What We Lost In The Winter

Chapter 4 (Part 1)

A/N

I deleted this chapter and re-posted it. I thought I'd have some other stuff to add to this but then found that I didn't. So this isn't a new update

“Becca, I think it would be a good idea for you to go meet your teachers before the school day begins,” Mrs. Otterman suggests. It sounds more like a plan to get me out of the office more than anything.

“Are they in the building yet?” I ask.

“They should be. I know Mr. Ralston is here,” she says. “His room is on the bottom floor, room 119, to be specific.”

“Okay, thank you,” I say and leave the office. Thankfully, Redo Middle School is easy enough to navigate. Through the front doors there’s the office on one side, and then a hallway. Halfway through the hall is a staircase leading both up and downstairs. I head down the staircase. It’s practically silent, besides the air conditioning, that is. To my right is classroom 117, and to my left is 114. Logically, 119 is down the right side of the corridor.

I pause in front of a room with a small plaque on the door that reads Room 119, Mr. Ralston. I glance inside. A middle-aged man is sitting at the desk in the front of the room. I take a deep breath and open the door.

“Excuse me?” I say quietly, hoping to get his attention. He looks up from his desk. “Um, I’m Becca, I’m new—”

“Becca Kingser?” he asks, cutting me off.

“Yeah,” I say.

“I’m Mr. Ralston, your social studies and homeroom teacher. I’m so excited that you’re here!” the man smiles. Although his hair has grayed, his smile is youthful.

“I’m excited too.” I don’t realize how stupid that sounds until after the words have come out of my mouth.

“We have the biggest 7th grade homeroom this year, 24 students. It’s a very fun group, you know.” So apparently my homeroom is fun. But 24 students is a lot, and from what I know of schools, you can get cliquey with 24 people. Sarah Astbury was nice this morning, but who knows what happens when she’s with her friends. Camden Lacosse was nice to me last week, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be nice to me at school.

“That’s a lot.” Is the only thing I can think of to say.

“In social studies today, we’re getting a new seating chart, don’t worry, it’s not because of you, it’s because we just got off of Thanksgiving Break so it feels like a suitable time to switch. I can show you where your seat is now, if you’d like. And your homeroom seat, while we’re at it.” Mr. Ralston goes back over to his desk and pulls out a stack of little papers. “Want to help me?”

“Sure,” I shrug. I might as well, seeing as how I don’t have anything better to do.

“Okay. By each seat there’s a number. You need to find the paper that has that number and tape it to the back of the chair,” he starts to explain. He takes the first sheet off the pile, “This says ‘Seat One’, so you need to tape it the the chair that says ‘Seat One’.” I nod, that’s not difficult. He hands me some of the papers and a roll of tape.

His classroom is set up by tables with four seats at each. The task is simple, find a seat, tape a paper. I come across one that reads my name on it. It looks like this:

 

Seat 14

1st Period: Empty

2nd Period: Clara Earl

3rd Period: Amy Raina

      4th Period: Luke Rehberg

5th Period: Kai Barnes

6th Period: Empty

Homeroom (7th Period): Rebecca Kingser

8th Period: Jade Wharton

9th Period: Martin McKendrick

 

So this is my homeroom seat, I conclude from the list. After taping the rest of the papers onto the chairs at that table, I look to see the names of the people who’ll be sharing a table with me during that class period. Their names are Eva Hudson, Taylor Rosales, and Nicole Gibbard. To me, that’s just names on paper. It doesn’t mean anything. I can’t help but notice that I’ll be sharing a seat with the mysterious Kai Barnes, even though he sits there 5th period and I’m not until homeroom.

“I see you found your homeroom seat, want to find your social studies seat as well?” Mr. Ralston says from behind me.

“Okay,” I say, it’s not like I could say no.

“You have it 9th period, right?” he asks.

“I’m not really sure.” It sounds almost embarrassing, not knowing my schedule.

“Let me check.” My teacher runs back to his desk and looks at the computer. A minute later he says, “Yep. 9th period.” I walk through the room, looking for my seat, and find it at Seat 20.

 

Seat 20

1st Period: Empty

2nd Period: Mari Bilder

3rd Period: Bryan Olson

4th Period: Nessa Beesley

5th Period: Makenna Showalter

6th Period: Empty

Homeroom (7th Period): Leo Tice

8th Period: Rebecca Kingser

9th Period: Mia Trombley

 

Again, I looked to see who would be sitting near me during social studies. I end up with Delilah McIntosh, Erick Alveraz, and Mycah Minnis. Again, they’re nothing more than names on paper.  

“I should probably go, I need to meet some of my other teachers,” I say.

“That’s fine. I was nice meeting you,” Mr. Ralston grins. “By the way, today come to homeroom before 1st period. All classes are shortened today for a mini homeroom session at the beginning.” I walk out of his classroom, backpack still thrown over my shoulder. Ms. White, my English teacher, has her classroom at the end of the hall. I step inside.

“Excuse me?” I ask. It feels just like I’m entering Mr. Ralston’s classroom again.