The Foreigner

01

  Change can be the worst thing to happen to some people. Not me. Maybe it's the buildings and atmosphere surrounding me that makes it easier. Or these individuals are not the people who saw me grow into who I am. Those can be the best card you have, the ace in your life. However, the bad side might come up and you can lose the game, totally.

  I'm in front of my new school, standing and not moving. The other students walk with a backpack slung over only one shoulder, with some girls it's a bag. They all have this sort of routine. There's someone who they already know. There is no anxiety, or so it seems.

As I go to take a step to the crosswalk, a girl stops me and pushes me back. "There's a stop light," her smile is simple and has a warm voice, "and it's red."

  "Thank you," I can barely make up a smile "I'm so not used to this." My anxiety starts to show and she sends me a look, completely understanding it.

  "You're new here, the city? I notice your accent, I just can't decipher its origins." And then, there's a beeping sound: it's finally green; we can cross the street.

  "I'm from Florida, USA. Traded the sun for cloudy days like these. Feels good to have seasons." After speaking, I take her in. This woman looks as good as she sounds.

Braided hair until half and the rest straightened, simple makeup — eyeliner, mascara and highlighter, lip gloss and maybe a bit of concealer. Her skin is so flawless and has this beautiful glow on her dark complexion.
The white tee and red leather jacket is just perfection.

"Can I ask about your skin care routine? Your skin is flawless." It slips out of my mouth.

"About the weather, you have no idea. Since we're in a city close to a hill and in the countryside, we get the -4°C on a good winter day. And I'll give you the skin care, just give me your name first!" She stops in front of the school's gate.

"Oh, of course. Annelise, call me just Ana, though. You?"

"It depends on what you prefer: we have Sofia, my first name, and then my middle name, Beatrice, which my friends use the most. It's really up to you." She extends me her hand, I shake it. "And don't worry, your skin is pretty good. I just use some products, if I find you in the hallways I'll show you. I really have to go."

She smiles once again and steps into the little entrance. And well, I'm really lost. I entered the open door, a man in the little compartment ignoring the students walking by.
I look at my phone, first at the timetable then at the map I found in the school's site.

(...)

  Inside of my classroom already, there's 27 other teens in the same room. And then there's the teacher responsible for us, "diretor de turma". Just another way of burocracy, to be honest. She's also my Descriptive Geometry teacher.

  "We're in for a treat, she was my teacher last year," a guy in the desk in front of mine says. "she was totally nuts. And will take so long talking about minimal things."

  The girl besides me, whose name is Sílvia, just mumbles a "I can see that" and turns to me, as if to ask something. We've been talking for the last thirty minutes since the woman opened her mouth.

  "If you want, you can come with me and my sister to lunch. We're going to the restaurant in front of the school. It's not expensive and the food is great. My sister won't also mind, I'm making friends, which she should be proud-"

  "Of course. I'll just warn my parents."

Me and Sílvia keep talking since, apparently, she's just repeating the rules. Or random things about Geometry, the Visual Arts course, the grading system, which is from 0-20.
While matriculating, I chose Visual Arts. I've never been a science or maths girl. However, history and art were so natural to me.

"Well, you can go now. I'll see you Monday."

All students rise and sigh, walking to the wooden dor. All murmuring their goodbyes, me and Sílvia do the same.
As we put foot outside the door, Sofia appears in front of us.

"Let's go, Síl- oh, hi! You're in the same class?"

"Ya, I invited her to eat lunch with us at Clave de Sol. You're alright with that?"

"Of course, why not? So how was it? Who's the teacher?" Sofia gets on my right side and Sílvia in my left.

"She teaches Geometry, you haven't had her."

"What's your course, Sofia? You give me Economy vibes." I seem not to get it right by her face.

"12th grade, Humanities. I haven't had maths in 3 years. I chose Literature and other language, German, in 10th and 11th grade. Now I'm in Law and continuing German."

"Yup, she's like a little old librarian at heart." Sílvia laughs and pats on her older sister's head, having to reach up behind me.

"Sure, and you are still a little kid who draws on the walls. Why Arts, Ana? Is it the hot Drawing teacher?"

"He transferred, Beatrice! And he was not hot. He was always dressed like Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World. The man was less than 30, for fucks sake!" Sílvia exasperates about her older sister's comment.

"That doesn't invalidate his jawline. What a man, I'm telling you. But Annelise?"

"Just hate the facts and scientific side of the world. I prefer Art and its history."

Them stopping makes me think we arrived to our destination. It had this music vibe, the Classic one at that. Entering the space I understand it's completely different. There's every type of music on the walls.
One of the walls has some discs of male famous figures like Beethoven, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Drake.
The other one has female figures like Amy Winehouse, Clara Schumann, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Lana del Rey, Rihanna and a Beyoncé.

"The only word you can use to describe this place is 'music', for sure. It's cheap, and if you're a student you only pay 5 bucks." The younger sister guides us to a table.

Every little thing is music coded, even the menus as musical sheets, or treble clefs hanging as lights.
The place is packed, full of students. There's some teachers, I would assume, but not many.

  "Does everyone eat here? It seems so." I point to the full tables, probably overcrowded.

  "There are other places to eat, but this one is the closest one. Actually, Ana... Have you ever watched a football game, or soccer?" Sofia makes gagging sounds uttering that word, "If  you're up for it, I need company to watch a match. One of my friends is playing."

  "Sure, I would love it. I need to get out of the house, so... just give me your number so we can keep in touch."

  As I take my phone out of the pocket, I just realized: my life is starting. I am starting fresh, there is no criticizing and opinions because people believe that they know you. This new phase is about getting to know each other without any judgement.

a/n

the chapters will be longer, I promise. hope you liked the first view on these characters, but there is more to them than the surface.
you will be introduced to the remaining two in the next chapter. have a lovely rest of the day, or start.