Note to self: just because they aren't your biological parents doesn't mean they won't punish you for going out all day and not telling them what you were doing. The Harrisons didn't even ease up when I told them what I had done. Actually, they didn't even believe me. They thought I had just gone out and explored London on my own, repeating over and over again how dangerous it was to do that. Too bad the guys at the gate to the set had made me give back the visitor pass. That would have been great proof but they claimed that they only had so many of those and had to recollect them when the visitor left so they couldn't sneak back onto the set. I didn't need to sneak back on, though. Dan and I had exchanged numbers and he said that I could text him whenever I wanted. Seeing as I was grounded, I did that a lot. My phone was one of the few things, other than the TV and brand new iPod nano, that wasn't taken from me.
My grounding had lasted for three weeks, thus ending my last weeks of freedom in the summer holiday. September 1 quickly rolled around. I had completely forgotten that I had come to England to go to school because up until this point, it was just beginning to feel like a great big summer getaway. But no. I went to get my school supplies, a few new outfits, and everything else needed to attend Howard of Effingham School.
Since I was living with the Headmistress of the school and her two daughters, I was there far before school was actually set to start. That meant seven in the morning. Class started at nine in the morning.
"Olivia, why don't you show McKenzie around to her classes? That way she knows what she's doing when school starts today."
Olivia and I looked at each other. Within the month that I had been in England, we had still not grown fond of each other. I mean, she was a horribly, snobby, bitch it seemed like so it's obvious why I didn't get along with her, but I was perfectly fine. Why did she not like me? Sophie had no problems with me what-so-ever.
Despite what I knew Olivia truly wanted, she hiked her bookback up on her shoulder and began walking away. I assumed this meant that the tour was starting so I followed. By the end of the tour, I was probably more clueless than I was before. This school was way bigger than my one back home. I would need a detailed tour if I was going to get it down in t-minues two hours. Olivia's hasty explaination of where my rooms were with a point of her finger and the name of the class didn't really cut it.
"Perfect timing, you two," Mrs. Harrison said, barely looking up from the papers she was going through. "You think you've got the hang of it now, McKenzie, dear?"
"Uh huh," I lied.
"Great! So then you'll just head to registration before first hour and I'll go there to introduce you. Actually... I'll do that for all your classes."
"Oh you don't need to -"
But before I could finish objecting to her idea, Mrs. Harrison was talking to another school staff member. I looked around and found Olivia sitting in a chair picking at one of her finger nails and Sophie doing a pencil drawing in her sketchbook. She was really an amzing artist.
I didn't move until I heard more voices coming and going as their owners walked past the headmistress's office door. Olivia and Sophie did the same.
"Have fun today, girls. I'll see you later!" Mrs. Harrison called to us as we walked out the door and into the hallway.
I didn't recognize anyone and I hated it. What I hated even more was that Olivia was instantly greeted by her squealing friends. How could such a cold-hearted, emotionless person have friends? But then the real surprise came. A very attractive boy walked up to Olivia and gave her a hug... then a kiss. As soon as the kiss was over, Olivia turned towards me and gave me an evil smile.
"Have fun today," she said and gave a wiggly-finger wave.
"Who is that?" I asked Sophie once her sister and friends were out of earshot.
"Those are Livvy's friends, Ella, Amelia, and Tessa. And then that's her boyfriend, Anthony. He's the big soccer star. I don't think I'd ever seen my sister more proud than when she started dating him a few weeks ago."
"They've only been dating a few weeks? My boyfriend and I didn't start kissing in public until we had been dating, like, four or five months."
"You have a boyfriend?"
I looked down. I really should be able to catch myself by now. "Not anymore. We broke up before I came to England."
"Well, maybe you'll find someone here!" The ever opptomistic Sophie exclaimed, shoving her sketchbook in her bag. I didn't understand her urgency to get rid of it, but then I figured it out when two girls came and grabbed each of Sophie's arms, pulling her away. I was alone.
I just stood in the middle of the hall, awkward and alone, not sure of what to do. What could I do other than head to registration? So that's what I did... and I still felt like a loser. Here I was, coming to England thinking that I would become something - I would make a name for myself. But no. I was still the same old loser I was back at my old school. The only friend I had was Sophie and she was a year younger than me.
"Quiet down, quiet down," a teacher said as she walked into the room. "Let me check if you are all here."
I was the only one not talking so this was no problem for me. Everyone else was happily joking around with their friends that they hadn't seen for most of the summer. I didn't know a face in the room. I couldn't tell you anyone's name or where they lived or what schooling they had previously had. I could do all of that at my old school for everyone.
"Okay, let us see here... Jayden Abrum?"
A boy with messy, light brown hair stood up from his seat and waved frantically. Everyone laughed which made me assume he was popular around here.
"Samuel Philips?"
A good-looking boy with short bown hair that was spiked in the front stood up and bowed deeply for the teacher. Everyone laughed again except for the teacher who rolled her eyes. Once again, I had spotted a popular boy who I would most likely be outcasted by.
The naming continued and I kept watch of who I should keep away from. One of Olivia's friends, Tessa Gruendeman, was in my registration. She was flirting with Samuel and Jayden the whole time, despite the teacher constantly trying to keep them quiet. Then another familiar face walked into the room, this one belonging to Mrs. Harrison. I was really hoping that she would have forgotten about me or had something better to do. She said something to the teacher quietly, the whole class hushed now that the headmistress was in the room, and then waved me to the front of the room with a bright smile on her face. Everyone's eyes turned to me. I gulped and got up.
"I hope you all enjoyed your summers," she began as I stood next to her, "and you're happy to be back at Howard of Effingham. But this year, we are honored to have a student from America joining us. Please welcome McKenzie Brooks to the school She will just be here this year, studying abroad, but please welcome her as if you had known her all your past years here."
The teacher began to clap in welcome and a few eager, nerdy-looking students joined in. The rest clapped but looked less than enthusiastic. What horrible mistake had I made coming here?
