The Forgotten One

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

              Monday morning came much faster than I wanted it to. I woke at five to my alarm blaring across the room. It took me forever to drag myself out of bed and into the shower. I could feel the nerves taking hold of me and my head was pounding. It took longer than usual to get through my morning routine and dress in the outfit I had picked out for myself the night before. I slipped on the black jeggings and sapphire blue tunic. Under it I wore a silver cami, which peaked out through the cut away back. Meticulously I brushed through my hair and straightened it with a flat iron, curling the edges in toward my face. It took me several attempts to figure out how to use all of the makeup correctly and I ended up with something that resembled normal when I was done. Stepping back and looking at myself in the mirror, I was happy with the result. I looked like a normal teenage girl on her first day of school.

              Gathering my book bag and stuffing in the purse, minus all the cash that I had stashed in my underwear drawer, I headed toward the school, my footsteps slowing each step I took. There were kids coming from every direction toward the large brick building, some on foot and some in cars. They yelled and cajoled each other all around me. I tried to stay out of the way but I got more stares than I would have liked. Some were curious looks, others friendly, and some hostile. It was a typical high school crowd, smaller than some I had been to and larger than others.

              I made my way up the front steps of the building and stopped at the front office to hand off my paperwork. There was a round, middle aged woman behind a desk that took the envelope from me and looked over the sheets. She handed me back my schedule and slid the other papers into a file drawer. I was given a map of the school and a locker assignment with a combination on a slip of paper. There was a small plastic card that would work in the cafeteria for my meals and a picture was taken for a school ID I was informed I would receive the next day. The woman pointed me down the hall toward the cafeteria and I made my way there, apprehensively.

              “Madi!” Amanda squealed as soon as I took a step into the large cafeteria. There were tables full of students on both sides of the doors. In the back was a counter where students were lined up with trays, selecting food.

              “Hi.” I made my way over to the table where Amanda sat with a handful of other students. All eyes were trained on me and I could feel a flush creeping up my face.

              “Everyone, this is Madison. She’s new here this year and in our grade. Madi, this is my brother Adam, over there is Jimmy, Michael, and Dallas. On the other side we have Harmony, Jackie, and Ryane.” Amanda made all the introductions. The other kids all waved or smiled at me, with the exception of Harmony and Adam. He looked at me curiously and she glared daggers right through me.

              “Nice to meet you.” I prayed that nobody noticed that my voice squeaked. I sat down on the end of the bench next to Amanda and across from Michael. Everyone stared a moment longer and then the conversation started back up as if I hadn’t interupted it only moments before.

              “See, it’s not too bad here. Are you hungry?” Amanda leaned over and whispered in my ear. “By the way, you look really hot today. Way to make a first impression.”