In the Eye of the Virgo

Chapter 1

     I just walked into my new school in Indiana. I looked up and saw Kankakee Valley's mascot on the wall. I admired the painting of the cougar as the image looked as if it were popping out at you. I heard the bell ring and almost jumped a mile into the air as I hurried around the school trying to find the main office. When I finally found the office I asked where my first class was-FACs. 

      When I entered the classroom I became nervous due to all twenty eight heads turned towards me. I found a seat next to a window and sat down. Looking over my shoulder, I felt a pang of happiness go through me as I realized that no one sat next to me. I wasn't necessarily antisocial, but I also didn't like having other people around me. Fortunately, me being me, luck was never on my side. 

     I felt someone take the seat beside and I cringed. How can I be this unlucky? I slowly turned my head and found a mean looking cheerleader at my side. I turned my head back around and  squeezed my eyes shut. Before anyone could confront me about the usual curious new student questions, the teacher began talking. I've never thought that I'd be so grateful for a teacher to start a lecture. 

     I opened my book to the page the teacher requested and quietly took out my notebook and pencil. I wrote down what the teacher was explaining and took notes as I read through the chapter. When class was about to be dismissed, I heard the teacher announce what was going to be for our homework tonight-taking notes on what the chapter was about and my thoughts on it.

      I smiled to myself knowing that because I took notes during the discussion, all I had to do is add my opinion to them. When I was all packed up and ready to go, I realized that the people around me were staring. I looked up at the clock and mentally slapped my palm against my forehead. There was fifteen minutes left of class. I felt my face turn beet red and covered my face with my arms. I refused to look up because I knew that everyone was staring at me now. 

      The teacher looked up from her writing on the board and glanced over at me. It was her turn to mentally face palm herself-she forgot to address to the class that there was a new student. She cleared her throat and prepared the new student speech. "Class, please forgive me as I've forgotten to address that we've received a new student today." I looked up from my arms and dreaded what was to come next. "Mayla, will you please come down here next to me?" I slowly rose from the desk and walked to the front of the class. 

      "Class, this is our new student, Mayla Rose. Mayla, would you please tell the class a little bit about yourself?" I sighed and looked down at my hands. Biting my lip, I looked up into the teacher's spring green eyes. I gave a little nod and quietly cleared my dry throat. "Hi, I'm Mayla, I've moved here from Evansville, Indiana. I hope that I can meet all of you personally, and hope that we can become friends. Um....yeah." I heard the class weakly clap for me as I trudged back to my seat. I kept my head down and looked at my hands-I was shaking. 

     I felt a hand rest lightly on my shoulder and whipped my head up to see who dared to touch me. It was the cheerleader that took the seat next to me. She gave me a small smile and looked into my eyes. In my past, a cheerleader has never shown me kindness. But now, I think that not all cheerleaders are bad. The thing is, it puzzled me as to why she showed me, the new girl, kindness when I didn't do anything for her to show me it. 

      As I was sorting through my puzzlement, I heard someone say my name. It was the cheerleader-again. She flashed me a smile and waved at me, I gave a small wave back. I watched as she leaned in to whisper something into my ear. "Hi, I'm Veronica, nice to meet you!" I was shocked, no, dumbfounded-speechless. This was not how I was treated at my old school. I was known as the nerd-the silent loner-the victim-the bookworm. I didn't understand this girls's behavior at all.

     I had a feeling something was wrong or was it that I actually found a place where I can finally belong? I looked into Veronica's eyes and smiled. I slowly extended my hand and said, "Mayla, nice to meet you too!" We both turned back and faced the teacher as if we hadn't broken any barriers between the jocks and nerds. 

    I got up from my seat as the teacher dismissed class and headed to my locker. My locker, which was locker #192345, was a pain in the rear. As I clicked the numbers 29-14-08, I felt someone near me. On the third try, my locker opened only to be shut by someone. I looked up and glared daggers at the person who shut my locker. How dare they go around touching and closing your stuff!

   To my surprise, a boy stood by me, leaning on his right side against the locker by mine. It took all of my strength not to slap him. Instead, I took a deep breath and attempted to calm my nerves. I forced my voice to come out as smooth as silk and even gave a little smile. To my surprise, it worked.

   "Hi, I'm Mayla, and you are?" I asked extending my arm out for a hand shake. The boy looked at me with a distant look. It took a few seconds, but he finally smiled and shook my hand. "Brody, my name's Brody." The boy answered. "Well, Brody, is there anything I can help you out with? I may not be much help though, I'm new here." I said sweetly. It practically killed me, I hated talking to people I didn't know.

   "Yeah, maybe you can. . . ." Brody answered with a smirk. I forced a fake smile to my pale cheeks. "Okay, what is it then?" I asked trying not to grit my teeth. It was killing me inside.I felt as if my "sweetness" was fading away every time this guy spoke. It was like my IQ level was depleting to his. It made me wonder how dumb a boy could be?