Ella

Chapter 1

I wake up panting and out of breath. I'm surprised that I'm in my bed. Bright, yellow sunlight shines through my open window blinding me for a moment.

It was just a dream, I think.

"Ugly, ugly, yeah, yeah you're ugly! Your hair is stupid, just like you! Aww does baby need some tissue?" The cheerleaders chant over and over again while I sob miserably. I turn abruptly on my heels and run out of the gym doors while the entire school laughs. Running through the hallways I trip multiple times injuring my knees. I think I feel blood. I push the doors leading outside and scan the lot for my car. As soon as I lay my eyes on it I run in that direction. Cranking up the car I try to control my breathing before driving off.

I know, I know. The cheerleaders little chant was childish. What are we in, the 3rd grade?

Forcing myself out of the bed I stand up and stretch my limbs. Today was my first day at West Aurora High School and I was beyond nervous. The nightmares that I've been having for weeks weren't helping at all. My biggest fear is being humiliated in front of anybody, even if there's only a couple of people around.

I drag myself to my bathroom and turn out the hot water in my shower. When it's just right I step inside and close the door behind me. As soon as I've showered good enough, I step out and grab the first drying towel that I see. It's crumpled up on the ground and I'm pretty sure it's dirty but I don't care.

After I dried off I wrap the towel around me securely and step back into my room. I grab my clothes that I'd picked out last night and put them on as fast as I can and then, I glance at the clock. It's only 7:23 but I still rush even though school doesn't start until 8. No doubt there will an assembly of some sort since it's the first day of school. Sadly, it's my first day ever at this school and it's also my last year here.

I didn't want to go to a new school for my senior year but when my dad got a new job offer in Alabama he took it. I had no idea where Alabama was, or what it was, because I'd never heard of it, ever. Leaving all of my friends and my amazingly awesome boyfriend behind I left sunny California behind one month before school started back on August 26th.

Alabama was a state down south above Florida and under Tennessee. When we first got her all I saw was farms and then when we went through some cities I got hope that maybe it wouldn't be so boring , and my town didn't look so bad after all.

It wasn't hard to tell that it was a college town. Everywhere you went you saw that gigantic red A. On t-shirts, cars, hats ... I even saw it tattooed on some people.

I grabbed my backpack and white iPhone 5 and headed downstairs where my mom, dad, and brother were eating breakfast.

"Hi Hi!" I said as I rushed to fix me a cup of coffee. "OH NO!" I Yelled. "I forgot to brush my teeth and to do my hair." I said running back up the stairs. I brushed my teeth and ran a brush through my hair and was out the door in record time.

The clock in my car read 7:39 and I realized that it's only been about 15 minutes. I backed out of the driveway, after checking to make sure no cars were coming, and was on my way to my new school.

I pulled up in the school parking lot and stepped out into the warm air. I stepped into the schoolyard and was instantly surrounded by hundreds of people. Everyone around me was wearing shorts and t-shirts, or a dress. Of course they were a lot of girls who though they were so cute so they had to wear insanely short shorts with tank tops.

How about no?

I guess I fit in by my clothes. I was wearing a blue high-low dress and my black sandals. I felt my backpack lighten up and I turned around to see what was going on. All my books had fell out onto the ground. I guess I forgot to zip my backpack up completely. I crouched down to pick up my books. Stacking them up together I slid them back into my backpack.

I stood up and glanced around the yard again .I scanned the ground looking at all of the different faces. There were a couple of cute guys that I've seen so far, but some of them were just plain ugly.

I weaved my way through the crowd leading up to the steps. Inside the school was just as gigantic. Just like the outside, the inside was filled with people but there were more. Bright posters were all over the walls and doors. People were talking and laughing with all of their friends trying to catch up from the summer.

I wish I had friends to catch up with, I thought.

Pulling out my schedule from my backpack I looking at my first period class. It was science with someone named Mr.Jones. Glancing around, I spotted a stack of papers on a table. Looking closer I realized that it was a map of the school. I grabbed one and searched for the 10th grade science lab. Sadly it was on the 4th floor and I don't know if this school had elevators or not.I started off on my long journey.

Brinnnngggggg.

Why was the bell going off? It was only 7:50?

Good morning teachers and students! Welcome back! I hope that your summer was wonderful and I also hope that you are ready to get back to learning!There will be an assembly for EVERYONE at 1:00! Ninth graders please remember to come to the school lobby at 9:00 for the school tour if you are interested. Ninth grade will meet at 9:00, tenth at 10:00, eleventh at 11:00, and twelfth at 12:00. Have fun and remember GOOOOOOOOOOOOO West Aurora High School!

I made a quick note in my phone for everything that concerned me and kept looking for the science lab.

I finally found the science lab at the end of the fourth floor. I walked in and was surprised to see that it was almost full. The teacher looked up and I was taken aback. He was handsome. Very handsome. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a pale skin tone but he still looked fabulous.

"Hello," I said. "My name is Ella!"

"Hello Ella! My name is Mr.Jones and I'll be your science teacher this year. You can take a seat anywhere you'd like and class should start right about ... now." He said just as the bell rang.