New Girl

Chapter 1

"Amari, wake up its time for school!" I hear my mom yell from downstairs. "You don't want to be late for your first day at a new school. Especially not your first day of senior year!"

Ah yes, the worst thing ever; new school, new people, new teachers, new city, new life, but same me. I get up out of my bed as I sulk my way to the shower. I turned on the shower and let the warm water wake me up from the dead.

I didn't ask for this change it was just like Bam! and we are moving. I remember telling my friends that I was moving. They were all so sad and my best friend cried every time she saw me the week leading up to my move. I felt so bad because I knew there was nothing I could do to stay. I remember begging my mom to let me stay with a family member but she was adamant on me going with her. The thought of me leaving my life in Chicago made me mad because that's all I knew. To move to one city from another felt sort of pointless to me.

I change for school, grab my phone, and head down stairs.

Time to face the day I think to myself "I'm not ready for what today throws at me and I feel like it's gonna be hell" but I put on a smile for my mother and head down stairs.

"Good morning sleepy head are you ready for school?" She asks me already knowing the answer but hoping it would be different

"No, I am not, I don't understand why we had to move all the way from Chicago to New York just because you got a new job. I could have stayed with Granny or Sayori but, of course, I had to move too it's not fair to tell you the truth it sucks but whatever."

"Look Amari, I'm sorry we had to move, I didn't know it would hurt you that much. I know it was a surprise to you but I had no choice but to move " She says close to tears
"You know I need this job to provide for us. Just try for me please, give it a week and feel it out."

Oh no she's getting emotional. I hated when my mom cried because it always makes me cry. She's not a very emotional person so she doesn't cry often but when she does she tends to cry about more than what she's sad about in the moment.

"Mama it's ok. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have jumped on you like that. I know you try your hardest thank you." I say trying to calm her down I was so caught up in my feelings I completely neglected my mom and how she feels.

I don't want her to start overthinking and telling herself that I hate her or that she's a bad parent because that would lead to a depressive episode that could last a while. She's just like me though, always needing reassurance to make sure everything is okay.

"Look I have to go to school. Ya know don't want to be late on the first day a school," I crack a smile. "I'll see you later."

I kiss her cheek and head out the door. It's cool outside and I pat myself on the back for bringing this flannel.

Looking around it's actually a beautiful neighborhood and it actually reminds me of back home. I try to change my outlook on today and I take a deep breath. The schools a good walking distance from my house so I won't have to start worrying about taking the train until it gets cold outside.

Standing outside the schools pretty big, it looks like a historical building that got modernized and it reminds me of a colosseum in a strange way. I look around me and there's a horde of kids walking into the building. As I walk into school I already feel like I don't belong.

Everybody looks like they're TikTok famous with over 20k on Instagram and Twitter and it's weird. We're in high school but it's a fashion show. Its so much different than Chicago. Maybe because it's a new school and my brain is playing tricks on me but the people here look like they have money.

When I reach the principals office the door was wide open as if to say welcome to your doom. As I entered the room the principal whose name I'm guessing was Mr. Morris since it was plastered on the door in big bold letters was standing in front of his desk.

"Hello, you must be Amari welcome to Midwood High School here are your classes and your locker number have a nice day." He said.

Wow, what an introduction first day and I already have no clue where I'm going. Faking confidence is a great way to trick yourself into being confident so it's time to improvise. As I walk out of the office I run into somebody

"What the fuck is wrong with you bitch this is Gucci and now it has coffee all over it cause you wanted to be a klutz and run into me!" The girl in front of me whines

I just stand there like a dumbass while some white bitch who looks like she could be an Instagram model with thousands of clothes in her closet, screams about how clumsy I am and how I should watch where I'm going so I speak up

"Ok first of all shawty you ran into me so chill g second of all I don't give a fuck about what the hell your wearing and third of all I don't know you from nowhere so don't be screaming at me hoe." First day in a new school and I've reverted to my old self.

"Look, I don't know who you are or what "hood" she puts in quotation marks "you came from but you don't belong here." she says and smacks my papers and books out my hands

I stand there shook. If I was back home there would be a circle and phones out recording with people yelling "woorrllddssttarrrrr!" and I would be getting ready to knock the lights out this girl, but I'm not home. I'm in New York, at a new school trying to be a better person for my mom and for myself.

"Anna chill just leave her alone igh she's probably new here cut it out." a cute guy standing behind her says. So her name is Anna. Great first day and I'm already about to start some shit.