It was a ordinary day for a certain stereotypical popular girl named Stephanie, the campus was small so it was a situation where everyone knew everyone. There was a commotion of gossip and whispers, everyone seemed excited for some reason. Her classmates were buzzing with gossip and rumors, she felt the anticipation in the air. As she walked down the hallway, she noticed a quiet presence that caught her attention. There was a new student, tall and pretty, her dark hair framed her beautiful facial features. She was walking in a calm demeanor, avoiding any type of eye contact with anyone. She was the center of gossip for everyone that saw her pass by.
As Stephanie navigated through the crowd of students, she spotted her childhood friend Lucas talking to some of their classmates. Excited, she approached them with a smile on her face, her eyes still darting towards the newcomer. "Hey Lucas! Talking about something?" Stephanie said enthusiastically jumping behind him Lucas chuckled as Stephanie playfully jumped on his back. He turned to greet her and nodded, "Hey, Stephan- oof!" He said, steadying himself from her jumping. He then said, "Yeah, we were just talking about the new student over there," he gestured to the mysterious girl in the corner. "Rumors are flying around like crazy, have you checked her out yet?" Stephanie look at the mysterious girl "No I haven't, what are the rumors?" Stephanie said curiously looking at the new student. Lucas chuckled, "They range from typical gossip to some pretty wild guesses. Some say she's a transfer student from abroad, while others claim she's a secret agent undercover." He looked amused, "But my personal favorite is that she's secretly a witch who can hypnotize people with just a look."
Stephanie couldn't help but be intrigued, her curiosity growing with each passing moment. She followed Lucas's gaze towards the newcomer, her eyes studying the enigmatic stranger. Stephanie laughed at Lucas's theories, shaking her head in disbelief. "Oh please, those rumors are all crazy." She said, still giggling a bit. "I think I'll just go up and talk to her myself." Lucas raised his eyebrows, a surprised smile on his face. "You're going to just walk up to her?" He asked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. Stephanie shrugged, a determined look on her face. "Why not? She's new here, and I want to make her feel welcome."
Lucas chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "You're always too nice for your own good. But go for it, I'll be here watching." Stephanie took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to approach the new girl. She smiled, fixing her hair a bit before walking over. The newcomer looked aloof and reserved, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a subtle wariness. Stephanie's footsteps caught her attention, and the new girl looked up to see her approaching. Stephanie walked closer to the new student, her friendly smile still on her face. "Hi there, um, I don't think we've met before. I'm Stephanie," she said, extending a hand for a greeting.
The newcomer looked at Stephanie with her cool gaze, her expression unreadable. She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly shaking Stephanie's hand, her grip firm. The silence between them was a bit awkward as Kim said nothing in response. Stephanie, determined to break the ice, continued, "So, you're new here, right? Have you settled in okay so far?" Kim looked at Stephanie, her eyes studying her for a moment before replying in a calm and measured tone. "Yes, I am new here. Everything's been fine."
There was an air of aloofness about her, but Stephanie pressed on, sensing that there was more beneath the surface. Stephanie smiled again, trying to keep the conversation going. "That's good to hear," she said, then her curiosity got the better of her. "Can I ask your name?" Kim scrutinized Stephanie for a moment, her expression still neutral. She seemed to be contemplating her response, her eyes betraying a hint of wariness. After a brief pause, she finally spoke up, "...It's Kim." Stephanie nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Kim...that's a nice name." She tried to engage further. "Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"
Kim paused again, her sharp gaze sizing up Stephanie as if weighing how much information to share. "I'm from a small town," she said simply, her voice devoid of emotion. "It's nowhere you've heard of, probably." Stephanie's curiosity grew with each response from Kim. The newcomer was guarded and reserved, giving only the bare minimum. Despite Kim's aloof demeanor, Stephanie picked up on the subtle signals that there was more beneath the surface. She smiled understandingly. "I see. Sometimes small towns can be a bit isolating, huh?" Kim's patience was wearing thin. Stephanie's constant attempts to engage and make small talk were beginning to irritate her. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but Stephanie's friendliness was becoming increasingly difficult to bear. She met Stephanie's friendly expression with a cold glare. "Listen," she said, her tone sharp and guarded. "I'm not interested in socializing, okay? Can you just leave me alone?" Stephanie's cheerful demeanor faltered a bit, taken aback by Kim's abrupt and harsh response. She hadn't expected such a cold rejection. She took a step back, visibly surprised. "I...I just wanted to be friendly," she said, her voice slightly wounded.
Kim abruptly walked off, leaving a stunned and bewildered Stephanie behind, Lucas immediately appeared, having witnessed the exchange from a distance. He approached Stephanie with a mix of concern and curiosity on his face. "Hey," he said, his eyes studying Stephanie's troubled expression. "I saw what happened. Are you okay?" Stephanie let out a sigh, still reeling from the unexpected encounter. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, trying to brush off the hurt she felt. "I just... I thought I could help the new girl feel welcome, you know? But she just brushed me off so coldly." Lucas nodded, his expression sympathetic. "Some people are just like that, I guess," he said, trying to downplay the situation. "Don't take it personally, Stephanie. Not everyone is as friendly and welcoming as you are."
BELL RINGS
The sound of the bell rang loudly, signaling the start of class. The students in the hallway began to disperse, hurrying to their respective classes. Stephanie straightened up, her thoughts still lingering on the rejection she had just experienced. She tried to shake it off and focus on class, but the memory of Kim's harsh words still stung. Lucas gave Stephanie a reassuring pat on the shoulder before he walked off to his own class. Before he left, he said, "Don't let it get to you. The new girl's probably just not used to being around nice people like you." Stephanie smiled slightly at his words, appreciating his attempt to comfort her. "Thanks, Lucas," she said quietly as he walked away. Taking a deep breath, she gathered herself and headed to her class.
Stephanie entered the classroom and was immediately surrounded by her classmates wanting to talk to her, their laughter and conversation filling the air. As she engaged in their lighthearted banter, her conversation with Kim slowly faded from her mind, replaced by her usual sociable and bubbly demeanor. The teacher then walked in, calling for everyone's attention with an announcement. "Good morning, class. I have an important announcement to make." Stephanie and her classmates hurried to the respective seats The teacher, Mrs. Thompson, stepped in front of the class, her stern but kindly eyes scanning over the students. "As you all know, we have a new student among us," she said, gesturing with her hand towards the door. "I need the new student to please come in and introduce yourself." The room grew quiet, and all eyes turned to the door. A moment later, Kim walked in, her aloof and guarded expression still present. She took a few steps forward and stood silently in front of the class.
Kim introduction was quick and brief only mentioning her name and age, meanwhile Stephanie's mind flashed back to their previous conversation in the hallway. She noticed that Kim was as reserved as before, her voice and expression cold. Stephanie could not help but wonder why Kim was so distant and unresponsive to her attempts at friendliness. She couldn't shake off the memory of the harsh rejection she had received earlier. Mrs. Thompson then said, "Alright, Kim, you can take a seat next to Stephanie." She gestured to an empty seat next to Stephanie's usual seat.
As Kim walked over and took her seat next to Stephanie, a sense of awkwardness filled the air. Stephanie tried to flash a friendly smile, but Kim's cold demeanor remained unwavering. Stephanie glanced at Kim, who was sitting quietly and stoically beside her. She could feel the tension and coldness emanating from the new girl. Despite the previous rejection, Stephanie was not ready to give up. She firmly believed that there must be a reason for Kim's distant attitude, and she wanted to find out. Taking a deep breath, she decided to try once again to break the ice.
"So..." she began, her voice light and friendly. "This is going to be fun, being seatmates and all."
