Anna Begins [Paul Lahote]

Chapter Three

Anna

The day hadn't even started yet and I could already tell that attending Forks High School was going to be just as brutal as I imagined. Alex and I walked over to the office from the parking lot and eyes were on us the entire way. It felt like every single student in the school had nothing better to do than ogle us. Ducking into the office was actually a reprieve—until we were faced with a bright and smiley Ms. Cope.

"Hello, ma'am," Alex greeted her, striding ahead of me with a grin. "We're here to pick up our schedules, just like we planned."

"Good morning!" Ms. Cope exclaimed, rooting through papers on her desk. How the space was already so disorderly this early in the morning was a mystery. "I have your schedules somewhere around here...aha! Here they are. One for Alex Judge, and one for Anna Judge." She handed us each our schedules in turn. "And here's a form for you both to have your teachers sign when you attend each class. Just to make sure you're on the rosters and such—make sure to swing by again at the end of the day and drop them off. Do you think you need a map?"

I would have appreciated a map, since the idea of asking another student for help finding where I needed to go practically gave me hives. But Alex said, "No thank you, we're good. See you later today!" and there was no way I was going to ask for a map myself. I refrained from slapping my brother as we left the office, but as soon as we were outside I spun on him with a glare.

"You should have accepted the map!" I hissed, trying to keep my voice down.

He huffed. "You should have warned me. Or asked for one yourself. Ms. Cope is a nice lady, she would have given it to you."

My lips pursed. "Really, Alex?"

His eyes widened. "I know, I know, you were uncomfortable but you can't blame me for not being able to read your mind and know you wanted a map!"

I sighed. He had a point. I was officially stressing the fuck out, but I couldn't blame that on him. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he accepted my apology easily. "Want me to go back in and get you one? It'd only take a second."

"No." I shook my head. "It's fine. It's such a small school, it can't be that tough, right?" Plus, he'd probably explain that I was the one who sent him back in there for a map and I'd be so embarrassed—not that he'd have tried to embarrass me, he was just so chatty he'd undoubtedly bring it up.

He lifted his schedule to glance over it and I did the same. "Where do you need to be?" he asked. "I start the day with pre-calc. Ugh. Building 3."

"I have Spanish in Building 5. Think that means we're heading in the right direction?"

Alex looked around, studying the building the office was in, the parking lot, and the next building over. "Well, it looks like this is Building 1. So I'm guessing we're both going to head that way," he pointed to the next building over, "and the buildings will go up from there?"

Sounded logical. "Okay. Let's go."

We both headed toward the next building which was, in fact, Building 2. And the next was Building 3. Which meant this was where we parted ways. Alex turned to me, dropping a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. "You'll be fine. Just keep going that way and I'm sure you'll find your building, and then I'll see you at lunch. We can sit together if you want."

I didn't respond to the lunch offer because while it could have been comforting to know I wouldn't have to sit alone, it was also very likely that he'd make friends between now and then. Which meant he'd get invited to sit somewhere, then mention that he had a sister who needed somewhere to sit too. I'd end up with both a pity seat and a lunch full of awkward social interaction. "See you later," I said. "Make good choices."