oh shit, i'm enemies with a time traveller☾

he's like a bell - loud and annoying and never shuts up | 1

I wake up, my alarm clock beeping. I turn onto my back and rub the sleep from my eyes. 

Normally it would be a normal day, but today is the day where I've been assigned to show a new student around Mountainview College. Apparently he is from England. 

I sit up and look at the bedraggled auburn state that is, unfortunately, my hair. I take a glance at the clock. Shit, shit, shit. Ok. I have twenty minutes to get ready.

I pull on my uniform - a navy polar fleece T-shirt and matching shorts. 

Living in New Zealand we don't get the freedom of dress code like they do in America. I used to hate the uniform when I first started as a Year 9 but now I'm Year Eleven, I've gotten used to it. Though what I haven't gotten used to is boiling in the summer and freezing in the winter. 

I brush my hair and pull it into a tight bun that almost rips off my head until it's merely satisfactory and pack my textbooks in my bag, muttering a quick goodbye to my parents before running up to the bus.

"What's got you so puffed?" asks my best friend, Cassia. I fumble around for my inhaler in my bag and take a few quick puffs. 

"I almost missed the bus," 

"No shit. Hey, have you heard about that new kid? That one from Manchester or something?" 

I groan. That's right. 

"Yeah. Unfortunately, it's my job to show him around the school." She gasps. 

"You know anyone would die for the position you have, right? Apparently he's super hot." 

I roll my eyes and pull out my phone. Three missed calls from Mum. I turn it off and focus on Cassia. 

"Why don't you switch places with me then?"

"Sorry, can't, Stella. I've got French this morning. We have to be there today, otherwise, Mrs Jones will mark an F on our upcoming test." 

"Jeez, you weren't joking when you said she's strict." 

"Uh-huh." 

I pull my Snapper card out of my pocket as the bus slows in front of our school.

Mountainview was the school to some of the most famous writers, painters and astronauts. The teachers constantly mention the fact in class, saying we have to meet their expectations. 

But it hasn't been like that for centuries. We're back to being a decile five school. 

The buildings haven't been repaired in over one hundred years. The paint is chipped and faded and the taps are leaking. Our desks are as hard as floorboards.

I step out of the bus and onto the pavement and feel something squelch under my shoe. 

Oh God, please don't say it's- gum. 

While I'm frantically trying to scrape the gum off my shoe so I can get to class on time, I don't realise I'm walking straight into someone. I look up and awkwardly step back, running to class before I get even more embarrassed.

"Miss Arrowood, you're late." The teacher taps her foot on the floorboards and sigh.