The Seventh Day

Chapter 1: Facing Anxiety

Kriiiinnngg!!! That's the familiar sound of my annoying alarm clock. "Ugh!" I sighed and turn it off. "Five more minutes, and I'll be ready." I cuddled myself in my blanket, feeling cozy in all. "Annie wake up you have school today!" mom's shouting from the kitchen disturbs my peace, but I chose to ignore it.

Then I feel something buried into my skin, it hurts. I fold out my blanket, and I saw Toby, my gray and white furred cat, was sitting on my leg, his claws was scratching my skin. "Toby! Ow, get off!" I shrilled as Toby runs out of my room with a bushed tail, probably frightened. I look at my clock, 7:30, although I still don't want to get up, I still have to; it's the first day of school.

"Good morning grumpy face." Mom greeted, she probably notice my 'zombie-face'. As usual pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast, mom's specialty. I don't blame her for preparing the same food for breakfast since I first ate breakfast on my own, which is when I was 5 years old. During grocery shopping, the most common thing that is found on our cart and has never been removed from our shopping list is pancakes.

I remember, the only time where mom doesn't prepare pancakes for breakfast, Christmas, when Uncle Joe visited. Mom had to prepare a more 'sophisticated' breakfast, because mom knows what life aspect do Uncle Joe's family have. A banquet of oatmeal, bacon, and egg. Beats the old pancake fiesta.

"Is there something wrong honey? You look pale. Are pancakes not working out for 'ya?" mom pats my back. I took a glance at the clock hanging at our kitchen wall, 7:54; I grab a spoonful of the pancake, drank my hot chocolate, gave mom a kiss and went outside.

The school bell rings, I see some familiar faces as I stroll down the corridors hoping to find my locker. Near the entrance was my old friend Janice, damping her powder into her cheeks, funny because back in middle school, she used to hate make-up, and now, she's obsessed with it. Outside our principal's office was my lab partner last year, Brad, I heard he's in a band now, and my how gorgeous he looks.

I keep walking and walking until I bumped into a teacher, "Sorry ma'am, it seems that I am not looking to where I am going." I apologized. She must be a new teacher, and she seems to be lost. "Oh its okay, uhm, you see I'm a new recruited teacher and I need to get to the registrar's office to submit some forms, and I'm kinda lost, can you kindly direct me? By the way I'm Mrs. Alice Heatherton." She gave me a pity look, and I can see that she's exhausted because of all the stuff she's carrying. So I lend Mrs. Heatherton a hand and quickly directed her to the registrar's office.

"Annie!" someone shouted. I turn around but all I see is a crowd of students walking in the corridor. "Annie!" I heard it again. I swear someone is calling me, then I saw my friend Samantha running towards me. Her ginger hair flows, as she runs to me. "I miss you so much." Squeezing me with her hug, she probably misses me because we haven't seen each other for two months. The school bell rings, time for class. That moment when I entered the room, the smell of fresh painted seats, the unfamiliar sight that peeks outside the window overlooking the neighbourhood, it makes me feel like I've never been here before.

The whole class settled down as our teacher arrives. Do my eyes deceive me? I think not, because I am looking at Mrs. Heatherton. Yes she is, she is our class adviser for the first semester. "All right class, since I am a new teacher here, I would like to start introducing myself then afterwards and it'll be your turn." Loud grunts came out from others, I felt the same idea that maybe Mrs. Heatherton used to be grade school teacher, you can tell from how she treats us.

"Hi I'm Mrs. Alice Heatherton, 37 years old, and I will be your AP English teacher and your class adviser." Then she pointed out to the person seated at the front left corner, "Young man, can you stand up and introduce yourself from the whole class." Judging from that guy Mrs. Heatherton pointed out, he's a transferee. I heard he's from Bournemouth. He stops from scribbling on his paper and slides down his hoodie, revealing his blonde locks, and a black earring attached to his left ear. Slowly he stood up then lazily turns around facing the whole class. "This is really stupid" he started. Well that's rude. "Uhm, hey I'm James, James Daniel McVey, or maybe just James, or whatever." Then he sat down then continued with his scribbling. "Well, nice to meet you James." Mrs. Heatherton replied with a fake smile.

Few students were finished introducing themselves until finally it's my turn. As I stood up, I can feel my knees trembling, what's wrong with me, I feel like I'm a complete stranger among my classmates, I think I'm having my anxiety again.

It's the same feeling I had in fifth grade when I ran away in the middle of our Peter Pan play when I was already dying from the humiliation that I got myself into back then. I looked around, but almost all eyes are on me, like eagle trying to swoop down its prey.

Then I turn to look at James, I don't know but it seems that I was able to calm myself when he stared at me feeling annoyed. I don't know if that was a good thing but I was able to get back to old self, thanks to the rude look he gave. "Hi everyone, I know I'm already familiar to all of you, but just for the information of THOSE who doesn't know me yet, please don't judge me unto your first impression about me. I can tell from the LOOK IN YOUR EYES."

And I knew was pointing it out to Mr. Rude Look, that's the nickname I gave to James. He's no one special to have nicknames, but its worth for fun, I guess. "I'm Rhiannie Brookes, for short Annie, I'm seventeen years old and I love singing. I'm not a friendly person, but I have friends that I can count on." Then I saw a big smile from Samantha's face. I can tell that she was touched from what I said. Sam and I have been friends for almost twelve years, and we almost do everything together.