So different but so right

°3•New acquaintances

Hanna

"So, where are you from?" Viola asks me as we walk through the hallways of the school.

I'm sure by now she saw the way I walk. To my surprise, she doesn't ask questions or demand details on the subject. I appreciate her discretion.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't share my past with people I barely know," I reply. She says nothing as she keeps walking, showing me around the school.

I hope I didn't offend her.

"It's settled then. You'll sit with me at lunchtime to become better acquaintances."

"Who said I needed a friend?" I'm just messing with her.

She turns to look at me, then shrugs her shoulders as if she doesn't mind what I've said.

"Everyone needs a friend, especially around here." her words couldn't be more accurate than that.

It's funny now that I was on the other side of the field. What I have done in the past to others makes me regret the way I have treated them.

As they say, better late than never.

Why did I take so long to realize how cruel of a person I was? I know why, but I don't want to dwell on it. Not now, at least.

"Hey, are you okay?" Viola stands in front of me with her hands on my shoulders. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

I give her a fake smile, hoping she'll buy it. "Super duper."

Super duper? What kind of answer is that?

Viola chuckles, hearing my reply.

Is it me, or is she trying not to laugh at me?

Hashtag, think before you speak.

"You're funny. Come, let's continue with the tour...Miss Super Duper."

Oh no, don't tell me it will stick with me now. Ugh, why me? But I have to say that for a first impression, I already like her.

Seeing my reaction after what she called me, Viola laughs harder while she throws her head back. She can't stop laughing now. It must be contagious or something because I start to laugh as well. Man, it's good to laugh this way after what happened to me.

"Sh, sh, sh, we must be careful before we get into trouble by interrupting classes that have already started," Viola warns me as we continue to walk and try not to laugh.

The rest of the tour was great. I know she notices how I walk next to her, but she never asked me about it, and I was glad.

Before Viola goes to her class, she's kind enough to escort me to mine.

Damn, it's already started, which means all the students inside will notice me. I'm not too fond of the idea, not at all. Let's hope Miss Sutherland doesn't make me present myself in front of everyone as they do in kindergarten.

Stop, Hanna, you worry too much. I try to persuade myself while I put my hand on the door's handle before I step inside.

Here goes nothing. I say to myself one last time, taking a deep breath as I open that stupid door.

As I walk in, I look around to see what I'm dealing with. Like a moth to a flame, my eyes are drawn to someone specific. He's a student, and I think I've seen him before, but where?

Oh crap, it's the same guy I saw walking outside Mr. Reims' office.

Damn, I was right. He's hot!

Is it me, or is he starting right back at me?

Stop looking at him like that. What will he think of you now? I try to advise myself.

My prayer is finally heard when the teacher comes to my aid and distracts me from him.

Hallelujah!

"You must be the new student Miss Hanna Parker?" Miss Sutherland asks me while she stands before me to greet me.

"That's me." Please don't ask me to say something about myself in front of everyone. I pray repeatedly.

"Quasimodo." Someone nicknames me as I walk to my seat. Is he trying to be funny?

I'm about to respond to whoever said this when I stop myself as I hear someone come to my aid.

"Shut up, Dallas!"

To my surprise, it was the hottie who came to my rescue.

"Oh, Lockwood, don't tell me you're suddenly getting soft." That Dallas guy replies to his comrade.

He scoffs. "You wish. I don't get that low on my standard to insult the needy."

Asshole! And to think he was hot.

Ugh!

Hashtag, screw his hot ass.

The class begins to laugh at Mr. Asshole's comment. Miss Sutherland says nothing on the matter, meaning he's essential to this school.

I won't play in their games. I'm better than that. Besides, I promised myself that I was no longer that person.

Is it me, or do I see regret in his eyes when he sees me staring at him after what he said?

Too late, asshole!

I take a seat and look straight ahead, pretending not to hear the whispers around me.

After a while, I think Miss Sutherland can't stand the noises in her class as she demands silence from now on. The rest of the period went well. Thank you, my God, for that! I don't appreciate being in the center of a drama. I had enough for today.

As I walk through the halls of the school, it is already lunchtime, and I wonder where I might eat after I collect my food from the cafeteria.

Do I hide in the bathroom, eat outside, or go to the cafeteria to face everyone? Viola said she wanted to eat lunch with me, but maybe she said this just to be nice, as she didn't mean it.

Suddenly I jump as someone binds their arm to mine. "There you are, Miss S.D." Viola laughs at my reaction.

"Miss S.D.?" I ask about the new nickname she has chosen for me.

"Yes, Miss Super Duper." She clarifies as she can't stop laughing.

"Shit! You won't let this go, aren't you?"

"And miss this reaction? Definitely not!" She covers her mouth with her hand to muffle her laugh.

Ugh, I was afraid of that.

On entering the cafeteria, I already spot the popular table. As I thought, mister asshole is at the center of everything.

I pretend nothing bothers me while Viola and I get lunch before we choose a place to eat. She and I start talking, and I learn that Viola has two siblings, a sister and a brother, both younger than her. They are a blended family. They aren't related by blood since Viola's mother married the father of her younger siblings.

"Look at yourself, Viola, you've made a new friend. Hope you can keep her this time." A student with long curly hair says as he walks past us.

"Shut up, Ian!"

"You wish." He said this as he returned to his friends.

"Who was that?" I ask when I see him sit at the same table as Johnny.

"A stupid idiot. We were friends when we were little until we got here. Everything changed after that. He got popular, and I stayed average." I see a glimmer of sadness in her eyes as she looks over there.

"Uhmm, Hanna, Johnny Lockwood is staring at you!"

I turn my head as I see him looking at me, but when he sees me looking at him, he takes his cell phone, pretending that nothing is out of the ordinary. He didn't want his friend to notice.

I'm sure it means nothing. A popular student and an average one don't mix.

Be reasonable. I convince myself. I know how the system works.

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