Maybe

Chapter 6: New Girl

When I got to science, I noticed a new girl talking to Mr. Jones.

I did a double-take. It was THE girl. The one from my dream last night. The one with the long brown ponytail, and peppy personality. She saw me, and started walking to me. Bayla. What? How the hell did I know her name?

"Hey, you look familiar. Pierce, right?" Her eyes were bright, and her face angular and intriguing, bordered by her tied back chestnut brown hair.

I nodded, not sure what else to do.

"Yeah! My mom knows your dad! She said to look for you." The look in her eyes said that that clearly wasn't the full story, but she'd tell me later if I went along with it. It wasn't unkind, just urgent.

"Bayla?"

She nodded, pleased. The class had begun to pour in, and everyone else was at their table, while we chatted. I noticed, and gestured to the seat next to me.

"You can sit here, if you want."

Bayla smiled, and it lit up her face. As she sat down she called up to Mr. Jones.

"Can I sit here?"

"Sure," He said, distracted, standing up from his computer, and gestured for Bayla to walk up front. The class's eyes were all on him, and then on her.

"This is Bayla. She's new here," He turned to her, telling her with his brown eyes to tell us about herself.

I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest, interested. I wondered what she'd say, and how much of it was true.

She straitened up, and gave a smile.

"I'm from San Francisco, and I just moved here with my mom."

Who in their right mind would move from San Francisco, CALIFORNIA to Pennsylvania in the dead of winter? Apparently, James, our very own professional child comedian, was thinking the same thing.

"Why move here?" James called out.

Mr. Jones gave him a look, but Bayla didn't seem to mind.

"My mom got a job offer, and so we decided to move. And may I just say that it's frikin cold here?"

Obviously, the class liked her answer, and I could already see the boys' minds planning out how they'd dump their girlfriends to get her. God, the boys at this school were so shallow. I smiled, encouragingly, hoping she could read the warning in my eyes.

"Tell us a little about yourself, Bayla."

"I do fencing, and I love to read." You could see her confidence fading as she searched for something else to say.

Mr. Jones took mercy on her, and began the lesson on the Ozone layer as she sat down, handing her a pile of papers.

"Good luck. This school isn't nice to strangers." The warning in my voice was clear, and she got the hint.

I had a motto. Well, not a motto, but an unspoken rule about people. Don't open up unless you see a reason to, and she hadn't really given me a real one yet. I felt like I should trust her, though.

She nodded, and when class was over, we walked out together.

"So. What job did your mom get?" I tried to get a conversation going, but I wasn't very good at talking to most people.

"Um, I'm not actually sure what it's called, but," She cut off, eyeing a poster for the Valentine's day dance.

"Ooh! A dance! Are you going with anyone?"

I shrugged. "Nah. Not my thing."

Noticing that we were both heading to the locker room, I stopped.

"Sorry, I forgot to ask earlier. What class do you have next?"

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a crumpled slip of paper.

"Indoor games? Mr. Allson?" Bayla read, looking up at me.

"Oh, cool, I have that too."

Shit. I have to introduce her to Julie and Savannah. I wasn't very talented in any conversation with anyone, let alone new people. I wondered if I should tell her to find her way on her own, but then I scold myself. Even I'm not that low. She's new, and she needs someone to help her, so I'm stuck with her.

As I walk in, Bayla walks off to find a gym teacher to tell her her locker number and combination.

I approach Savannah and Julie slowly, thinking out what I'm going to say. My books feel heavy in my arms, and I drop them into the bench.

"Hey. I'm showing a new girl around today. Her name's Bayla, and she's pretty cool."

"Um. Okay." Julie gives me a 'that was random' look, and a confused smile.

I shrug. I know she's confused as to why I'd help anyone learn their way around, because I usually don't go out of my way to socialize.

I see Bayla out of the corner of my eye, and she's coming towards us.

"Oh! My locker's right next to yours. Cool. I'm Bayla," She adds, seeing my friends. They smile nervously back.

"I'm Julie," She grins crazily.

"Savannah," piped up a voice.

They stood there awkwardly, looking anywhere but into each other's eyes. Realizing I had to do something, I sat down and put on my sneakers.

"So, Bayla, what kind of music do you like?" I tried, cooking my neck back at Savannah and Julie, signaling my rescue.

"I usually listen to Simple Plan, and Pierce The Veil, My Chemical Romance, Paramore.. Bands like that."

I grinned back at her, as did Julie and Savannah. She had said the exact right things.

"Do you know Expel? Savannah met them." I supply, while Bayla stares at her in disbelief.

They chatter on while I smile, pleased. I, honestly, had no idea who Expel were, but it was nice to see that the two most antisocial people I know make a friend.

When the bell rang, we were all in a debate on weather the bassist in Paramore was Jeremy Davis or not (it totally was. I know my Paramore).

"Shit! We're so late!" I scrambled out of the door, and they all followed me.

As we entered the oversized gym, studded with scrutinizing gazes and welcoming smiles for Bayla.

"Bayla Stark?" barked Mr. Allson, pointing to the spot right next to me. She met my eyes, ignoring the looks, and silently told me that we still had to talk. I nodded.

He called teams, and girls swarmed Bayla, trying to figure out if she was friend or foe. She wiggled out of the crowd, walking towards Savannah, Julie and Kayla, the outcasts who hung towards the edges of the gym. I followed her.

"Wow," She exhaled.