Soul Tied

Nameless Faces - 1

  Never have I been in a building with more nameless faces than today.
  Today, I started my first day at Summit Heights Academy as a junior. I walked through the corridor and could practically smell the rich snobbiness radiating from the students. I could feel the prestige and power everywhere I went, and one thing is for certain: I do not belong here. The students have fancy skirt suit uniforms, expensive cars, and just plain reek of their parent's wealth. They have their champion sports teams, elegant school clubs and dances, and even though I'm surrounded by luxury, I do not feel lucky in the slightest.
  "Watch where you're going, idiot!" yelled a boy as I brushed past him.
  For being a private rich-kid school, it still has its assholes.
  I squeaked on to my next class, which by the way, are almost impossible to find. This damn school is so big that even the campus map doesn't help. Somehow, I arrive a few minutes late (much better compared to how late I was for my previous class) and slide into my desk. The teacher turns to face me as the chair legs screech on the floor.
  "And who might you be, waltzing in here late?" asks Mr. Sampson, the English teacher.
  "My name is Jade Morales and I'm new here. I couldn't find the classroom because I haven't figured out the campus map," I explained, heat rising into my cheeks.
  Several kids behind me snickered.
  "Oh, that's right. Jade. I completely forgot you would start today. Well, since you're here, why don't you tell the class a bit about yourself?"
  "Okay, well I-"
  "Ah, no, Jade," interrupted Mr. Sampson, his eyebrows creasing. "We stand up when we speak to the class."
  To say I was horrified was an understatement. Still, I begrudgingly stood up, yanked the bottom of my skirt lower, and started talking.
  "Well, I'm from Minnesota. I used to go to a pubic school, but my Dad's business took off and my parents moved us here, to California. We live in the Sudbury Gated Community and today is my first day here."
  "That's very nice. How do you like the school so far?"
  "Well... It's certainly a change from what I'm used to."
  I hate how I sound so cliche. One of those girls who is begging for attention, or one of those girls that tries to be different. But this is the truth. No amount of preparing would have me equipped for this type of hell.
  "Right, then. Can you tell us what you like to do?"
  "I like to draw, play the flute, and I like to help people. You know, volunteer work and things like that."
  More kids snickered. Some started to whisper behind me and I plopped my ass back into my seat so hard that there was an audible smack when I hit the chair. More giggling.
  "That sounds very interesting. I'm glad to have you as a new student, Jade," said Mr. Sampson.
  I was relieved that this whole welcome speech was wrapped up. The kids here are just snobs. I want to go back to my old school where I knew everybody and everyone was kind. I mean sure, there was the normal bullying and joking, but nothing like this. I felt like a complete outsider.
  He went back to telling the class what the reading assignment for the night was and began asking questions about the homework. After what felt like an eternity, the bell rang and I got my ass out of there.
  We had a 15 minute break, so I went outside and sat on one of the benches under a tree. If I had to be alone for the rest of the school year so I didn't feel so miserable, it was fine by me.
                             . . .
  "How was your first day, sweetheart?" questioned my mom at dinner.
  "It was fine," I grumbled over my pasta.
  "What, honey?"
  "I said it was fine!" I exclaimed much louder than I should have.
  I hate eating at this dining table. The table is so long that you have to shout to make yourself heard, and Dad doesn't even come eat with us. He has one of the maids take it up to his study because ever since we've moved here, his work and reputation seems to be more important than family.
  "That's nice!"
  We went on eating in silence until the maids came and cleared our plates. This was so much different from when we lived back in Minnesota. We had conversations as a family, and sometimes we watched TV while we ate, but it was never silent.
  I climbed into bed that night, not being able to sleep. The shit show I had put on at school today was probably the most humiliating thing of my life. I ran into one of the popular girls and smudged her lipstick, dropped my lunch tray, came late in every class, went to the wrong car in the parking lot (not my fault all limousines look the same), and got stuck in a bathroom stall. And besides that, I missed all my friends from my old school. Evelyn and Sadie would know what to do to cheer me up if they were here. I would call them, but they're already asleep because of the time difference.
  It could not get much worse than this, I told myself as I dozed off.

A/n: I have not written one piece of creative writing for two years! Crazy to think about, right? I think I'm going to try and stick with this story, see where it goes, but I can't promise it will be anything spectacular. Thanks for reading!!