Ocean Eyes

First Impressions

La Push high school was quickly becoming Ryder Kanes least favorite feature in the town. It was one story and perhaps the size of a small grocery story. There was 160 people- in all the grades combined. While Ryder loved the small, quaintness of La Push, the harsh realization that she would have to go to school had struck her the night before. All the other high schools she'd been to, the minimum per grade was about three times the overall population of LaPush High.

The first day of school was not ever a happy one for the young girl. Actually, any day of school wasn't happy. Being born with ADHD and dyslexia made focusing extremely hard for her. School seemed to prey directly on her weaknesses when it came to that. Besides, between her mothers condition and her younger siblings, Ryder had enough to worry about.

It surprisingly wasn't raining. The sun was shining dully from behind a blanket of clouds, illuminating the ramshackle high school. It looked as if it had been around for centuries and she wouldn't have been surprised if it had been built pre civil war. Luckily, Ryder had got there early and her car was one of the few in the parking lot.

Pure brick and peeling paint made up the walls of the school. A large sign hung above the entrance, welcoming Ryder to the home of the timberwolves as she walked below it. She snorted. How original.

The only good thing about the day so far was that there were no students to stare at her. She knew that everyone would know her mother in a town so closely knit. She knew that they would judge her. Her schools had always been that way. But La Push was particularly daunting, as her mothers condition and past was common knowledge.

Ryder didn't care much for her peers opinions. In fact, she only cared that they stayed far, far away from her. Teenagers made bad choices. They were reckless. That had been true for Caroline Kane, who had left her family and full ride to Berkeley behind for a dashing young pale face visiting from Seattle. Look where that had gotten her.

Ryder didn't need teenagers rash decisions or unimportant gossip in her life. All she needed was her family.

"Welcome to La Push High, how can I help you?" The male secretary looked up, a bright smile on his face. He must've been around thirty, but already his hair was beginning to gray. Ryder suspected it had something to do with the ring on his finger and the female vice principal who was giving him a long and heated glance.

"Ryder Kane. I need my schedule." Ryder took one of her ear buds out to talk to the man. Her prized possession, a hand me down iPod that she took everywhere, was playing soft eighties music. It was meant to calm her but Ryder was completely on edge.

"Oh! Carolines daughter right?" The secretary bustled about, printing her schedule and grabbing a few other papers. "My wife knew her. Happy you've decided to move back!" She noticed how his eyes moved appreciatively towards her low cut tank top and Ryder instinctively wrapped her hoodie tighter around her.

"Thanks." She replied gruffly, grabbing the schedule out of his hand and dashing out of the main office. In the time she had gotten her schedule the parking lot had filled up slightly. There was still ten minutes until class began, but Ryder had no intent to go down and socialize with the crowds of teens who had yet to notice her yet.

Instead she headed to her first class and after a few wrong turns, Ryder was horrible at directions, she arrived at Mrs Harples 12th grade English class. The cheery teacher was surprised to see a student this early but was welcoming none the less. Disregarding Ryder's sour and defensive nature, she sent her towards the back to sit in an empty two seater.

She watched lazily as people began to file into the class room. It became evident that Mrs Harple wasn't well respected, most likely because of her young age and pale skin. Ryder decided that she was probably one of those God sent teachers who decided to enrich the world by teaching at a poor Indian res. Even so, she felt slightly bad for the woman as she greeted the teenagers with a smile and was met with glares.