With Love, Silvia. [✔️]

Chapter 8 Hollow Springs High

Before I knew it, Thanksgiving had happened and the rest of fall break flew by like a steady breeze. Erica had taken me to the closest place that sold clothes, which in my case was their local Super Target. Erica was cool about it. I had an unlimited budget, and I could try on whatever I wanted, and could keep any thing I needed. So I pushed the large bright red cart around the teens clothing section. Everything was to big for me. I was a petite girl, so I normally had to go down to the tweens section. I sighed and lugged the cart to the tween section.

They had jeans galore, and lots of leggings. I put 2 pairs of jeans in the cart and a pair of floral printed leggings. I grabbed a bunch of shirts, tried everything on, and then we left.

Now I'm here, standing in front of the administration building clutching my paper lunch sack with all my might. I hated the idea of a new school, and I longed for Mom more than ever as I took shaky steps up the concrete stairs. Erica pulled open the little building's surprisingly large, (and heavy) door and warmth from the heater instantly warmed my freezing nose.

I followed Erica toward the front desk where a lady sat on a swivel chair typing quickly on her desktop computer. She barely looked up from her work and asked,

"How may I help you?" in a gruff voice.

"I'm Erica Hanson, I think I talked with the principal on the phone about this. I'm here to enroll my godchild Silvia Track." Erica said peering over the lady's computer. I did the same and saw she was writing a very long email to the Physical Education teacher about all the parent complaints about "over working the children." I wasn't looking forward to gym now...

"Fill out everything on this clipboard. Then return it to me, I'll get your schedule and your student escort if you happen to be running late." The lady said sliding a clipboard with a very thick packet to Erica. A little pen was attached with a silver beaded chain that jingled when you moved it. Erica plopped down onto the seats lining the hallway to the principal's office.

I was such a great student, I never dreamed of going to the principal's office. It made me too nervous to think about it...

After a while of sitting, Erica signed her name at the bottom of the last page and clicked the pen shut. She took a big breath and handed it back to the desk lady who had taken out my schedule, locker combo, lunch money account, and gym locker combo. She also had a map of the school and highlighted the quickest rout to my classes, but I could have my student escort show me the way.

"Alrighty then, have a great day at school Silvey." Erica said rubbing my head and walking out the door. The desk lady called to the back of the office.

"Wes Biano!" She shouted and to my surprise Wes from the coffee shop came up to the desk smiling.

"Yes Ms. Craig?" He asked.

"Ms. Track is new to our school and I would like you to escort her to your classes for the day, seeing that you both have the same schedule." Ms. Craig said and busied herself in typing up the P.E complaint email.

"Silvia! How's it been going?" Wes asked as he lead me out of the door.

"Fine. You?" I asked completely lying. I was sooo not fine, and I probably wouldn't be fine but I don't think you can answer the, How it goin' question with a negative response.

"Fine too. I have to work in the front office for the next month thanks to the stupid idea my friend Josh had, we went and forked Principal Wattman's front yard. Apparently she had security cameras watching our every move. That lady can't take a simple joke I tell you." Wes said as he quickly walked me into the main building. My schedule said that I had Algebra 3.

We got to the classroom door of my new algebra class. A plaque said Mr. Redson's Algebra 3 Class in fancy lettering.

"Mr. Redson's cool. You'll like him. Unlike the other teachers you'll meet around here..." Wes aid pulling open the door. I smiled a little and followed him inside.

I was surprised to see a young guy sitting at his desk eating ramen noodles as everyone entered the classroom.

"Weston! Who's your new friend?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows at him.

Oh gosh, please don't say something more embarrassing..... I prayed as Wes explained that I was the new transfer from New York who lives with Erica Hanson.

"You don't say..." Mr. Redson said finishing his noodles.

"I knew Erica's husband through college, until, well, he went off on a business trip..." He said as his face fell.

I knew that Erica's husband was killed in a plane crash just after Owen was born. I knew what it felt like having someone gone, because not only did I just lose my mother, my dad went off to war and was declared missing. I have a feeling he's alive somewhere, happy and safe. But it's been years and he hasn't come back. It hurts as much as the pain I get when I think of Mom. So I usually don't.

"Why don't you take a seat Ms. Track?" Mr. Redson said pointing to an empty chair in the middle of the classroom.

I nodded and took a seat and slung my backpack over the back of my chair. I grabbed a pencil and waited for everyone to show up. Iris came in as soon as Mr. Redson made a mark on the whiteboard and she scurried to the seat next to mine.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Hi." I whispered back.

"Ms. Biano? You've been tardy for the past week, explanation please..." Mr. Redson said putting the cap back on his Expo Marker.

"I was helping a fawn cross the road after it's mother viciously abandoned it." Iris said smiling. Everyone in the class laughed. I assumed this was her usual behavior.

"I'll believe that when pigs fly, Iris. Please see me in detention after school." Mr. Redson said and returned to writing a long equation on the board.

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The day went on for eternity, class after class. I have to say that I like Algebra best, or maybe English with Miss Kathy.  Wes was right about the boring teachers. Science with Mrs. Emuel and World History with Mrs. Simon was the worst part of my day. Oh and not to mention P.E, but that class is expected to be bad. Luckily I had lunch hour with both Iris and Wes, and they welcomed me to sit with them. Wes introduced me to his trouble making friend Josh, and Iris introduced me to her friend Anika. We had a lot of fun, especially when Josh snorted the cafeteria's chocolate milk out of his nose.

As I walked home from school that day, I had a sense of relief. I had the first day done, and I was feeling good.