A Journey, A Coincidence, A Memory

Chapter 5: Maisie

January 19, 2022, 7:30 am

This is a relief!

At least I won't have to drive to school anymore as this new school is five miles away from my house and I can't drive that far, so my mom is taking me there.

As I sit in the car, deeply glaring out the window, I watch all the trees brush past. It turns out this school is a public school and is also a main, recommended school for all Los Angeles residents and citizens; also known as ... bad news. I hate public schools, as those places are never peaceful. Autumn told me once that she went to a public elementary school in which she said, "It's the most unfortunate place ever! I recommend you to never go to a public school," with a melancholy-like voice, it sounded miserable.

Anyway, I'm almost there to the forbidden place again, but this time ... it's a new one. Anxiety and apprehension commenced around my axon, taking its time to fully consume each every nerve. Dread started to join them as my mom slowly parked into the parking lot. "We're here!" my mom says enthusiastically as if she's excited for me to go. "You can leave now!"

I pause, I'm not going anywhere.

"Hello?" my mom asks, staring at my blank face. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," I say ironically.

"Then what are you waiting for? We reached school, go on ... exit the car then enter the school."

I can't, I just can't. There is totally no way I'm entering that place. "I don't want to, Mom"

"Stop speaking nonsense, Maisie. You're going to be late!" She's practically yelling at me now and that's not a good sign.

"Ugh, OK fine!" I aggressively reply as I dart my backpack over me and walk inevitably to the main gate. That's when my apprehensive tension increases.

I slowly enter with my mouth about to throw a tantrum. There are an exceedingly huge amount of students walking around the main hall. I can't estimate how much exactly, but probably about a million. I continue walking straight around the main hall, seeing everybody with at least a friend with them. That kind of humiliates me as I don't have anyone walking beside me.

Someone saved the day by almost giving me a heart attack. "Heyyy, Maisiee!" It's Autumn, my bestie on her way to relieve me out of this business.

"Hey, life-saver," I reply in a relieving tone.

"What's up? Looking for your class?"

"Yup, can't seem to find it anywhere."

"Same here girl, we should go up to the reception's desk and ask that random lady over there where our class is," Oh no, I hate meeting random people; it turns out I actually have Xenophobia.

"Can't we just look for it?" I ask anxiously, dragging her away from the reception area.

"Come on, Maisiee. Stop being such a pushover. This school is a mansion! Let's just go, I'll do the talking." That's a relief. Autumn really is a life-saver.

I apprehensively follow Autumn to the reception desk, where an untypical middle-aged woman is sitting. "Hey there girls, how can I help?" she says optimistically.

"We are actually students from Hollywood Middle School, and we want to know what and where our new classes are," Autumn explains.

"Oh yes, Hollywood Middle School students ... names please?"

"I'm Autumn Denis."

"What about you?" the receptionist asks, as she faces me.

Oh no, my social anxiety increases, "I-I-I am M-m-mai-"

"Maisie Carmen," Autumn interrupts. She's a shield to me now.

"Okay ... It looks like you two will be situated in class 8L ..." the receptionist announces. "It's straight ahead, up the stairs, then take a left."

"Okay great, thanks!" Autumn replies as we leave the reception area.

"Autumn, you're a life-saver," I energetically say.

"Woah girl, you just said that to me earlier."

"I know; I'm just saying how lucky I am to have a friend like you, Autumn."

"I don't know what I did, but thanks."

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I kept on going on and on about how impressively great Autumn is as we walked along the corridor. It's taking ages to get there, I felt like it has been an hour.

We then reached our destination and it turns out we were extremely early; no one was there except Harper and Abigail.

"Hey there girls!" Mrs. Julia simpers. "Timing is different here, so that's probably why you're early." At least my sleeping problem is solved, now I can wake up at 7:30 am and go to school at 8.

"That's a relief! I think I might like this place," I positively say.