Chapter 5: High School

"Are you excited, sweetheart?" Her Daddy asked the moment the car parked at the parking lot of the school. 

"A bit nervous." She stated honestly. 

"That's normal. Nothing to worry about, sweetheart. You'll probably meet new friends and besides, your sister Leanna will tour you around, right Leanna?" Her Dad's eyes then turned to Leanna.

"Yeah, of course! I'll accompany you so you won't get lost on the campus." Leanna stated cheekily that made her eyes roll in disgust. 

She really hates her for being such a good actress. How can she manage to act sweet in front of her Dad then rude and hostile when they were alone together? Well, why would she be surprised? Chelsea does the same with her so she probably learned it from her mother. One thing for sure, she doesn't wanna play their game. Her father might have noticed the disgust in her reaction when she didn't reply to Leanna because his face turned dark and grim as if he was giving her a warning look. With that, she suddenly felt bad so she decided to come out in the car. She heard her father bade her good luck but she didn't mind him and just kept her silence still. She was upset and she wanted to show it by that means. Why couldn't he notice the real colors of his new wife and her daughter? Why does he easily get duped by them? She was his real daughter but why it is so hard for him to believe and side her? She noticed Leanna tried to follow and walk with her so she walked fast having the intention of leaving her behind. She doesn't need Leanna's help to tour her around the campus. She was better of herself and would rather choose to be alone. 

It was the first day of her high school life and being a freshman was something to be nervous and excited about. It was a new school and probably new friends that will come around. She was enrolled in the same school where Leanna was studying. Leanna was a junior high school and was two years older than her while she was a freshman. She used to study at Holy Angel Academy in her elementary. It was an all-girls school that was being administered and run by nuns but since Chelsea suggested to her Dad that she should enroll in the same school Leanna was studying, her father immediately obliged. The woman told her father that this particular school has a high level of education with competitive students and the best teachers.  As expected, her Dad believe and agreed with her stepmom. If she will be the one to choose, she would rather choose to stay in her previous school. Holy Angel Academy is where her mom finished her high school and it's also her mom's choice of school for her but since it was her Dad's decision, she knew she can never oppose it. 

Though she was not comfortable having male classmates for it gives her conscious and shy feelings, she knew she will soon get used to it. Fortunately, some classmates tried to know and make friends with her since she was a new face. She tried to be as friendly and polite as possible. After all,  realized her first day in her new school was not that bad at all. 

"Where are they heading?" She curiously asked the girl sitting beside her when she noticed almost her girl classmates are flocking as if they were gossiping or there is some kind of news they were spreading. Some of them even looked so excited when they left the room. 

"They were planning  to join in La Luna Omega?" The girl replied. 

"What's that?" She curiously asked. 

"It's a sorority and all members are popular girls on the campus. I heard tomorrow is the initiation day."

"They wanna be popular?" She asked resisting herself to laugh. 

"Think so. How 'bout you? You're pretty and seemed rich. Aren't you joining?" 

The girl studied her features and by the way she look at her, she seemed very amazed based on how she gazed at her. She was not boastful but she knew she was beautiful. She got her skin to her half Brazilian mom and her best asset is her gray eyes which she got from her father. 

"Not interested." She answered. 

"I'm Kaycee, by the way. You are?" The girl offered her hand in a friendly way. 

The girl has pretty long blonde hair with chinky eyes. She was wearing thick glasses and had silver braces on her teeth.  

She had the typical nerdy looks but she was pretty even with the glasses and braces on. 

"I'm Gavriella, you can call me Gav." She replied giving the girl a genuine smile. 

"Nice name, I like it." 

"Thanks. Nice meeting you, Kaycee." She told the girl before she decided to leave the room and walk away. 

The first day of school was done and it was good though. She never expected she would like it and will meet new friends immediately. 

"Hey Gav, wait!" 

Her attention got caught when somebody called her name while she walks in the hallway so she stopped and turned around. It was Phyllis and Trishia coming near her. Both girls are her classmates and if she was not mistaken, she heard from Kaycee that the two joined the initiation on the said sorority. She suddenly wonders what do they want with her.

"Gavriella right?" Said the brunette who has Caucasian features. She knew her name was Trishia.  She was tall, having a round pretty face, hazel eyes, and natural long thick lashes. She was like a Barbie brunette doll in her eyes. 

"Yes?" She replied. 

"I'm Trishia." Introduced by the girl in a friendly way. 

"And I'm Phyllis." Said the other girl.

Phyllis was tall and skinny having short blonde hair. She was pretty too but not as beautiful as Trishia. 

"Hi!" She greeted generously. The two girls look chic and classy, no wonder they wanna be popular in school, she thought.

"I'm actually having a pool party in the house this Friday night and I wanted to invite you,"  Trishia stated. 

"I'm sorry but I can't. I'm not allowed to attend such parties." She politely declined. 

"What? don't be such a killjoy, Gav. Everyone is coming." Trishia disappointedly stated. 

"I'm sorry but I'm not sure if my Dad will allow me. I was being fetched after school and I'm not allowed to come home late." She explained. 

"Why you're such a good girl? We're fourteen, we should be breaking rules." Phyllis stated giving her that ridiculous look. 

"Sorry I can't." 

"Awww, you're no fun! Come with my party and you will surely enjoy it." Trishia persuaded. 

"I'm really sorry." She declined. 

The truth is she was not fond of parties. Besides, she just met these two girls earlier and they were not even friends yet. She don't think it's a good idea to hang with them immediately after knowing them on the first day. 

"You know what, Gav? Just a piece of advice. If you wanna have friends, you should know how to mingle and go with the flow." Trishia stated that left a frown on her face. 

She was about to ask what does she mean by that but the two girls disappointingly walk past her and leave. She was left thinking staring at the two while walking away wondering if she is that aloof and snob? She was open to having lots of friends but she didn't mind having a few friends though. She doesn't usually base in physical appearance or status of life on choosing friends. It doesn't matter if the person came from a rich family or not, just as long they wanted her to be their friend she was okay with it.

She never wished to be popular in school. All she just wanted is to be good in academics to make her father proud. But on what Trishia stated, it somehow left a big question in her.  She was a good girl alright, and that's what she intend to be.  Is it bad to be a good girl now? Not that she wanted to hang out with them or go to the party but it somehow made her wonder if she is losing her sense of socialization now?  She knew her Dad will not surely allow her but maybe it's not bad to change a bit and start to like parties and socialization. After all, it's a new school so change is a must, she guessed. 

*  *  *

While walking and bringing her tray of food, she was about to join Kaycee's table at the school's canteen when she accidentally bumped into someone. To her clumsiness, the food she was holding accidentally splattered right on the person she bumped with. 

"Fuck! Are you that stupid to not look where you're heading? Look what you've done in my shorter! Oh, fuck what is this stinking smell!" 

The guy was a dark-skinned muscled man and he obviously got pissed as he frustratedly cursed out of disgust. The guy looked six and a half feet taller and with his muscular build, he seemed like a varsity player. With the disgust and glare of his eyes, he was obviously accusing her like it was her fault. 

"I-I'm sorry I didn't notice you. You just appear out of nowhere and bumped me. It's not my fault that you were careless!" She couldn't help to explain and partly blame him out of irritation.

"You fucking stupid bitch! Are you telling me that it's my fault now?" The guy scandalously shouted that made her blood boil in disgust. He looked aggressive and it seems like he can hurt a girl. 

"Oh yes it was your fault and I'm not a stupid bitch you dumbass!" She shouted back ballistically.

She cannot allow this moron to shout and insult her. Yes, it might be partly her fault but it was his fault too because he was not looking where he was walking. He doesn't have to humiliate and cursed her in front of a  lot of people. No one ever does that to her and she will never allow it. 

"You bitch!" 

She gasped when she saw the guy was about to hit her. Like a scaredy-cat, she close her eyes expecting to be hit but the guy never had a chance when she suddenly heard a loud voice from behind that caught everyone's attention. To her surprise, it was Trishia who shouted to stop the guy from hitting her.  The big guy automatically stopped and to her amazement, Trishia bravely came near them and face the big ugly guy who is now looked like a gorilla in her eyes. 

"Do that Zeke and you'll be sorry." Trishia bravely warned the guy. 

"You're out of here Trishia and don't meddle here, please..." The big guy stated in a low tone that stunned her. 

"I'm warning you! She's my friend and if you lay a finger on her, you will be sorry. " Trishia stated in a cool but warning tone. 

The guy furiously glared at her and then to Trishia. Just when about she thought he will attempt to hit her again, he then aggressively stomped her foot and outrageously shouted like a mad man.

"Agghhh! Bullshit!" The big ugly guy shouted furiously then to her surprise, he frustratedly walked away from them. 

"Are you okay?" Trishia worriedly asked. 

"Thanks." She stated. 

She never thought that Trishia is that too brave to face and defend her from that big ugly guy. She couldn't believe Trishia never got intimidated by that aggressive bully who have the capacity to hurt anyone and to even think she was a girl and she was fighting a guy who is a lot stronger than her? It somehow amazed her. 

"If you did not come and helped me, he had surely hurt me."

"Zeke is a bully and he can hurt a girl," Trishia stated. 

"But he seems scared with you." She uttered stating the obvious. 

"Of course! His father works in the company of  Trishia's Dad and he wouldn't dare to hurt her. His father might end up losing his job if he lay a finger to Trishia." Phyllis stated boastfully in a proud and irritating manner. 

Now she knows why. So these girls came from a rich and influential family that's why they have the guts to fight over a bully because they knew they could mess up someone's life.  They are the type of person who is good to be friends with but dangerous to be enemies, she guessed.

"You said he's a bully? Oh gosh, he might get back at me!" With that thinking, a sudden fear crossed her mind. 

"Are you scared?" Trishia stated snarkily. 

"You can't blame me. He was aggressive and scary!"

"Well then stick with me. Be my friend and in that way, he can't hurt or get back at you." Trishia then gave her a sly smile.

"Everyone wants to be our friends so it was a good opportunity for you that Trishia chooses you to be her friend," Phyllis added.

"Thanks for saving me. " She sincerely told Trishia. 

"Anyway, it seems you're okay now. We'll go ahead now, Gav." Trishia then gave her a wink before they walked away and left. 

Well, it's not bad to be friends with them. Although she don't want to get involved with spoiled brat rich girls who only care about being popular on the campus, she was not the type of person who choose friends based on what she could gain from them too. She was not an opportunist or have any wish to be popular like them but If they wanna be her friends, she would love to be one. From that day onwards, Trishia and Phyllis became her friends. They join lunch with her sometimes, she lets them borrow her notes, and even copy her homework and she didn't mind at all. They were fun to be with although they were a bit stagey which some might find it exaggerated or irritating. They were also a bit arrogant and insulting which she doesn't like about them but she somehow manage to not mind and just tolerate their of behavior. She accepted them to be her friends so she have to bear and tolerate their bad attitudes, she guessed.