One More Chapter

A Great Start

I sat near the back and stared out the window, maybe no one would talk to me, no such luck.

"Hey, shorty! What's your name?"

A kid across the aisle stared at me in a mock friendly way. He was tall and buff, clearly the kind of guy who was used to getting his way. Instead of answering, I turned back to the window and ignored him.

"Come on, don't be that way. My name's Jackson and you don't want to get on my bad side."

"You have a good one?" I said. I probably shouldn't have said anything but this guy was really annoying.

He scowled and turned away, silent for the rest of the bus ride.

***

"Good morning class, I'd like to introduce our newest student. Class, this is Avery, she moved here from Toronto. Avery would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?"

Aw, man. I hated talking in public, I always froze up or stood there awkwardly.

"Um... Well, I really love to read and, um, have visited lots of famous monuments."

All I wanted to do was sit down but the teacher didn't seem to notice.

"Anything else?"

" Um, no that's kinda it."

I sat down self-consciously as several of my classmates snickered. I saw Jackson in the back whispering something to his buddies, they all snorted and looked my way.

I was off to a great start in this new place, because after that embarrassing scene, who would want to be friends with me.