The Girl with the Blue Hat

Austin's POV

Bigcitydreams played on my ipod as i got ready for my first day at my new school. I pulled on my favorite jeans and a gray tshirt and toustle my hair. If you got it all figured out, then what is there to shout about this midwest town is gonna miss you just go ahead and work it out. My ipod sings, as if to remind me that being here in DC won't be too bad and that it's a chance to make my dreams come true. I grab my backpack and converse and bound down the stairs.

"Austin, are you ready yet?" My mom says upon seeing me come down stairs.

"Just need breakfast." I reply as i grab an apple.

"Don't be late, its your first day. And don't forget to drop Bianca off."

"Mom, you're seriously sending Bianca to school? Why not just keep homeschooling her?"

"New place, why not see how she does?" Mom says, finishing packing my little sister's lunch. I sigh, I'm not going to win this arguement. I just go with it and head to school, Bianca in tow and my fingers crossed for her sake. After dropping her off at the elementary school, I park in the designated student parking lot.

After getting my schedule, i hit the halls. This school is ginormous compared to my old one back in small town usa. The principal walks up with a guy about my age.

"Austin, this is Carter, he'll show you around school today. Hope you enjoy it." the principal says before disappearing back into his office.

"Hey Austin, I'm Carter." he says with a smile.

"Hey..."

"Alright, let's look at that schedule. World History, i have that with you; Biology, i think you'll have that with my friends, Xavia and her sister Amanda; World Lit., i've got that one too; and then Human Relations uhm Amanda might have that one but i don't think Xavia does and it's rare for them to have a class apart so I'm not sure... Anyways, let's go to your locker and then World History!" Carter says and begins guiding me through the never-ending crowd of students in the hallways.

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Xavia's POV

I'm sitting in Algebra 2 when my phone vibrates. I slip it out of my boot and onto my lap. One new message from Carter.

C: I'm showing the new guy around school today. He's pretty cool ya know...

X: Carter, ik what ur thinkin but i can meet guys all by myself.

C: U sure bout that X?

I smile, trying to think of a really good comeback.

"Ms. Harlem, did you hear me? I thought you were the one without disablities." Mr. Brown asks, standing at the white board, pointing at an unsolved problem from the homework. I ignored his snide comment relating to my sister.

"Uh, yeah. I was just double-checking my answer."

"Well, it should be correct then shouldn't it?"

"Uh huh... 53 inches?"

"Correct, Ms. Harlem, thank you."

After staring blankly at the board for another hour or so, i was saved by the bell. I picked up my books and headed toward the door.

"Excuse me, Ms. Harlem, would you mind staying after for a bit?" Mr. Brown asks, moving to sit behind his desk.

"Uh, sure Mr. Brown." I sit in a desk closer to him.

"You are the one without disablities, correct?" He asks, slight guilt glazing his eyes.

"Yes, I am Xavia. My twin Amanda is the so called 'disabled' one." I say, not excluding the barbs underlying the word disabled.

"I am sorry if I have offended you, but I had to make sure. You two look so similar." He replies carefully, as if a feeble apology like that could just fix everything.

"Well, we are twins Mr. Brown." I say over my shoulder as I head back to the door.

"Do tell your sister I say hello please."

"Will do." I say as the door shuts. I let a heavy sigh out and brace myself for the rest of the day.

I meet my sister at our lockers and we go to biology. We're sitting at our usual lab table when Carter pops his head in and waves. I sigh and wave back. He gives me an exasperated look, I didn't do what he wanted me to do; but i don't really care because I want to meet this guy on my own terms, not Carter's. I'm looking down at my notes when my sister pats my arm. I glance up and there he is.

The new guy is standing in front of the class, fidgiting as Mrs. Renolds introduces him to the class. His name is Austin and he just moved here from a small town in Minnesota. He got assigned to the lab table right next to ours, since the class is now odd numbered, he won't have a lab parter. He'll probably be put in with another group. Austin is taller than Mrs. Renolds, not that its much since she's kinda short; he has dark brown hair on the long side that hangs just above his eyebrows and compliments his tan skin; he's lean and probably all muscle and he's wearing a solid gray tshirt. New boy is quite handsome... Amanda gives me a knowing look that I see out of my periferal vision. I sigh, what am i thinking? He's probably just like all the rest, pointing and staring when he finds out about Amanda's 'disability'. And he can see my uh, fashion choice now. If he notices anything unusual about my style he doesn't show it but he will write us off sooner or later. Everyone does. But even I doubt my own thought when I turn to see his chocolate brown eyes looking right into mine.

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Austin's POV

Carter walked me to Biology and stuck his head in the door. He waved at a pair of girls, one of them waved back and smiled, clearly agrivating Carter which seemed very funny to her.

"This is Mrs. Renolds' class. Good luck. Those two in the back are Xavia and Amanda. I'll try to meet you here after class, if i'm not here then X might be willing to take you to your next class." Carter says, patting my back as if he's a parent sending his child off to school for the first time. Good thing i like Biology. I walk into class, standing near the front next to the teacher for the classic "this is the new student... blah blah blah" I take the opportunity to look over the class. There is a classic nerd in the front, wearing plaid shorts, suspenders and glasses. Right next to him is what seems to be a classic popular girl, eyeing me like a piece of meat when she's not texting. Behind the nerd is a jock, messing with the nerd as the teacher is either clueless or doesn't care. The rest of the kids seem just like regular students. Except for the two girls in the back. They're twins, obviously. That must be Xavia and Amanda. They're both really pretty, with *idk what color* hair and freckles. One of the girls has wavy hair, it looked natural too. I have to assume that the other girl's hair is similar but she is wearing a bright blue hat. Are they allowed to wear hats here? When Mrs. Renolds finishes her intro i take a seat across the aisle from the twins. When i glance over at them to say hey the girl in the hat is already glancing my way. Her eyes are the stunning color of the sea after a storm. We hold eye contact for a moment but she looks away and turns toward her sister, gesturing with her hands but i don't hear her saying anything. Maybe she's mouthing the words.