It's Easy to Smile

Chapter 1: Ew...New Kids

 It’s easy to smile. You simply put one corner of your mouth up, then the other. Smiling can make any conversation more exciting, or take someone out of a really awkward situation.

 I myself have perfected this technique. I smile when supposed to and laugh during tension. And the one thing smiling is really useful for is hiding emotions, ones that you don’t want anyone else to see. Emotions like hurt, anger, pain—anything of the sort can be hidden with a smile. At least in my case.

 Now I’m not much of a good liar. At least that’s what I want everyone to think. I’m actually pretty good at it, I just smile and make everyone else think everything’s happy-go-lucky.

 But I only learned to perfect this skill when my life came crashing down in the year before ninth grade, and everything changed.

~~~

New kids. It’s always nerve racking on the first day of school to meet them and have to decide if you hate them, or like them.

 Unfortunately, the new kid this year is me. Yep, so as I walk in to my new school (which is huge by the way) I can’t help but feel all jittery on the inside. Who wouldn’t?

“Laura!” called Jake, my all time best friend, also a new kid. I’ve known him since I was probably two feet tall.

 “Jake!” I rushed over and gave him a quick hug. Not a romantic one though, more like a friendly greeting, there’s never been any feelings on my part, at least.

 We stood together looking at the building in front of us. Like I said before, huge. Well, huge for a private school. I could feel myself shaking a tiny bit as the nervous feelings started taking over. I look over and see Jake just standing there calmly. How can he be so calm at a time like this?

 By the time I got to my locker a bunch of girls swarmed me, asking questions like “What’s your name?” “How’s it going?” “Where’re you from?” My head started to hurt until finally one said, “Hey, you need any help getting to your classes?”

 I turned around to see a dark brunette with a gigantic smile on her face. Her eyes were twinkling with friendly excitement. “Sure,” I said, following. I looked for Jake only to find him fitting in perfectly with all the other guys. I sighed. He’s so good at fitting in.

 “I’m Jaden by the way,” the girl said. “What’s yours?”

 “Laura,” I said, smiling. I lean in a little closer to her so no one else will hear, “And thanks for helping me back there.”

 She laughed. “It’s no problem, the others are just excited cause we haven’t had new kids in our class for a long time.”

 We get to our first class a little early. The classroom has about fifty seats, and looking around I see...   

 The love of my life.