New Again & Again

Always changing

Walking down the hallway as the new kid wasn't a new thing for Nevera Newton, as she had to change school at least once every year. The stares from fellow peers didn't make her nervous but anxious to meet everyone.

  This time I'll fit in, she thought to herself.

  Looking for her locker that was on the left hand side of her had been her mission since eight in the morning. An hour before she had started her search, the principal had taken her on a tour around the campus. "Now, this school is proud of its students, we had the highest grades in the country last year," he'd said, voice gravelly. His speech about the school and how well it's progressed every year went on for a good half hour before he would allow her to leave.

  Finally finding the locker with the numbers 165 printed boldly on the front, she pulled to the side to place her unneeded items in. She placed the key that had been in her hand the whole morning into the keyhole, her hand trembling a little bit as she turned the key. Pulling the locker door open she noticed that there was a note that was colour of midnight on one of the shelves. As she started to open the note someone bumped into her. She turned around to see who but they were already gone.

  Looking down at her purple watch she quickly took in the time and moved to grab the books she needed for her first two classes. Opening the note quickly that was still in her hand, she noticed that it was from the office that said she needed to show her first teacher the note. Leaving her locker to go to class she couldn't help but smile until she reached her classroom and wiped the smile off her face.

  Entering the room she could see why the principal went on about the school. Everyone was seated in their seats with their books ready to work, all eyes focused and intent on the board ahead.

"Can I get pass you?" The voice made her jump out of surprise. Turning to see a middle age guy with shaggy brown hair she quickly moved aside. "Thanks," he said as he passed her.

  Placing her note from the office on the teacher's desk she received a 'take a seat' from the middle aged teacher. "We have a new student in the class. Nevera Newton," he stated. Everyone turned their head to look at her, overlooking her quickly before turning back to the black board.

The morning lessons seemed to fly by, one minute the clock had said eight-forty and before Nevera knew it it was ten-forty. She'd grabbed her phone from her locker after class and made her way to the cafeteria. There was a text message from her mother when she opened messages up once she was seated on one of the many tables that maintain a residence in the cafeteria.

Hey honey
Sorry we had to move again but you know what my job is like. Hopefully they'll settle me here so we don't have to move again, fingers crossed. Have a good first day; I'll see u at home.
Love mum

  Closing her phone felt good but at the same time Nevera understood what her mother meant. Looking over her shoulder she saw all the other students crowded around the large table in the middle of the room, some of them stood shoulder to shoulder in order to see something that was hidden from her eyes.

  The day progressed as any other school day would go, classes, lunch then home. With no homework for the night Nevera tried to occupy herself with drawing and brushing her long brown hair until she flopped onto her bed.

  Nothing had changed since the first day. Students continued to be ready and intent in classes, lunches quiet and boring as Nevera still sat by herself for the eighth week in a row. Her peers didn't come up to her to say 'hey' or even 'hello'. They would crowd around the big table once a week but every other day they sat in groups of ten or so. Nevera did try a couple of times for conversation, but they were interested or doing something every time she approached them.

  On the Tuesday of her ninth week her mother sat her at the dinner table to talk, never a good sign. "We have to move again Nevera," she said looking her daughter in the eye. "But they finally came through. This is going to be our very last move, and if I'm wrong I'll quit."

  Nevera could see the truth behind her mother's words and nodded her head in agreement. Nevera couldn't say she was completely sad to leave, she would miss the classes and the teaching styles of the teachers. Not knowing the other students helped with moving, leaving her feeling average or even the tiniest bit tainted, but she was used to it.