Outside the lines

Part 2 - Rowan

School made me sick.

Too many faces, too many loud noises. Everything was just too much. Not to mention today was my first day here, and since I transferred it meant everyone already made friends, got to know each other and their classes. I was going to be the odd one out. I was going to be known as "the new girl".

I entered the building, holding my schedule sheet in one hand and my bag in the other. If I were to find my first class quickly, maybe I wouldn't miss the whole thing. I scrambled my way from corridor to corridor. My eyes scanning the door frames for the number "723C", a certain "Mr. Harrison's class".

My patience was running thin, I finished scanning the first floor but hadn't found the right class. I located the staircase that led to the second floor and quickly reached the top, sharply turning right, trying desperately to find the class.

"720, 721, 722. 723C, found it". I thought to myself. 

I swung the door open, almost right away regretting not knocking instead as the heads of the students turned to me. The tall figure of a man with wavy brown hair and a pair of black glasses approached me. "Rowan, there you are. Finally found the right classroom?" 

I quickly took a look at my schedule sheet, scanning the paper for the teacher's name that I had forgotten already.

- Are you Mr. Harrison? 

- Yes that's me. Mr. Harrison turned to his students: "Class, this is Rowan Sinclair, she will be joining us here at Westfield academy, I hope you will all be giving her a warm welcome".

I hated when teachers did that, giving that classic speech of "Please welcome the new student" like they did in movies. I rolled my eyes and gripped my bag as I walked in, I wasn't planning on leaning next to the door frame all day.

My eyes scanned the room, looking for an empty desk to claim. Passing from mean looking girls wearing all pink to jocks in varsity jackets with egos almost bigger than their arms.

Suddenly I locked eyes with a girl, she was short with slightly chubby cheeks. The girl had this beautiful dark colored skin accompanied by deep brown eyes and fluffy black hair that passed her shoulders and more importantly the desk next to her was empty.

"This is Zoey Patterson, you can have a seat next to her".

Zoey, that's her name. 

She gave me a soft smile but I didn't return it. It was too early to start making friends, I didn't even know this girl and I wasn't quite sure yet if I wanted too either.

I jumped into the desk, dropping my bag next to me, pressing my back next to the chair as I crossed my arms. It was chilly in here, and the fact I was wearing a black spaghetti top clearly wasn't helping.

Before I knew it the bell rung. So much for showing up early so I didn't miss the lesson. I sighed, closing my eyes before opening them again and grabbing my things from the ground. 

I headed for the door but ran into Zoey. We were both standing in front of the frame and I patiently waited for her to leave first, we couldn't leave at the same time because the door frame was too small.

"You can go" the girl smiled, holding her things tightly in front of her chest, tilting her head and smiling, once again, at me.

I was about to thank her but I didn't want to keep her waiting any longer, I nodded and quickly left the class, sharply turning left to move on to my next task, which was finding my locker.