Muted

Chapter 6

The rest of the day flew by in a similar fashion, with Alex and sometimes Greyson meeting me at the end of each period to walk me to the next one. It helped with my nerves; the consistency of them being there, of any one being there, even if I didn't know them that well. I sat with the twins at lunch and I got out of gym as I hadn't had my gym uniform yet. The rest of my teachers were just as great. Mr. Becker was nice but a little serious and intimidating, Mr. Michaels was loud but in an excited way, Ms. Edmonds was quiet but very patient, Mr. Gordon was hilarious and very relaxed, and my gym teachers Ms. Stuart and Mr. Morgan bickered like an old married couple but were very supportive of everyone, they were like everyone's own personal cheerleaders.

I was currently waiting for the boys at the spot Carson said he would pick us up at when the sound of determined footsteps quickly approached me. I turned around to be surrounded by a small group of girls, all sporting harsh glares, and tense bodies. Immediately sweat started to gather on my forehead while my hands began to shake.

What's happening?!

One of them took a step in my direction. She was tall, with long slightly curled blonde hair – her brown roots just peeking out at the top of her head. She had light brown eyes that despite her smile, were hard and calculating. My heart began to race as those eyes watched me, judging.

"Hi, you must be the new girl. Aurora, right?" She stretched out her hand.

"I'm Juliana. Juliana Baiser."

I gently shook her hand in greeting. But as I went to pull back, her fingers tightened painfully.

"I've seen you hanging around Alex White and Greyson Brooks. How do you know them?"

"Oh leave the poor girl alone Anna!" a new voice said from behind me. We all turned to see a girl with flawless brown skin and a mischievous smile. The red streaks in her long, curly, cloud-like hair standing out in the afternoon sun. She sauntered up and slung an arm over my shoulders with ease.

"It's Juliana and besides I was just saying hi," Julianna said, dropping my hand.

"Yeeeah and I'm into dudes" the new girl laughed. The smile vanished from Juliana's face.

"I don't remember inviting you to this conversation."

"Aw Didn't you know? I'm the life of the Party! I'm always invited." The girl replied, a smirk firmly on her face.

"Whatever." After a flick of her hair, Juliana and her friends walked away.

"Don't worry about her, she has a permanent stick up her butt. I'm Raelyn Cai. My friends call me Rae though."

Before I could take out my phone to respond to her, Carson pulled up next to us and poked his head out of the window.

"Hey Rae! So, how'd the first day go Aurora?"

Pulling up his name on my phone I typed,

'It was okay.'

"So the rumors are true, you really don't talk."

I looked at my feet, the tips of my ears turning red in embarrassment.

"It's alright I probably talk enough for the both of us anyway! So, what do you think? Do I get to be a friend too?"

I could feel my jaw slacken in surprise.

Friend? She wanted to be my friend?

I looked over to Carson, not knowing what to say to that. He nodded enthusiastically, giving me a thumbs up. I nodded and handed her the phone, still unsure if she was being serious or not.