My Name is Andrew Lee Cooper.

Chapter Three

"Good morning Dawson High School! Just wanted let you know that everyone must report to the gym at seven-thirty. Do not go to first block first, go to the gym at seven thirty. We have a welcome assembly planned. Thank you, have a great day!" I look over to Zoey and she has the same confused look on her face. I didn't know we were supposed to go to the gym. I shrug, and together we go to the gym.

As we enter, all I can hear are screaming children. The gym is so full it looks as if it might burst. We go to the freshman section and sit in the very first row, alone. I look for friends but none are in sight. We sit through the assembly, listening to them ramble on and on about how things work and how glad they are to have us.

"This is so boring." I say, pulling out my phone. Zoey nudges me, and when I look up I catch a teacher looking at me. Sighing, I shove my phone back into my bag and slump in my seat. The principal drones on and on, and I think I'm going to fall asleep. I look around, taking in all of the people. It starts to sink in that the whole school is all in one room together and they're all sitting above me on the bleachers. I can't breathe right and I feel like I have someone sitting on my chest. I feel hot so I take off my jacket and set it next to me. I put my head in my hands and try to zone everyone and everything out.

Finally, the principal gives a one last welcome hurrah and we're sent off to first block. Grabbing my jacket, I stand and stretch, letting everyone file out before me. I remember where it is from going with Zoey this morning, so I say goodbye to her and make my way to the stairwell. Once up the stairs, I look at my phone for the room number. Two-hundred and two. I look around, and I spot it. Room 202, English with Mrs. Cooke. I enter, and I realise I'm the first one. She is sitting at her desk, typing on a laptop. She looks up at me and smiles. She looks to be about fifty, she has short silvery-white hair, and bright blue eyes. She's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, with roughed up grey tennis shoes. She seems to have a nice, pleasant aura.

"Good morning." She says to me. I walk in further and look around the room.

"Morning." I reply with a yawn.

"So, what's your name?"

"It's, uh, Lily." I shift uncomfortably. She just smiles pleasantly.

"Nice to meet you, Lily. I'm Mrs. Cooke, I'm sure you know." I nod, and she points across the room at the whiteboard, where a paper is taped.

"There's the seating chart, find your name and that's where you'll be sitting for a while until I feel it needs changing." I thank her and head to check it out. After looking, I find my name. I'm seated by three girls; Lindsay, Hannah, and Becca. I sigh quietly and head to my seat. I know none of them and they're into makeup and parties and gossip and traditional "feminine" things, whilst I am more into heavy metal, writing, sports, and artistic things. Girly things just aren't my forte, and honestly they bore me to tears.

I sit down, shrugging off my bag and tossing it onto the floor. The room begins to fill with kids and I try my best to shrink inside myself. I have zero friends in this class I'm pretty sure, so that will make this class ten times more boring. Lindsay sits next to me and waves.

"Hey, Lilian. How was your summer?" I shrug.

"It was fine. Yours?" She opens her pastel purple backpack and pulls out a brand-new pink binder labeled "english."

"It was good, it went by fast though." I nod and watch the rest of students wander in. Suddenly, I see Hailey walk in. Hailey is a friend I made just last year in our gym class. She had been making friends with some of my friends, so when I saw her in gym I figured I should get to know her. She has long, blonde hair, light blue eyes, and black glasses. She finally sees me and I smile at her.