vagary

"Isn't today such a lovely day?"

She hurries on her short legs as fast as they can carry her. It is nearing 7:20. The school bus should arrive at the stop in roughly two minutes time, so she wills her legs to move faster than they already are, as if that is even possible. It is the first day of seventh grade. She can't afford to miss the bus.

She only lets out a shaky but relieved breath when she is safely seated inside the bus on her usual seat- on the left side of the aisle, looking out the window as Adah, her bus mate sits with her.

"Hi, isn't today such a lovely day?" chirps Adah.

It surpasses her how someone can be so enthusiastic this early in the morning. Granted, it is the first day of school and everybody does look quite happy and chirpy in the bus, chatting casually with their friends. But still, it is Monday morning.

Or maybe there is just something wrong with her.

"Yeah, yeah it is." she replies with a tight smile.

Once in school, she says a quick goodbye to Adah and proceeds to the Auditorium. All students going to grade six and seven have to assemble here. Her stomach gives an ominous lurch as she realizes that she can't spot anyone she knows. Bummer.

She waits inconspicuously at the back of the crowd assembled, avoiding everyone as much as she can. She doesn't stand well up to strangers, one could say. She is not what one would call a social pariah. No. Almost everyone knows her, at least all the old ones do. She is a straight-A student, and being a teacher's ward adds to the attention she receives. She is just not that social with people. She has a couple of friends, yes, and she does interact with others sometimes, but that's that.

Once the teacher in-charge has rattled off all the names of the students allotted in different sections, she quickly exits to go find her classroom.

As she walks down the hallway, her classroom is supposed to be on the extreme left corner, she can feel that this year is going to be different. Sure, every year she has the same feeling walking down to her new class filled with mostly strangers, her backpack filled with new books and the atmosphere pregnant with sheer excitement, but this time she can feel a strong tug somewhere in her guts and a dull throb where her heart is supposed to be. And this tells her that something is going to be different. Not her different, because she is quite a boring person truth be told, but different different.

Oh, and she is Shiloh by the way. Shiloh Daniels.

As Shiloh enters the class, her eyes land on a familiar girl sitting on the front seat.

She recognizes her as Akshara, her friend from fourth grade when they were in the same section.

She quickly goes up to her and says hi. She could do with some socializing right now, seeing as Akshara is the only one she faintly knows in the class. Some she can recognize, but most are plain strangers.

"Oh, hi Shiloh! Come, have a seat." Akshara says with a bedazzling smile showing her pearly whites. Her smile reaches well beyond her eyes, she can clearly see the energy radiating from her hazel pupils.

"Um, thanks." Shiloh says, greatly relieved. Now she won't have to spend her first day of school sitting on the last bench, avoiding everybody. She doesn't stand well up to strangers, one could say.

"We haven't seen each other in years, Shiloh! Do you remember me?" Akshara exclaims with excitement which is infectious.

What is up with people today? Why is everyone so cheery? She wishes she had that kind of enthusiasm on early Monday morning.

"Of course I remember you Akshara." Shiloh rolls her eyes.

People like Akshara-walking balls of sunshine, you don't forget them easily. In fact, rephrase that, you don't forget them. Period.

"I'm so glad that we are together." Akshara says.

"Mhhm." Shiloh says, non-committedly.

On seeing no move from Shiloh's side to continue the conversation, Akshara turns around to talk to some of her other friends who are sitting behind.

Shiloh, meanwhile, just stares down at her French textbook on the table. It's a new subject they will be learning this year, and of course, she is a little excited at the prospect of learning a new language.

The day passes by quickly. Shiloh has lunch on the school assembly ground, alone in a small secluded corner shaded by the trees dotting the boundary of the school.

Shiloh sits cross legged, a half eaten egg tomato sandwich lying in the lunchbox in front of her, staring at students of different ages, different shapes and sizes, talking with each other, laughing, playing.

She tucks a rogue strand of her poker straight black hair behind her ear as a sudden breeze blows. Shiloh loves the feeling of the wind brushing her milk coffee brown skin, even more so since its a little too hot today for her liking.

She smiles.

This year is going to be good, she can feel it.

A/N  I am not much of interactive person so spare me if I have short author's notes. This is my first story on Wattpad. I am open to suggestions :)

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Much love, Sarah