The Exchange

Chapter 2

Britt and I walk into our new homeroom together and see about twelve people already here sitting in desks. I chose a desk close to the door and Britt sits in front of me. I scan the other people already here. A handful had been in my middle school but the rest must of gone to other middle schools. The walls are plastered with educational math posters. I look at some of the more appealing ones. multiplication tables, formulas, and measurments scream out at me and I figure this will also be our math class. A middle-aged woman with rough, graying hair sits at the teachers desk and types something on a Macbook. She looks friendly but looks can be decieving.

"Do you recognize anyone?" I aske Britt in a whisper.

"Only the nerds that went to Mackenzie King Middle School with us." She replies not impressed. I slump back into my seat and wait for more people to come in. Great, we look like the over excited freshman, and I am not happy with that image.

"Abby!" Bitt says excitedly and I turn around to see one the closest friends I had in elementary school Abigale Walker.

"Hey." Abby says taking the seat next to mine.

"Hey, how are you?" I ask scanning over her first day of school image. I know many of us were freaking out last night trying to get the perfect outfit together. Today isn't just the first day of school, it's the first day of high school and you can't change a first impression.

"I'm good how are you guys?" Abby asks pushing her extensions out of her dark face.

"We're good, How was your summer?" Britt replies Abby's question for the both of us and they continue exchanging our summer memories that came to an end this morning. I pretend to listen to their every word as I examine both my friends outfits.

Abby showes off her long legs in black skinny jeans that she paired with a white three quarter sleeve top that has a lace back. Her newly done hair is much different from the facebook photos she uploaded all summer. She has ditched the short wavy style and instead opted for long braids with light highlights in them that I know she would get tired of before Thanksgiving. She's wearing black corduroy toms on her feat and long gold earings that dangle low on her small, delicate ears. Abby was never one for jewelery but she does port a gold bangle with dark etching in it from Forever 21 which completes the outfit.

Britt is in blue skinny jeans which doesn't suprise me because she lives in anything skinny. She tucks the hem of her pants inside new purple hightops and sports a black and purple graphic tee. Her long blond hair is down and flows in her face which isnn't a surprise either. Britt iss sporty but tries to be girly at the same time and often ends up looking more hipster than anything else. She has no jewlery on, even though she has lots of it from her mother who buys her almost everything shiny. The girliest aspect of her ensemble is a light green eyeshadow on her lid that blends nicely with her blue-as-the-sea eyes but don't pop too much on her light, fair skin.

I on the other hand, am in blue three quarter jeans and a white tank top with thin silver designs. I covered my shoulders to follow school dress code with a blue cardigan and show off my new black ballet flats. The only jewelery I'm wearing is a thin silver bangle from my grandmother that I rarely take off, but usually I pile on necklaces and bracelets to create a layered look. I decided against that idea today because of the intricate design on my shirt, although that decision makes me feel bare now. I am so used to having multiple necklaces hanging from my neck and tons of bracelets weighing down my wrists. I didn't want to wear alot of make-up on my first day of school but I did want to "dress-it-up" and not be completely bare, so on my eyes I wear a smidge of black eyeliner and a light brown blush on my cheeks. I look girly/preppy which is kind of my style unlike Britt who is part jock part hipster and Abby who is full on girly girl.

More people start to file into the class room. I notice a few more people from Mackenzie King but no one who was in Britt and I's "group." A girl I am not familiar with takes a seat beside Britt and starts talking to her friends in the row in front of her. Around 30 people are in the classroom by the time the bell rings and morning annoucments come on.

"GOOOOOOD-MOOOOORRRRNNNNNING SPARTANS!!!" An over enthusiastic voice blarres over the P.A system and shocks most of the class. The teacher at the desk doesn't flinch as the voice welcomes everyone back to another school year.

"STUDENT COUNCIL HAS SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS PLANNED FOR YOU THIS YEAR FROM THE SCHOOL TALENT SHOW TO OUR ANNUAL HOMECOMING DANCE! OUR SCHOOL IS VERY EXCITED TO BE EXTENDING OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO OUTSIDE THE AREA AND AROUND THE GLOBE! THE SPARTAN COMMUNITY WILL BE GROWING IN MANY EXCITING WAYS! WE HOPE THIS YEAR IS A WONDERFUL SCHOOL YEAR FOR EVERYONE!"

Click. "Around the globe?" Britt turns around asking us. I shrug having no clue what that could mean but it probably won't involve me. I'm not really into joining clubs.

"Okay, lets get started." Our new teacher says getting up from behind her desk. She speed-walks to the blackboard and writes her name in white chalk. Mrs. Heckyard.

"Welcome to grade nine academic math!" She says overdramatically, stretching out her arms and gesturing to the posters around the room. I sit at the edge of my chair. I am not excited for math but I am excited to start the best years of my life.

I am determined to make these years the best ones ever!