COLORS || P. PARKER

Two-Player Game

Marina gazed out the window. There it was. Midtown High.

After tipping the Uber driver, the high schooler slipped out of the car and took a deep breath. However, she immediately regretted it as the smell of smoke and gas sent her into a coughing fit. She cursed under her breath. It had been a while since Marina left the fresh air of the tower.

After an eternity of preparing herself, the teenager finally walked towards the school and pushed open the hefty doors.

You can do this. You've been to school before and you are just as smart as these kids. Ugh why did Stark have to choose this fancy nerd school?

She walked into the front office and found an older woman behind a small desk. "Erm- excuse me? I-I'm new here and I need a schedule."

The woman slowly moved to the computer beside her and began typing. "Just a second, darling."

"O-okay." Marina jammed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and stared at the ground awkwardly.

The lady looked up. "Sorry what's your last name, dear?"

"Hop- uh, Dwyre," Marina corrected. She hoped the woman missed the panicked look on her face. It would take a while to get used to this.

After some scrolling, the woman asked, "Marina E. Dwyre? Is that correct?"

The girl nodded in response. The office lady proceeded to print out a small stack of papers. When Marina reached to grab them, the woman snatched the stack away. "Just a second. We need to wait for your Student Helper."

"My what?" asked Marina.

"Student Helpers just guide new kids and show them the ropes for the whole day. Most of your classes should be with them," the woman explained.

Marina gulped. It had been a long time since the girl had been around people her own age. She was never good at making friends back in middle school. What if she screwed this up or embarrassed herself? This one person could determine the rest of her high school life. 

"Hi! You must be Marina," said an unfamiliar voice.

In all her worry, the teenager hadn't realized that the Student Helper had already arrived. She looked up at the person who would set the stage for the next four years.

However, Marina was surprised to see a tall girl with neatly fixed hair. She wore a knee-high skirt and a nice shirt. But that wasn't the surprising part. No, this girl was the spitting image of someone Marina had seen before. The dark hair, deep brown eyes, and smooth skin seemed so familiar.

In her stupor, Marina hadn't noticed the girl's outstretched hand. She shook it weakly, still trying to place this girl in her mind. Who do you remind me of?

"My name is Maddy. Maddy Cho."

Cho. Maddy Cho as in the daughter of Dr. Helen Cho. Of course, how hadn't she seen it before? The girl held an uncanny resemblance to the geneticist. Marina had no idea that Dr. Cho had a family.

"I'm Marina H- Dwyre. Oh but you already knew that, sorry," she said sheepishly.

Maddy laughed. "Its fine. C'mon I'll give you a quick tour and then we can head to first period."

They walked around the school for a while with Maddy explaining how everything worked and Marina quietly nodding along. Eventually, the tour ended and the two made their way to the first class.

"So was there any reason you transferred schools? I mean I know a lot of people join in second semester, but did you move or something?" said Maddy trying to strike up a conversation.