The morning of Sept 3rd, I woke anew. At least it felt like it. It was the first day of school, with the only good things of this year being that I had foods, web design, and a top locker. Sighing, I prepared for another shitty day as an outcast.
“Good morning students. Welcome to your first day at West Harrington Secondary School. I am your principal, Mr. Hammond, and I would like to welcome all freshmen! Grade 9 and up, please go immediately to the homeroom you received on your schedule. Grade Eights, please go to the gymnasium for your fist assembly.” Our principal droned on and on. I lowered my head and headed straight to my locker on the third floor.
Being a higher grade, my locker was a higher floor. The halls were flooded with young grade eights frantically searching for the auditorium, wanting to be a good child, to not be late. Hah, stupid freshmen. I muttered under my breath. Upon reaching the third floor, I immediately found my new locker. It was the old locker of John Smith, one of the hottest guys in my year. All the popular kids would want this locker, fat chance they’d be getting it away from me! I’m the school oddball, no one talks to me. This year though, felt different.
“Hey there, I’ve seen you around, it’s Alana, right?” Upon hearing my name faintly over the music from my headphones, I take them off and look around me. There, to my right, is the hottest guy on campus, John Smith looking down at me. “Oh, hey there. Yeah, it’s Alana, but I prefer Shimmer. It’s been my name since I was little” I reply, looking around to find the group of laughing guys or hidden cameras. As I’ve said before, no one talks to me, definitely not the hottest guy in my school.
“I see you have my old locker! I know how so many girls want it, they must be so jealous!” he said, laughing as he looked at me.
“Yeah, I guess.” I say quietly. As I look up to him I see hints of a genuine smile, and only hope this is true. I push my bangs back behind my ear.
“What are you doing all alone up here?”
“Class is soon. I’m getting ready for a day of torture.”
“Well, where are your friends? He looks at me quizzically.
Laughing, I reply. “What friends? I haven’t had any friends since grade 8. I’m an outcast, a loner. Can’t you see that?” I point at my dark clothes and normal face, one that’s not all put together like all the other girls, and trust me, I mean all.
“I can, actually. That’s why I came to say hi. You need someone, Shimmer, I can see that. Text me okay? Let me walk you to homeroom, I think we’re in it together!”
He seemed so enthusiastic; I grabbed my things and let him take me to homeroom. Sure enough, we were in it together. Of course, he wanted to sit with me, but I refused to let him get me in the front, so he sat with me in the back. I thought nothing of him sitting with me; I thought he’d get fed up at my quietness and just sit up front tomorrow. I could not stop thinking about the fact that he talked to me, though. It was a new experience. Not talking, just having a guy, let alone a popular one talk, that actually wants to spent time with me.
