The Sounds in a Silence

A School Introduction

As soon as Silence took one step into that school, the smell hit her. Y'know the smell you smell when you walk into a school coming back from summer break or if you just moved? Yea. That smell. She knew it was going to be a terrible year.

The school had this system where the students would come in from their cars or the bus, and given the situation, would go to the cafeteria for breakfast, or go to the gym for about 20 minutes of free time.

Probably the biggest relief in the history of reliefs came over Silence when she saw the book worms squirming awkwardly in the gym. They were all in the back, their noses stuffed in books like Harry Potter or Alex Rider.

She sat down in a secluded corner, unzipping her book bag and stuffing her hand in it, reaching around for her book. She finally pulled the flimsy, yet thick copy of Lord of the Flies and began scanning her eyes from left to right. She didn't realize she was changing her position what seemed like every two seconds. First, she was sitting up, then she was sprawled across the floor. She didn't realize the bell rang until she saw the kids hoisting their book bags over their shoulders and marching out of the gym. She hastily shoved her book in her bag and jumped up, following the crowd of zombies sheepishly.

The floors were bland in color and pattern, which was so irritating to her. Blue, tan, and gold in a zig-zag pattern was not a good use of tiles.

"Silence!" A voice broke her thoughts. "Silence!"

It was Shep, pushing his way through the horde of fifth graders. "I freaked for a second because I didn't know you went to the gym."

"wJust because you're six minutes older than me doesn't mean I have to follow you everywhere."

"Six minutes older than you still makes you my little sister." Shep teased.

Silence groaned. "Luna reminds me every two seconds. I don't need you doing it, too."

"Always have to ruin my fun."

"Ever noticed how your fun is bullying?"

"Ouch. No need to get analytical, your highness."

Silence smirked. "So, what's on the agenda for after school today? Wanna toilet paper a house?"

"Oh really? You know what would happen? You'd chicken out at the last second. You're a big baby."

"I'm the baby? I'm not gonna need a big strong man to protect me when I'm older." She teased.

"For the last time, Silence. I'm. Not. Gay."

"Sure. And I'm not a straight-A student."

"Ok now you're just showing off."

Silence shrugged as she trudged into a room that was tagged Mrs.Connors. She marched past the cubby holes until she found one with a sticker that said Silence P. on it, which was in between the stickers for her siblings. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out her book. She took the large two inch binder from the top spot in her cubby hole, plus the pencil case the school supply list insisted on having. She turned and surveyed the room, seeing everyone move to their little cliques.

She stayed in a corner until all the seats were filled out except three, so naturally, she took one. When she sat down, she surveyed the room one last time. The three of her siblings were sitting together.

Why did you leave me? Shep signed to her with his hands. Silence snickered. She shoved her nose in her book.

Not even a minute went by when some person slammed their stuff on a desk next to her. She jumped, her glasses falling askew on her face. She fixed them to see a girl with dark auburn hair and hazel eyes. She looked her age, maybe a tad older, but she was definitely not as tall as her. "Can I help you?" Silence asked.

"You're in my seat." The girl said.

Silence looked to either side of her. "There are literally two open seats right next to me. I dont bite." She muttered.

"Sure. I'm not scared of you."

"Then what are you scared of that you need me to move?"

"Scared of what they'll do to him." She nodded to the door, and almost right on cue, a small, skinny looking boy walked through. If there was one thing that stood out, it was his hair. He really put the word 'dirty' in 'dirty blonde.' He was really quiet about taking his belongings from his bag. He was also really...quick. He shuffled his feet in a speedy manner - and then he got a paper ball chucked at him.

The girl slammed her fists on the table. "MCCALL. I SAW THAT!" She screeched. To which the boy known as "McCall" said "Sorry Valkyrie."

"Valkyrie? Is your family Norse?"

"No? Why?"

"The Valkyrie were Norse legend. Y'know, viking gods and such."

"Oh! Uh, no. I'm Italian. Meddici. Ciao, come va oggi?"

"I dont know if you realize this but, I don't speak Italian."

"I know. That's why I said it. Now, I'll ask nicer this time. Will you please move to one of these seats on the outside? Johnny needs my protection."

Silence sighed. She pinched her nose and closed her book, scooting over to the left seat. "Aw. Thank you." Valkyrie said, placing her stuff to the right.

Silence muttered something as the boy she now knew as Johnny say between them. He gave her a look, then whispered something to Valkyrie, who said something back. Johnny gave her one last look, when a kid whisper-shouted "She's coming!" and everyone went to looking busy.

The woman who she could only assume was the teacher stumbled in. "Oh uh, hello class. Today is November 17th, 2003. So the first assignment I have today..." She said as she dropped her things at her desk, "...is to...introduce the new students we have today!" She said the last sentence with a weird new energy. "So if the four of them could please stand up and tell us a little bit about themselves, that'd be great." She gave them a sweet smile.

Luna was the first to stand, followed by Nemo, then Shep, and then finally Silence. "How about we start with...you?" The teacher pointed to Luna, who had the biggest smile on her face.

"Ok! My name is Luna and the only thing I do mostly is annoy my siblings." That got giggles, but Silence rolled her eyes.

"Ok. Next." The teacher pointed to Nemo.

"Uh. My name is uh...unimportant. Please don't make me say it." He asked the teacher, who sighed.

Next was Shep. "My name's Shepsky. I'm boring and I write a lot please don't talk to me." That ALSO got some giggles.

"Ok. We're nearly done here. And you darling?" She asked Silence.

Silence sighed. "My name is Silence. I read in my spare time. Can I sit down now?" She asked impatiently.

The teacher nodded. "Very well. Anyway, I usually have this long talk at the beginning of the year but since we have four new kids....My name is Mrs.Connors and I...."

Silence didn't pay attention to the rest. She didn't care whatever her teacher did for fun or if she had pets or if she was married. Silence had eight years of school to kill, until she could leave her family alone, and she didn't want to make it any longer. It was like turning eight took no time at all. But turning 18? An eternity. Well, one thing was for certain; they were going to be the longest years of her life.