Rose Among Thorns

12-classes

Rose pov:

The classroom falls into a brief silence as I step in, catching the attention of almost everyone. It's clearly my first day, but for everyone else, school has been in session for a while. I feel a dozen eyes on me, and I try my best to ignore them as I glance around for an open seat. Most desks are taken, with only a couple of empty spots scattered near the back.

I start making my way toward one of them, choosing the empty seat closest to a quiet-looking girl scribbling in a notebook. Next to her, another girl is chatting animatedly with the person in front of her, her voice lively and full of energy. She's making wide hand gestures as she talks, her high ponytail swinging as she laughs.

The quieter girl notices me first. She glances up, giving me a polite, shy nod as I sit down, her gaze quickly returning to her notebook. I offer a small smile, trying not to feel too awkward.

"Hey," I say softly. "I'm Rose."

She glances over and gives a faint smile. "I'm Emma," she replies, her voice gentle. She seems friendly enough, though she doesn't say much beyond that, focusing back on her doodles. Her eyes flicker to the door for a moment, as if she's waiting for class to start and doesn't want to be interrupted.

Suddenly, the girl beside her turns around and spots me, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Oh, you're new!" she says, grinning widely. "I'm Lila. So, where'd you transfer from? Don't worry, the first day's always the hardest."

I shrug, not wanting to go into details. "Just... from somewhere else. Hoping for a fresh start, I guess."

She nods understandingly. "Well, you came to the right place. As long as you can survive Mrs. Harper, you're golden," she says with a playful wink, tilting her head toward the teacher's desk.

I follow her gaze and finally take in the woman standing at the front of the room, her arms crossed and her expression serious as she watches the clock. Mrs. Harper has a calm but intense aura, like she doesn't need to raise her voice to command attention. Just as the last few students settle, she clears her throat, instantly silencing the class.

"Good morning," Mrs. Harper begins, her voice clear and firm. "Let's get started. I'll go over a few important reminders and expectations for those of you who think the rules don't apply after the first week."

There's a low murmur of laughter from the class, and she raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. As she goes on about class rules and expectations, I notice Emma listening intently, nodding along with every point Mrs. Harper makes. Lila, meanwhile, has already returned to her doodles in her notebook, rolling her eyes now and then with a slight smirk.

"So," Lila whispers to me, leaning closer, "do you think you're up for it? Mrs. Harper doesn't mess around."

I manage a quiet laugh and nod, though part of me is still a little nervous. "I'll do my best."

"Good answer," Lila says, grinning. She then turns back in her seat as Mrs. Harper continues her introduction.

The teacher's gaze sweeps over the room, her expression never softening. "Since we have a new student with us today, why don't we start with introductions?" she says, her eyes landing on me for a second before moving on. "Everyone, please stand, say your name, and share one thing you hope to learn this semester."

My stomach flips as I realize she's talking about me. One by one, my classmates stand up, each introducing themselves and stating something they hope to get out of the class. When it's Emma's turn, she rises quietly, her cheeks faintly pink.

"I'm Emma," she says softly. "And, um, I'd like to improve my writing skills."

She sits back down quickly, and I smile at her, trying to offer some reassurance. Then it's Lila's turn.