Beside You - Ashton Irwin

6

We pulled up at a red brick school with some portable classrooms, I had never seen portable classrooms before, well I guess there's a first for everything? Eddie pulls up in the student car park where other students are parking their cars and getting out. We had 20 minutes before homeroom started and I had to sign in and collect my time table. I shut the door of Eddie's car and waited for her to join me. "This school is really small! I just realised that you have like grade 7s here." She nodded, "yeah, high school starts in Year 7, this year is really annoying though, they think they're cooler than everyone. They also walk incredibly slow. It's so annoying." 

I follow Eddie though the Linoleum floored building towards the office. Since I'm new and it's the middle of the school year, I get some odd glances. As we reach the office, the desk lady turns and looks at me. "Hello?" she says, "uh- hi, I'm Andrea Pentworth, I'm new here, and I need my schedule?" She paused to look at her computer screen, she clicks a few keys and rolls her chair to another desk. She pulls out some papers and hands it to me. "Here's your schedule and book list, there's a second-hand book store after school tomorrow." I thank her and walk off with Eddie, I check my schedule. My homeroom teacher is called Mr Dackerby. "Wait Omg, we're in basically all the same classes!" I smile at her as she leads the way to my newly assigned locker that I had completely forgotten about. "The codes on the back of that paper, my locker is 187, a few lockers to your left." I put my bag and my baggy jacket in the grey locker. I lock it and walk over to Eddie. I only brought my laptop and a few other random things since I don't have any books. I'll have to share with Eddie until I get the books.

We wander into class with one minute to spare, the teacher looks up at me, and so does the rest of the class. "And who might this be? Eddie?" I awkwardly smile. "Hey sir, my name is Andy, and I'm Eddie's cousin, I'm gonna be in this class for a few months." The rest of the class break out in whispers. "You're American? It's lovely to have you in my homeroom class, I'm Mr Dackerby." "I'm from New York, I got to Australia yesterday, um yep." He nods and turns to the class. "Andy, why don't you introduce yourself with a fun fact?" "uh- Hey everyone, I'm Andy Pentworth-" Fuck I name slipped, I hoped no one in here was up to date with the current news. 

"-and... My favourite animal is an elephant." "Thank you, Andy. On my list, it says your name is Andrea? Should we all just call you Andy?" I nod at Mr Dackerby, "Ok, there's a spare seat next to Calum over there, give her a wave Calum." My seat coincidentally is behind Eddie, she not so quietly whispers to me, "Andy, you could have said anything and you told the class your favourite animal? That's gonna be your first impression on everyone. You should have talked about going to Harvard!"

As much as I knew Eddie's heart was in the right place, she wanted me to brag about my academics and wasn't how I wanted to be known. "You're going to Harvard?" Someone next to me says. I look over to see Calum with his mouth open. "What was that Mr Hood? Did you have a fundraiser suggestion for the soccer team?" I look at Calum then back to Mr Dackerby. "No Sir, I was just discussing that Andy is going to Harvard." I become all awkward again and try to slide back into my chair to hide from the attention. "That's quite an achievement Miss Pentworth, care to explain?" 

I look around the class, everyone expectant eyes on me. "Uh- I took my LSATs early and got into Harvard Law School." Everyone looked shocked at this statement. I then remembered where I was. Going to expensive Ivy League schools wasn't common around here. I looked at my desk. "I wouldn't have pegged you as a future law student, Miss Pentworth?" I continued studying the small indents in my desk. "Oh yeah, my dad wants me to. So I am, I guess." Any mention of my dad was a sting to the chest. "Pentworth... where have I heard that name before?" My eyes open in shock. I didn't want my secret being exposed like this. Thankfully the bell rang.

Eddie mouthed an 'I'm sorry' to me as we walked out the homeroom. As we walked down the corridor, we stopped back at Eddie's locker. 4 boys were standing there. "Andy, this is Luke-" she pointed to a guy with a beanie and blonde hair, "-This is Mikey-" she pointed at a guy with a sweet looking face and crazy hair, "-This is Ashton-" she points at the guy with the brown- blonde hair that falls a bit over his face, "-and you already met Calum." They all waved to me saying hello. Just as we were all about to walk to the first period, maths, a voice is heard behind me. "Fresh meat?" 

We all turned around to see a stunning girl, who looked about 5'2, who had platinum blonde hair and an army of girls following her. "I'm Tori Banks." she held her hand out to shake mine. I just looked at her weirdly. She scoffed at me and rolled her eyes. "You are..?" I blinked at her, Australians were weird. " I'm Andy Pentworth...?" she pushed her back in her friend's hand and walked closer to me. "That's a Cartier bracelet. How did a weirdo like you afford that? Get out of my way Pentworth," she smirked as she and her friends bashed past our little group. "I- It was a birthday present from my Grandpa?" I looked at Eddie as I said this. 

"Oh yeah I was meaning to ask, do you keep going to DC for Christmas and stuff?" I almost laughed at that. "No way. Your family were the glue holding us all together. We haven't been back since-'' I almost cringed at the thought going through my head, and I think Eddie sensed that. "-since you guys left." I smiled softly at her. "I miss him too, Andy," she whispered so no one could hear. The more people talked about him made me realise that he wasn't coming back. Ever. We had a conversation about Australia while we all walked to maths. Surprisingly we were all in the same class. "Ms Lock is a pain in the ass, Mikey whispered to me. "Most math teachers are!" I sarcastically whispered back as he stifled his laughter as we walked inside the classroom.

                                                        ╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

I think we all have our own Tori Banks at school. A tad chiché but a necessary character!