I'll say sorry in advanced, i feel like this chapter is all over the place. The next one will be better, i promise.
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Today wasn't starting off good for Jen. Her morning sickness was exceedingly persistent this morning. She was running so late, she was lucky she could get dressed in time. Since it was chilly out Jen decided on some heather grey leggings, a bubble sleeve dress and some leather and wood heel boots. She grabbed her bag and clamored outside and down the stairs hurrying to her van. Jen was glad the town was small and the high school was nearby. Of course there were only spaces left in the back of the parking lot. Grumbling to herself Jen trudges to the front doors and steels herself against her nervousness. She spots the main office and opens the door; the receptionist was talking on the phone and held up a finger. Sighing Jen takes a seat and waits for what seems like hours but was really only a couple minutes. A guy walked in while she was waiting and sat a couple seats away from her. He was really tall and lanky, his hair was long and black, cut with a lot of layers and his eyes were a really sharp blue. He had a lip piercing and was wearing all black. He was actually pretty attractive.
"Excuse me honey?" Jen snaps back to attention and sees the receptionist beckoning for her.
"Yes, hi, I'm Jen."
"Oh yes, that's right Jennifer Bonner, the new student." Jen hears a snicker from behind her and resists the urge to look. "I have your schedule right here and a map of the school."
"Thank you."
"It's no problem and, Jace you can go on back now." She motions to the Principals door.
"Great." He mutters.
"You have a nice day now Jennifer." The receptionist waves her out the door and Jen walks unsteadily down the hall looking for her first class. It didn't take her long to find it; this school was a lot smaller than her old one. She could see inside the room, the class wasn't big; it looked like your average classroom nothing terribly scary. Taking a deep breath Jen opened the door and all eyes turned to her. It was like being center stage in front of the world.
"Can I help you?" A tall older woman, the teacher Mrs. Bowers, asked looking irritated.
"I'm Jen Bonner." She heard the telltale snickers and whispers. You'd think seniors would have a little more control over themselves.
"Miss Bonner," More snickers. "Class started ten minutes ago."
"Yes, I'm sorry I had to get my schedule from the front office."
"I'll excuse you this time but from now on be on time. You can sit there in the back." Mrs. Bowers points to an empty desk in the very back. The woman had seemed to take an instant dislike to Jen. Jen just shrugged it off; she never really liked English anyway, good thing too because Mrs. Bower ignored her the whole class period. The rest of the day was pretty boring an uneventful for Jen and she was glad for it. Blending in for as long as she could was the plan.
Jen's last class was the only high point, she had requested to take an advanced Piano class but the school was too small and didn't have one so she was in the advanced guitar class and the teacher, Mr. Fine, said Jen could accompany on the piano. She was really happy when she sat at the old grand piano.
"Why don't you play something for us, class is almost over and I'm done for the day." Mr. Fine says sitting with the other kids in the semi circle around the piano.
"Alright." Jen chose one of her favorite songs to play on the piano, Clocks by Coldplay. It was a fun song to play and always made her smile. The bell rang before she could finish, everybody shot out of their seats and clamored for the door like the building was on fire. Jen lacked some of that enthusiasm and meandered out to her car. The lot was almost empty when she got there so she didn't have to wait to get out.
"So you had a good day?"
"Yeah, I'm good at blending in." Tommy had called as soon as she got home. She was standing at the stove cooking some eggs and rice.
"Jen, why don't you try making friends?" Tommy asked sounding exasperated.
"I don't know, it's hard."
"You mean it's scary."
"Same difference."
"Jen, meeting someone new is always a little scary; you just have to suck it up." Tommy had a no nonsense tone making Jen smile.
"I'll think about it I promise."
"Good, I wouldn't want to have to come up there and..."
"And what." Jen says scooping her eggs and rice onto a plate.
"I don't know it sounded better in my head." Jen chuckles shaking her head.
"It always does, look I'm about to eat before I leave for work, I'll call you later."
"Alright, be safe."
"Thanks bye." Jen hung up and dug into her food.
The bar was smoky and hazy. Men and women alike were laughing and drinking after a presumably long hard day of work.
"Hey Dale." Jen says walking up to the bar.
"Right on time girly, go ahead and get settled in. You need anything just ask."
"Some ice water would be nice."
"You got it; I'll send Beth over with a pitcher and a glass."
"Thanks." Dale was a young man, he'd worked in the bar, Summer's, since his father had opened it years ago. He was now the owner and had hired her to play and sing, Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's. Jen sat on the piano bench and looked out over the room, no one had really noticed her yet, and so taking a cue from earlier she started playing Clocks this time she sang as well. People started to quiet down and listen. When she was performing, Jen never felt nervous, it just felt so natural.
People clapped enthusiastically all night after each song. No matter how good it felt Jen was exhausted afterwards. She showered and fell straight asleep thinking that today was a good day, she knew it wouldn't last though, in her experience it rarely ever did.
