We Are Us

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

My New House

After an almost restless night, I wake up to birds chirping and the unmistakable smell of bacon, "Your breakfast is ready!" I hear my mom yell from the kitchen. After putting my socks, shoes, and a shirt on I go to the table where my eggs, bacon, and a biscuit all sit on a plate. After eating I unsling my bag as I go to stuff my binder into it, hoping this school will be better than the last two. This is the third school AND state since I left my hometown of Henderson, Nevada, now I'm in Grants Pass, Oregon. I get in my 1998 Chevrolet Cobalt, and begin to make my way to school. Once I'm there, I'm greeted by a smile from an older woman, "You must be new here! My name is Mrs. Paisley, I'm one of the counselors here at Grants Pass High! Go into the office and you can get your schedule, if you're already enrolled." thankfully I was, so I walk into the room with the big, blue, bold OFFICE above it. "Hello. Are you new here?" I'm asked by a large man in his late 30's, "Yes..", I respond. "Already enrolled?", "Yes sir.", "Grade and name?", I speak through my chattering teeth, since it's late November and all I've got is a very thin jacket, "Sophomore.. and I'm Garrett Nicholson.. but I go by my middle name, Drake.", the man speaks with a grunt as he stands up, "Well Drake," he offers a hand, "I'm Mr. Morgan, the principal of this school, and I hope you find your fill here." He says with a bright smile as I shake his hand, "Let's hope so, I'm always moving because of my stepdad's job, plus being bullied at every other school.", I state, thinking of the unpleasant memories of being thrown down and kicked while I was on the floor, "If you have any problems like that here, come to me or Mrs. Paisley, she's the counselor, I'm sure you two've already met.", I smile as I grab my schedule and walk out of the office, "Thanks." I frown as I look down at my schedule, there's a total of 8 classes. "8 classes?!" I say to myself. "That's like, 50 minutes per class." I facepalm, "Well, what first?" I ask myself, looking at 1st period, and it's U.S. History. What an unpleasant surprise. I hate that class, always have, always will. Not just U.S. History, ANY History. Room 132.. time to search the halls. I silently say the numbers of the doors, "138... 137... 136.... 5.... 4..." and as soon as I saw the door to my class, the bell rang. I sigh with relief, "Missed the class, but there's always tomorrow. Now what next? Where's this stupid thing," I unfold the paper that tells me where to go.. I may or may not have rolled my eyes, "Physical Science. Not too shabby," I actually put in effort to make it to this class, room 145, it isn't too far from my history class. I walk in and find a young woman, around mid 20's, she looks at me with energy, like she was my best friend 50 years ago and we just now met back up. I instantly felt welcomed. "Well hello! I'm Ms. Jane, and you must be the new student!", she exclaims, "Uh... yeah..." I answer, "Drake.", "Well alright Drake," she walks around a few desks, "this is where you'll be sitting!", it was the very front seat in the middle row, I always preferred a back corner, but I must be polite. After all, those are probably taken, it's the middle of the school year, "Yes ma'am.", and I take my seat and pull out my binder while the other teenagers flood in.