and James.

'Hey. You thought it was cute!' Will say, punching Michael playfully in the arm. Molly and I laugh while Michael's face turns bright red with embarrassment.

'Yeah, I did at first. Now it's just gross.' Michael retorts. He looks down at his shoes then shoves Will, making him almost fall off the bench.

'Wait. Isn't there a new guy starting tomorrow?' says Molly. I can tell she's trying to save Michael from even more embarrassment.

'Oh yeah! I think his name is Ed Reeves. I think he might be starting in our home room.' I say.

'I hope he's hot! We need some fresh meat in this place.' says Molly.

'What about me?!' yells Michael.

'Yes you're pretty too.' I say to him and he combs his fingers through his short, brown hair, then jumps up and struts around like a terrible model. Molly and I laugh at Michael's attempt, but Will only smile. Molly and I realise immediately that something is wrong. Will is always the first one to laugh.

'What's going on?' Molly asks him.

'Oh, it's nothing.' He says, avoiding any eye contact.

'Come on, we're your besties! You can tell us anything.' Michael says as he wraps his arm around Will's neck.

'I just got a lot of work to do. I better go, I don't want to be late for class.'

'But it's still lunch. Class only just finished.' I say as Will jumps up and starts walking down the bleacher stairs.

'I need to catch up with a teacher beforehand.' He calls over his shoulder, then speed up the walk down the stairs.

'What's up with him?' Molly asks Michael.

'I don't know. These last couple of weeks, he's been acting really weird.'

I turn back around to see Will rushing into the toilets.

What has gotten into him?

*****

YAY!!!!!! The first chapter is up!!!!

I hope this is worth it, considering you had to wait a whole year for it. Hehe... I'm really sorry about that!!!!!

I tried to make it up to you, and from now on, I will try to update 1 chapter a week. I promise!!!!!!!!!

Please vote, comment and all that stuff if you like it!

Love you guys
-Sam