"Where in Italy are you from?"
"Florence," I say. "Hm, never heard of it."
I chuckle and look down at my phone. "What's your Snapchat?" She asks. "Huh?" I come back to life.
"Do you have Snapchat?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I zoned out." We exchange snapchats and I noticed her snap score was really high. Mine would never be like that.
"What's your next hour?" She puts her phone in her back pocket. "Economics. You?"
"Support," she chuckles. "What's that?" I furrow my eyebrows.
She looks at me as if I had ten eyes. "Boy oh boy, Florence. You have a lot to learn," she says.
———
Snapchat: Violet is typing...
Snapchat: Snapchat from Violet!
I click on the blue chat button. I don't know how to use this shit.
Violet: Hey! Meet me at lunch?
Me: Of course! How am i gonna find you though?😂
Violet: I'll yell your name, silly!
I leave my third hour and follow a crowd to the cafeteria. Thank goodness I had the first lunch of the day. Otherwise, I would've been eating in the bathroom.
I look around and I can feel eyes already on me. Please don't look at me. I know I'm new.
"Chloe!" I look around and see Violet waving her hands in the air.
I walk over to her table and sit across from her.
"How was Econ?" She smiles. "Oh, such a blast. The teachers hot though."
"Isn't he? He's the only Econ teacher here," she says. My eyes travel behind her and I see that one girl I ran into this morning.
She entered the room with that one kid I met in my math class. I think his name was Marvin? Something like that.
"Don't stare," she snaps her finger at me. "O-okay."
"That girl, Scarlett Grey, will bite you. Don't mess with her," she says as if it's not a shocker.
"Who's that guy? He's hot."
"Oh, honey. I wouldn't go for him. He's the heartthrob of the school," she rolls her eyes.
"What's his name?"
"Grayson Dolan. He has a twin brother, Ethan."
That would explain why that boy in my health class looked similar to the boy in algebra.
"What's he like?"
She smirks and pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Um, he's alright."
I raise a brow and smirk. "Is there something going on between you two?"
"Well, I like him, but he probably doesn't like me," she shrugs. "You never know."
"True. I just can't see him going after people like me."
A girl comes up to us and takes a seat next to Violet. "Hey," Violet smiles. The girl smiles and looks at me.
I look at Violet and give her a look. "Oh, sorry, this is Adrianna."
"Hi, what's your name?" She asks. "Chloe. I'm new here."
"Oh! Are you that one new girl?"
"That would be me," I nod. She nods and folds her lips.
Violet gathers her trash and stands up from her seat. "Are you finished with your lunch?"
"Oh, yeah," I say and stand up.
I follow her to the trash can, which was in the middle of the cafeteria. I toss my apple and plastic bag into the trash.
When I turn around, someone bumps into me.
"Ouch! Watch it, immigrant." I recognize the face.
I accidentally hit someone with my backpack as I make a turn. "Bitch!" They turn around. She was a tall, thin, brunette.
"Mi dispiace, cagna," *I'm sorry, bitch,* I give her a blank look and then walk away, knowing one person already hates me.
"I'm sorry?" I tilt my head, then walk away.
"Fucking aut," I hear her mumble as I walk past her.
"Slut," I mutter and keep walking, knowing I said it loud enough to where she most likely heard me.
———
I crawl in bed and hide under my covers.
I feel numb and out of place. My mind was floating in space. "Everyone hates me," I repeat three times.
I curl up into a ball and start to fidget with my fingers, feeling a panic attack coming along.
My breathing becomes unsteady and tears form, then escape my eyes like a storm.
The front door opens and closes, echoing through the house. I freeze and pull my knees to my chest.
Footsteps come up the stairs, then I suddenly know it's my mom. My bedroom door opens, and a deep voice erupts.
"Chloe," Chase says. "W-what?" My voice cracks.
"Some girl, Scarlett, is talking shit about you. What did I tell you?! Blend in! We aren't freaks."
I stay silent until he leaves the room. I sob into knees, praying this panic attack would come to an end.
buzz buzz
I lift up my covers and grab my phone from my night stand.
Snapchat: Violet is typing...
Snapchat: Snapchat from Violet!
I slide to unlock my phone, then open her Snapchat.
Violet: Hey! Football game tonight! I know, kinda last minute😂 wanna come? Adrianna and I are going, but I'm cheering
Me: I'll have to ask, but I'd love to
I go to iMessage and start typing a text out to my mom, who's at work.
Me: Can I go to a football game tonight? A friend invited me.
Mom: Not late. How was school?
Me: Good! Made lots of friends! I lie.
Mom: Aww good baby. Have fun tonight😘
My mom is probably in a good mood. Back in Italy, she never let me go to games or parties.
Unknown: hey I'll pick you up at 6
What?
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Ooops sorry😂 It's Violet. Your bro gave me your number. He's in my math class
Me: Ohh okay lol
Violet: Theres a party afterwards. Wanna go?
Me: Um maybe. I have a curfew
Violet: Don't worry. You'll be fine :)
———
