Darling.

Four

Thursday, September 9, 9:30 am

Sitting through class, I can feel eyes on me the whole time. I look toward the other side of the classroom a few times and every time I do, I catch Harry look away from me and back at his laptop. Why would he be staring at me if he didn't even want to try to be friends or even try to be friendly to me? It just doesn't add up.

As Molly and I finish up our introductory lab, the bell signalling the end of first period rings and everyone scurries around to clean up and leave to get to second. I hoped that Harry hadn't left class yet, but I don't see him anywhere. I wanted to make sure he knows where he's going. I just hope he doesn't get lost because I know I'll hear it from Mrs Stevens if she finds out I'm not showing him around. But it's not even my fault. He's the one who left class without checking in with anyone to see where his next class is.

After I say goodbye to Molly, I leave the classroom and make my way down the hallway to get my supplies for my economics class from my locker. I unlock it and grab my binder and a notebook and put them in my backpack. I then shut my locker and put the lock back on and start the walk to Mr Smith's class.

As I'm walking, I notice someone standing at the end of the hallway. It looks like he's trying to ask for directions or soemthing but everyone seems to be blowing him off to talk to their friends. Some school I go to, where not a single person has any manners. As I get closer I notice that the kid is Harry and he looks pretty lost, trying to find where he is on the map of the school in the back of his agenda. He was struggling to find which way was which and honestly, I don't think those maps have ever helped a single student in this building. I walk toward him and he looks up at me, somehow noticing me even before I stood in fron of him, his cheeks flushing ever so slightly.

He looks at me with a small, nervous smile and says, "I seem to be a little lost." With a chuckle he adds, "This map is shit."

"You're telling me. I had no idea where anything was here when I first moved here. And I definitely agree, the maps are the worst. I'd like to know who designed them so I can beat them up for being the reason kids get lost around here," I say and he laughs, seeming a little more comfortable than he was when I first got here. "Don't hesitate to ask me for help. I know the feeling of everyone ignoring you just because they don't know you well. But you have me if you ever need help.

He studies my face for a second. His features seem to soften a bit when he realizes I'm trying to help him out, knowing he needs the help. "Thank you... Sophie, right?" I nod and he smiles a bit more. Then, out of nowhere, a small frown comes out of nowhere and he says, "Listen, I'm really sorry I was snappy like that with you this morning. I'm just kind of stressed out right now with the whole move and I've never been a new kid before so I didn't really know what to expect. I think when you were trying to help me earlier I was a bit shocked is all. It's no excuse, I know, but I'm just really sorry."

Wow. I wasn't expecting that. He seemed really genuine about it as well. Maybe he'll give us being friends a second chance. I can tell he needs someone to help him through this awkward stage of not knowing anyone and not knowing the area well at all. And I'm willing to be that person for him, if he wants that. "Harry, it's not your fault, there's no need to apologize to me. Yeah I was a little thrown off by your rudness at first, but I totally remember how it felt being new here and having everyone walk all over me because I didn't know anything about this town. If you ever need any guidance or if someone is giving you a rough time, just let me know, okay?" I tell him this in hopes that it will make him feel a little better about the situation. He smiles at me once more as I continue speaking. "I have econ with Smith this period, maybe your class is on the way to mine. I could show you the way?"

"I'm heading to that class as well. Funny how that worked out," he says as he's cut off by the late bell. "Shit we're late."

"It's okay, you're the new kid remember? We'll just say I was 'showing you around'. I'm sure he'll understand."

We walk into the classroom and there are two seats left in the back row. Harry and I hurry to sit down just as Mr Smith starts taking attendance.

"It's nice of you two to finally join us."

"I'm sorry, Mr Smith, but I was showi-"

I'm interrupted by Harry. "It's my fault, sir. It's my first day here and I happened to get lost so Sophie was trying to help me get back on track."

Mr Smith looks slightly annoyed at first but softens his tone. "That's okay, son. It can be hard at first. It's understandable."

The class seems to last forever as Mr Smith goes over the very long, tedious syllabus, which no one is listening to anyway. Harry keeps passing me notes making fun of Mr Smith's very monotone voice and I can't help but chuckle a few times. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to hear me. When I wasn't receiving notes from the boy sitting next to me, I was watching the clock, waiting for what felt like hours for this class to finally end.

The bell finally rings and I invite Harry to sit at my table with my friends and I.

"Thank you, Sophie. I just have to meet with Mrs Stevens quickly. I'll meet you in there," he says and we part ways as I walk to the cafeteria to meet my friends.

Behind me I hear, "Hello? Earth to Sophie!" I turn around and see Raia looking at me like I have two heads. "Thanks for ditching me all of last period. Also,who was that? He's gorgeous!"

"Sorry, Raia, I honestly didn't even see you in class. And that was, Harry. Mrs Stevens asked me to show him around the school. He just moved here yesterday."

We walk to the lunch table where Zach and Molly were already sat and eating. We sit down and we all talk about how boring our teachers are and how kids are already planning their big parties that'll just get busted. We keep the conversation going until I look up from my phone and see Harry looking around for me. His eyes finally find mine and I give him a little wave, telling him to come sit with us.

When he comes over he's pretty quiet so I take it upon myself to introduce him to my friends. "Guys, this is Harry. He just moved here yesterday so I though we could all be his friends as he doesn't really know anyone yet. Harry, this is Zach, Molly, Raia, and Noah."

Harry shakes all of their hands with a smile and says, "It's nice to meet you all. I'm thankful to have Sophie. She's been really helpful and kind." To be funny he adds, "So far anyway," and I playfully elbow his arm while he slides into the seat next to me. He looks at me and laughs with a smirk stretching across his face.

Raia leans close to me and whispers, "He totally likes you, Soph."

I shoot her a look like she's crazy and say, "No way, you're insane." I then go back to eating my sandwich and talk to the girls about some drama while Zach and Noah have Harry sucked into some conversation about their favorite football teams. Harry claims that the Packers are better than the Patriots, which is just not at all true.

After lunch, Harry and I take a minute to compare schedules and to my surprise, the rest of our classes match up perfectly, exept for Spanish, as he takes French instead. We walk together to our classes and the rest of the day goes by smoothly and quickly.