(The New) Power of the 8 Elements: Part Two

Chapter Twenty: Best Friends

"I love making new friends, and I respect a lot of people for a lot of different reasons." - Taylor Swift
PRESENT DAY
JEFF

It still confuses me that the first day of school was postponed by an extra day for no reason. I wonder, but I don't ask any questions when I enter the building. It's my second first day at a new school, but this one is rather nerve wracking. I'm glad no one recognizes me. Everyone says I look just like my mother.

"Morning, you must be Jeff," a woman with olive skin, red and pink hair and eyes, dressed in a gothic fashion says.

"Yeah...uh, morning." I'm not used to this much diversity in a school. The new setting is still a bit weird for me as is most of the town.

"I hope you find this school to your liking. I'll leave you with one of your best student ambassadors." She gestures to a pink and purple haired student who shakes my hand as soon as we make eye contact.

"Hi, I'm Celeste," she says.

"Jeffery, but everyone calls me Jeff."

"Well, people also call me Cel, so if you want to, I'm fine with it."

"I hope you don't find this offensive, but..."

"But what...?"

"Are you...pregnant?"

"Yes, actually! You're the first person who's noticed that all morning, and no, it's not offensive. I'm actually glad you noticed."

"Oh, you're welcome?"

"You're probably wondering how I got by the school. It hasn't hindered my grades, and they trust me and my boyfriend to be responsible enough to juggle parenthood with our studies."

"Wow, that's really interesting."

"So what made you decide to come here?"

"Oh, I just didn't like my other neighborhood. You see, I moved from Wisconsin for personal family reasons."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I've been going to this school for a long time, and I'm sure that my classmates will give you a warm welcome."

"I hope so," I mutter.

My doubts are true as soon as I enter the classroom. I see a few people glance at me and then whisper to their other friends.

"Lucifer, this is Jeff. He moved from Wisconsin, and he lives in Terry's neighborhood."

Lucifer, who I assume to be her boyfriend, looks up from his book and smiles at me.

"Guten Tag. I trust you are enjoying yourself here."

"Eh..."

"I understand. It'll grow on you as it does all of us-"

A student walks up to the two and whispers something in Lucifer's ear. He looks at me, cocks his head to the side, and then looks at the student and sends them away.

"You know what? I should probably go."

"No, no, ignore Jason. He always has a stick up his *ss when it comes to new people. Have you seen Terry?"

"No, I don't think so. She might be-"

"-I can find her," I say, wanting to do anything to avoid sitting in the toxic energy in this classroom.

"Really? Thanks!" Celeste says. "She might be in the music room."

I nod and leave the room. I feel too uncomfortable sitting there with all eyes watching me, knowing what I did or rather what my mom did. It's not my fault nor is it my dad's, but her reputation followed me here. I enter the music room where I find a fairy. She sits at a table with a sheet music stand in front of her, singing away.