I Didn't Get The Memo

01: Great Expectations

If hard work had brought her anything, it was stress. Three years of a rough and vibrant high school career was shattered in one week. Miriam Grover was like any other over-achieving high school student: she's got top-notch grades, a compassionate personality, a large circle of friends and a hot girlfriend. Yes, girlfriend. She was what everyone wanted to be: boys and girls alike. But on this particular Friday afternoon, mind you, it was Friday the 13th... a sure sign of bad luck in her superstitious mother's mind, Miriam's life hit rock bottom.

The morning began with some toasted bread and marmalade - a perfect beginning in her eyes.

"Do you need me to pick you up today, Miriam?" her mother called out to her. She looked up and shook her head.

"It's fine, I can take the bus."

"I'm not sure public transport is wise, dear. It would take so much longer," her father commented from the opposite end of the table.

"It's fine. I can get some reading done," Miriam replied, gulping down her orange juice in a hurry. She was supposed to remind her brother, Kabir, to pack a bag for a service event the next week. After rushing everyone into the backseat of her mother's car, Miriam finally breathed out in relief. Everything was set. She had studied for her math test the night before, and she had planned the perfect date for her three month anniversary for her girlfriend, Laura. 

She and Laura had decided they were taking things slow. So far, they had only been on four dates, but Laura was starting to get really antsy about it.

They arrived at school in 20 min and Miriam gave her mother a hug. Together, Kabir and Miriam walked through the large doors of Camden International. They were two years apart, but they acted like twins most times. Miriam had adopted many 'un-ladylike' features because of it and Kabir had an EQ higher than most boys his age.

"See you bro!" she said to her brother as she clapped his back. Kabir rolled his eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to meet Laura?"

Right then, the first bell rang.

Miriam looked up, "Oh shoot!"

Miriam was planning on dropping by Laura's homeroom to say hi but she only had a few minutes.

Suddenly a school-wide announcement sounded, "Miriam Grover, please report to the principal's office." Kabir looked at her with confusion but Miriam just shrugged.

"Hi Dr. Madoze, you called for me?" she asked, entering the office. Principal Madoze pointed to the seat in front of him.

"Ms. Grover, please take a seat," he said, "I would like to introduce you to Mikael Kade. He is a new student in your grade."

Miriam turned towards the light-haired boy sitting adjacent to her and smiled, "I'm Miriam, nice to meet you." He nodded.

Dr. Madoze looked at Miriam again, "I would like you to show Mr. Kade around the school. You are in the same homeroom and share quite a number of classes. Don't worry, I have notified your homeroom teacher that both of you will be late." He handed Mikael a copy of his schedule and let Miriam take things from there.

"Where did you move from?" Miriam asked as they left the principal's office.

"From England," he answered. He doesn't seem to have a British accent, Miriam noticed. She asked a couple more questions but stopped as his answers started to grow shorter and shorter to the point where he just stopped talking altogether.

Alright, he seems nice enough, Miriam concluded as they entered homeroom. But her mother's warning wasn't wrong... even though Miriam laughed at the thought as she walked to class with Mikael.

She walked to the front of the classroom and introduced him with a couple of sentences and they sat down. The next two days, she led him to all of his classes and got him to sit with her during lunch, though he did so begrudgingly at first.

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