Gregor and the New Race

Chapter 2

Gregor's uncle drove the three kids to school. Gregor looked out the window as they drove. He thought about the incident that morning. They were so happy. Everybody was laughing and having fun, but as soon as the Underland had come up, it all ended. Gregor tried to remember a time after he left when he was actually happy. Not just laughing at Maggie, or at his dad. Not just happy to have food on the table in the morning and not have to worry about it, but truly happy. Sure, he loved his family and he loved living with his uncle. It's not that he didn't like living there. His old apartment had been crammed and he was always worrying about the money. But now that he was living in Virginia with his uncle, they didn't have to pay for the house. They had to pay a small rent, but his uncle had been very gracious and allowed them to live there for relatively cheap. Plus his dad was back. His dad found a new job, similar to his old one before he fell, and their life has been nothing but good since they moved. Well...not all of them. Gregor wasn't happy. No. Ever since they moved, his life had been close to miserable. Aside from sleep, Gregor had also lost something else when he moved. Friends. Not just the Underlanders and Luxa, but his friends at school too. He didn't realize how much he'd miss them until they weren't there anymore. He found it hard to make friends at his new school. He was very quiet and reserved at school. For the most part, he didn't talk to anyone, and no one really talked to him. Well except Harry.

Gregor stepped out of the truck and helped Maggie and Lizzie out before thanking his uncle and shutting the door. Gregor walked up the steps to the door of the school and avoided eye contact. He heard a voice behind him
"Hey Gregor! How's it going?" He heard Harry say. Gregor waited till he caught up with him to start walking again.
"Hey Harry." Gregor said, avoiding the question.
"You coming to practice today?" Harry asked. He was on the track team with Gregor, and was almost as fast as him.
Gregor facepalmed as he remembered that he forgot his running clothes at his uncle's house.
"No. I don't think so." Gregor replied. "I left my stuff at my house."
"Oh. Well why don't we go to a movie instead? I know a couple of people that might want to come." Harry suggested.
"All the more reason why I shouldn't" Gregor replied.

And with that, he went to his first class. It was math, and Gregor took his usual seat in the back. It was his favorite spot because no one really could see him without turning around and the teacher never called on him. Mr. Adrian, the math teacher, started the lesson. Gregor wasn't as good as his sister, Lizzie, at math, but he wasn't bad. So he didn't struggle with the lesson. About halfway through the class though, a girl walked in. She was about 5-5, and had dark brown hair that was up in a ponytail. She held her hands at her sides nervously.
"Hi. Um, is this Mr. Adrian's class?" She asked quietly. Gregor heard her, but apparently Mr. Adrian didn't, because he asked her,
"What did you say? You have to speak up. What's your name?" He asked.
"Abigail, sir. I asked if this was Mr. Adrian's class." She said, a little louder.
"Yes. It is. You must be the new student. Hello, Abigail. You can take your seat wherever you find one." She thanked him and quickly scanned the room for an empty desk. Gregor sighed as he realized that the back row seats were the only ones open. She walked back to where Gregor sat.
"Please don't sit next to me." Gregor whispered under his breath. Of course, she did. She looked over at him and gave him a small smile. He tried to smile back, but he thought she could tell it wasn't sincere. He could see that her eyes where dark blue as he made eye contact for the first time since school started. Mr. Adrian continued the lecture. Class finished and Abigail stood up to introduce herself, greatly to Gregor's dismay.
"Hi! I'm Abigail. Er... I guess you kinda already knew that though" she said sheepishly, cheeks turning red. "But you can call me Abby" she continued.
"Hi, I'm Gregor. Uh... nice to meet you" he said.
"Do you think you could help me get to my locker? I could probably get there myself, but since you're here I thought it couldn't hurt to ask" She asked.
"Sure." He replied simply. And led her out of the classroom.
"What's the number?" He asked without turning around.
"96" she said. Gregor chuckled to himself. His was 97. He led her through the halls till he got to her locker.
"Thank you. Appreciate it." She said. As he opened his own locker, she noticed and smiled, but didn't say anything. Harry saw Gregor and moved over to him.
"How was math?" He asked. Harry looked and saw Abigail and a grin spread across his face.
"Well it cant be all bad if you met a new friend." He said, referring to Abigail.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"I'm Abigail. You?"
"Harry. Are you new? I could show you around if want." He offered with a smile. Gregor rolled his eyes.
Abigail giggled. "Not that's okay. Gregor showed me to my locker, and I have a map, so I think I'll be just fine."
"Okay. But if you need anything, I'm locker 88. Right across the hall" he motioned to his locker. The bell rang and Harry turned to go to his next class. He smiled and winked at Gregor before leaving.
"Do you know where the Chemistry class is?" Abigail asked Gregor with a laugh. Gregor sighed.
"Follow me. That's my next class too."