Broken Promises

My first day of eight grade

  My name is Tina, actually Valentina Claire Benavente, but no one calls me that. I am Tina, just Tina.

  Standing in front of the door of my first class, running late (obviously), there I was on my first day of eight grade.

  I entered the room with my chin up like I could rule the world, just to get a little more confident, and took a quick glance around the room, there were a lot of recognizable faces.

  Like Penelope Verlice, or you can call her Barbie because I've never seen someone love pink the way she does. Verlice is the most popular girl on my class because all of her brothers studied there before her, and they are famous tennis players now, so she is also a teacher's pet.

  Giovanna Campbell, a nice girl that usually walks around with Penelope and her group. My brother's ex is actually her sister's best friend so I got to know her a bit more last year, before they broke up.

  Connor, David and Logan Miller, the triplets. I never really talked to them, except Logan, who is definitely the quietest one of them. We worked on a project back on sixth grade, he was nice and actually did the work.

  I also saw some of my last year's classmates but I wasn't a very popular girl, so they probably didn't remember my name.

  Before I could pay attention in someone new the teacher called me.

  - Miss Benavente, could you seat down, please?

  I nodded and sat down on the very first chair of the first row, the only spot left, next to someone who didn't look like he was paying attention to the class at all, but who am I to judge? Late on the first day, not that anyone would notice.

  The boy beside me was definitely new, I wasn't known at school but I was very observant so I knew everyone by name, and he wasn't on my list. He had short, brown, wavy hair and very light eyes. A little bit of a big nose, crooked teeth and not  full eyebrows, it kind of looked like something was missing.

  I was most likely staring because the boy side eyed me and pretended he didn't see me. Not that I was embarrassed or anything but it wasn't a nice thing to experience on the first day, especially when the boy seems like he already made some friends, and I have been there for seven years rotting like mold on my corner. Why did I feel like he was going to be challenging? Or maybe, with the best word to explain, he was going to be a pain in the--

  - Everybody, now that all the new students already introduced themselves, we may now start our class. - Mrs. Vaz told us.

  She was my language arts teacher that I met exactly 2 years ago on my first day of sixth grade, not to be mean but I could teach better than her. She would always change subjects and talk about her personal life, she would be a great friend, I guess, always having something to talk about. But I really don't want to hear about her neighbour who always seems to go out at night and leave her cats on Mrs. Vaz's house. Penelope on the other hand, may be interested.

  - Before we take a look at the books we should take looks at the authors, or just the amazing people that, I am sure, can write amazing storys. In this box there is an image of a person. Your mission is to describe that person with a positive word, simple, isn't it?

  - I bet it is a mirror. - I mumbled to myself.

  - What? - the new boy next to me asked.

  - I said that I bet it is a mirror.

  - I heard that. I'm asking how could you be so sure.

  - Mrs. Vaz takes her classes out of Instagram reels, is not that hard to assume that in the box there is a mirror. She wants us to be confident about ourselves before we have to talk about the books we read. Think, new boy.

  - Okay, oldie. - he mumbled under his breath.

I heard, but I couldn't care less about what he thinks. So I just rolled my eyes.

  The teacher called us in alphabetical order. Aiden, who arrived right after we started the game, was the third to be called up to the box. He looked at it and after thinking for a moment said:

  - I think this person is cool.

  Okay, he kept it simple, nothing too alarming or too spoiling. I like it.

  Then Bryan, Caleb, Caroline, Connor, the three Davids, Diana, Giovanna (who said she liked the person's hair), the new boy. Griffin Hoffman. I was curious to see what the dumb head was going to say.

  - Oh, - he looked surprised - the person is very pretty, good player, nice hair, would you like at that! I could list a hundred more compliments if we have the time.

  The class laughed. Too many compliments coming from a, what looks like, playboy who I am sure couldn't even compliment his mother on her birthday. I was right, it definitely was a mirror.

  A bunch of other people described the image on the box and most of them said the person was "cool".

  It was finally my turn, and even though I knew it was a mirror and I knew I would see myself, I didn't think of what I would say in front of the class. Was I inspiring? How could I be inspiring if the only person that thinks I'm a good example is my dad? Was I pretty? I wouldn't choose that word to describe me but I would also sound like a pick me in front of the class. Was I smart? Well... yes, yes I was. But what if my grades suddenly get lower this year and I sound like a liar? There was no time left and my mind was blank for a positive word that would fit the situation.

  - So, Ms. Benavente, what's a positive trace about the person?

  - Ummm... The person is very um... Well, the person I see...

  - Are you okay? Do you need to go to the restroom, miss?

  - Yes, please. - I got out of the classroom.

  I ran straight into one of the stalls and sat on the toilet. I didn't know what had happened, I panicked and couldn't think of anything. Seriously? Couldn't I think of a word to describe what I saw on the mirror? I could've just said 'cool' like everyone else, but I didn't even think of that, only thought about what would the rest of the class see me like.

  Now I know what word would I use. Dumb. But that wasn't exactly positive.