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Chapter 2

I comb through my tangled hair. I check the clock. Almost time. I put on my brother's necklace and braid my hair. I slip into my backpack and start the long walk to school. Halfway there I trip and get soaked in a puddle. Unfortunately, I don't have time to change. I sigh and get up, trying to wring out as much water as possible. Not working. I sigh and keep walking.

A silver mustang pulls up next to me, which is weird, because A) I'm not popular, so why would anyone go near me? And B) It was on the left side of the road and facing the wrong way. I stop and cross my arms.

The window rolls down. A boy sticks his head out. "Excuse me? Do you know where Youswell High School is by any chance?"

He has short light brown hair and his eyes are green-blue. He is smiling at me. Which is weird. No one does that. I look behind me, but I'm the only person he could possibly be talking to. I step forward and clear my throat. "Yeah, actually, it's the school I go to."

"Great!" He looks me up and down. "Do you want a ride? It'll be faster."

"No thanks. I'm good."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay. Which way do I go then?"

I point. "Turn around and at the next corner, turn left. Then follow the road straight."

He nods. "Thanks . . . ?"

"Ray."

He smiles. "Griffen." He starts up the car and does a U-turn. The silver mustang pulls away as I realize I'm going to be late for school. I keep walking.

When I finally get to school, I've missed two bells and half of first period. I walk into Language. "Ah, Ms. Fletcher, how nice of you to join us today."

"Thanks Mr. Atkinson. I try my best."

"Sit down, Ms. Fletcher."

I sit down. All the teachers in school call everyone by his or her last name, so I get off the hook pretty easily from them. I didn't have many friends when I was younger so I'm safe there too. But someone might see my real name somewhere and connect the dots. My real name is Raeanne Genevieve Fletcher. I try to get anyone who dares to talk to me, to call me Ray.

One time a substitute teacher said my entire name in front of the class. No one was listening, thankfully, but I walked right up to her and when I was finished, she couldn't leave fast enough. No one's seen her teach here since.

I take out my stuff and look around. We're reviewing French for the final test. I've memorized the material so I stop listening. BEEP. The intercom comes on. Will Ray Fletcher please come to the main office. Ray Fletcher to the main office. Thank you. BEEP. I get up and gather my stuff. What will I get blamed for this time? And what will my punishment be? I really don't care anymore.

When I get there, the secretary is with the boy in the silver mustang. Griffen if I remember correctly. "Hello, Ms. Fletcher. This is Griffen--"

"Yeah, I know who he is." I roll my eyes.

"Would you mind showing him around?" The secretary is used to me.

"Fine." I wave at Griffen and he goes outside the office to wait. The secretary looks at me sternly. "Ray, you need to make friends. He's perfect! Look! Anyway, he'll be in your classes the rest of the year, okay? Try not to scare him away this time."

"Okay. Bye."

"Have a good day, Hon." I walk out and stare at Griffen. "What?"

I check my watch. "Nothing. So!" I whirl around and gesture. "This is the main office. You sign in here if you're late and if you have a pass, great! If not, detention! C'mon, this way," We walk down the hall. "You are going to be in all my classes for the rest of the year, so try to catch up. I have to help you get settled into this new 'environment'." I finger quote it. "Let's continue. Do your homework, pay attention, take at least some notes, study, be on time, get into a routine, do your job, and don't get me in trouble. Questions? No? Good, because I don't care. Where is your locker?"

Griffen checks his sheet of paper he was given with an amused look on his face. "Locker # 425."

I wave him on. When we stop he opens his locker and I show him where mine is. "Number 438. Okay. Classes. First period, we have Language. Second is History and Social Studies. Third is Math. Fourth is Visual Art, we're currently doing 3-D printing. Fifth period is Lunch. Sixth period is Science and Eighth is English. After lunch we get a ten minute break outside if it's not rainy. You can follow me everywhere, except the ladies room, for two days. Then you're on your own. Clear?"

"Crystal." He mock salutes me.

I smile. "Good."