"It's funny how school and home seem like separate worlds, we spend six hours,five days a week on average at school and the rest at home.Normally the school doesn't question home and vice Versa when they both greatly impact each other,Why?"This was a common thought Rowan had but little did she know these worlds would soon be one
"Nice to meet you Rowan....you have a beautiful name..um..is it named after the tree?..if you don't me asking..I don't mean to offend you..Promise"Lucinda said in her mousy voice,her voice seemed quieter and all out different from any other voice Rowan had heard.
"Thanks,I guess but parents aren't really in a place to tell me"
"It's none of my business..but want to talk?..I know we met seconds ago..and I was kinda forced on you but.."
"Hey,stop being terrified it's fine, you can ask,"Rowan cut her off "long story short when my mum was in her last year of secondary school she fell in love with an evil man who only wanted her as a slave and a toy,he convinced her to have me and live with him meaning she didn't Finnish her education he continued to manipulate,use and abuse her emotionally,physically and mentally.I was pretty much neglected by both and suffered the same treatment until he was sentenced to prison and my mum in some sort of therapy leaving me in the foster system where I am currently being fostered by the most amazing couple Astrid and Felicity"
There was silence it took Rowan a second to realise she had basically spilled out her how childhood to this new girl, thank goodness the walls were soundproof and everyone was in registration
"Wow..you're so brave Rowan..I'm happy for you..I mean That you have a new family..not the abuse"
"It's fostering not adoption,but yeah they are awesome" she said uncertain if they were her family or just temporary guardians,she coughed to change the subject "Right,we have maths with Jackson now and old Gold will give us a pass for not being in registration because you're new"
Lucinda nodded and followed her new friend "hey..um..seeing as you shared that with me..um does that maybe mean we can be friends?"
"You bet!...but just don't tell those jerks my past..you weirdly don't seem to look at me differently but it's bad enough they know I am fostered I don't need them to know why"
"Yay!" Lucinda looked ecstatic and for the first time happy and confident.Which looked awesome on her.Her hazel eyes lit up with happiness and she smiled revealing a dimple on her cheek her voice was louder and as clear as the joy she was feeling "Rowan I know what it's like to not have the brightest past and worried of judgement for it,I also now what it's like to be bullied and not want it to get worse,I understand the importance of a new beginning leaving the past behind, focusing on the present and looking forward to the future and if I have any talents at all it is keeping secrets"she said this with zero shyness while looking Rowan in the eye instead of the ground it was as if it was a topic she empathised with and was passionate about "so yes Rowan you can trust me not to tell a soul under any circumstance,That I promise" she crossed her heart and held out her pinky Rowan clasped her little finger around Lucinda's and in that somewhat childish way their friendship was sealed forever.
The two new BFFs held Hands all the way to class everyone else was still being registered, there were 50 students per class and roughly a million in the school
"Sir Bertrand Jackson maths prodigy and genius knighted by their majesties a few years ago"read the sign
"Umm..Rowan..do they expect that from us? I think I could get a reward for being the worst mathematician in the world"
This made Rowan laugh(👍for it was the first time In years she had laughed with a friend)
"He might be a child genius worth knighthood but he's a teacher worth my poop"
"Rowan!"Lucinda was shocked at those words
"Sorry for the bad language but he literally expects all of us to become mini maths geniuses in his presence and do Exam questions for people 2 years older than us"
"Ohh,well no offence to him but that is kind of ridiculous we are not him,we are us and thinking that will screw any hope of us having average maths skills..not like I have any"
"Few show any in Bertie's class,it's no problem"
"My family expects me to do well and I'm scared of what will happen if I don't deliver"
"You will,I can tell your a hard worker with a strong drive and you seem shy not dumb.So,so far,so good"
Lucinda crossed her fingers and Rowan gently squeezed her hand to reassure her
"Ahh!"said a rather deep male voice from behind the mahogany door "come in,chop chop! don't dilly dally there are equations to be calculated you know!"
Rowan went to the back,left hand corner desk and patted the chair next to it indicating Lucinda could sit there.
She walked gratefully to the desk and mouthed thank you with a newfound timidness as 48 more 12-13 year olds entered the room
"Excuse me my good sir but before we commence with the usual torture that is turning us into human calculators could we please steal 300 seconds,known in other units as 5 minutes, of your time for you to explain the fascinating method used to calculate these figures.Furthermore if it doesn't bother you my colleagues and I would like to take out are devices to ensure are results are correct,aka use the calculator"
"Alas I am busy but you can look up the way to do it and yes phones are permitted if you use them wisely"
This girl had aquamarine blue eyes that looked cool with the lapis streaks in her onyx black hair bordering the sassy look on her mid toned,diamond face.
Rowan groaned as their teacher competed in an online maths contest (in which he was first by 470,896 points) and everyone else got out their phones to use everything except the calculator
Lucinda got them each (10 double sided)sheets and and got started
"Not gonna do media or games?"asked Rowan
"I could ask you the same thing but no, I don't have a phone anyway and even if I did now is the time and the place to turn a number into another number"Lucinda replied as pen met paper
"I guess that is the basic of numeracy"doing the same
45 minutes later
"How'd you do?"Rowan asked
"Maybe one percent correct,but I just about attempted most of them if that counts"Lucinda said stressed
"Believe me that's above average most of that class didn't get one sheet from his desk"Rowan reassured her "Next, Period two; Art with the famous Mrs Artem"
YOU ARE READING
Oakwood Saplings
Novela JuvenilThis is a story of the students at Oakwood prep. I want to highlight that you never know anyone until you take the time to befriend them We all have a story Ps this is my first book
