The Golden Age

Book 1: Chapter 1

BOOK 1  

December 2013

This was the day. The first day of high school. I had dreamt about this day for years. This was supposed to be the day.

I was going to walk into this school as an innocent fourteen year old and walk out as a newly educated and all around better person.

You see, I had very high expectations for high school.

I really hoped they met these expectations.

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I walked into the big, tan bricked building that morning. It was orientation day, so we wouldn't be learning anything new. I was glad that this year there would be no people from my previous schools.

You see, the school I used to go to was from the little preschoolers, to grade eight. Sure, the kids were nice. Sure, they weren't exactly mean girls or bullies. But after spending 12 years with these eggs, I wanted out.

I made sure to pick an above amazing school that nobody from my tiny eighth grade class was going to attend.

I finally found this school that was fairly close to my home called Dixie. It was a charter school that was known for the smartest kids and the best athletes. I wasn't a big one for sports, but it was good that this school wasn't all about the academics. That would be a little weird. Dixie started in seventh grade, but my mom said it would be best if I had gone to my old school for seventh and eighth. So I did.

I looked down at my map and walked through a door, entering my new homeroom. The teacher was an aging man with a smile that made his eyes crinkle.

"Hi, I'm Mr. Lloyd. I'll be your homeroom teacher and your math teacher. You can just take any seat you would like."

I gave him a small smile and turned to the kids. There was about nine of them, all sitting in desks. None of them were sitting close to each other or even acknowledging their presence. There were older kids kneeled beside a few of the new ninth graders, showing them how to do their schedules. Besides the giddy voices of the older kids and the confused replies of the younger kids, there was no noise.

I was a very friendly person and didn't like this.

I scanned the room, looking for the person I wanted to sit next to.  

I finally settled my eyes on a girl with brown hair who was intently staring at her already written schedule.

I walked through the aisle and sat next to her. She obviously recognized that there was somebody next to her, so looked up and smiled.

I held out my hand. 

"I'm Ginger."

She smiled at me. She was very pretty, her brown hair being practically straight with a slight wave that complimented her face. She had chocolate chips for eyes and her smile was warm and kind.

"Natalie," she replied, taking my hand and giving it a caring shake.

Yup, this was the girl.

I gave her a nervous smile. She could tell I was completely freaked out since I was meeting all these new people.

"Nervous?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, you?"

She shook her head 'no' confidently.

"No, my best friends actually go here. They're a year older than me, and you, so they know all the ropes. They promised to tell me everything I needed to know at lunch if you'd like to join."