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"Class! Can I have your attention please?"
Emmy turned away from her conversation with Eli, seeing their English teacher, Mrs. Williams, and an awkward looking boy standing next to her.
"This," Mrs. Williams gestured to the teen boy. "Is Miguel Diaz. He is a new student to our school so I expect all of you to treat him kindly while he is with us. Now, I have you seated next to Ms. LaRusso. Emmy, could you raise your hand so Mr. Diaz can find his seat?"
The girl listened, raising up her hand, her bright pink jacket immediately catching Miguel's eye. They locked eyes, and she could see him gulping. It made her smile, and she pointed to the empty desk next to hers. He gave a small smile too, and he hurried over, dropping his bag on the floor and took a seat.
Mrs. Williams then turned to the board, and Emmy leaned in closer to him. "Hey, I'm Emmy. Everyone calls me Em."
She stuck out her hand, and he took it with no problem. "Miguel. And everyone calls me ⎯ well Miguel."
Emmy quietly giggled, pulling away her hand and folded her arms on her desk. "Well, Miguel, welcome to Hell."
There was a second silence between them before they burst into silent chuckles and turned to the board.
✸
"Hey, I'm gonna go get a bottle of water, you guys want any?" Emmy scrolled on her phone as she stood up from her seat.
"I would," Eli spoke up, and she turned to Demetri with a raised eyebrow.
He shook his head. "I'm good. I got my juice."
"Okay," she laughed, typing in a text to her younger brother as she walked on over to the vending machine. He had found out that she was the one who hid his gaming console and was furious. He had been looking for that thing all morning, causing him to be late to school. Her parents weren't happy that either but it was the worth the look on his face.
Pulling out a crumpled up five dollar bill from her jean pocket, she quickly tried her best to straighten it out, unfolding the corners before placing into the money placeholder her. She punched in two waters before standing back with her arms crossed.
Her foot tapped against the floor impatiently, watching as the coil slowly unraveled and let a single bottle out first before dispensing the other one out next. It dropped into the catch tray at the bottom, and she bent down before pulling them out.
She smiled in satisfaction as she held the bottles in her head, walking to head back to her table when something caught her eye. She recognized that face to be Miguel Diaz, the new kid in her English class. He was looking around for a place to sit like a lost puppy.
She knew that is wasn't easy being the new kid, especially in a high school where everyone already has their own friend groups.
With a hum, she made a detour and headed towards him.
