Ten

I have always dreaded the first day at school. There were big things like meeting new friends (I don't intend to have any), the new teachers, learning new hallways (my best). And there were small things like getting a new locker. It's a private school, so I believe I'll have my locker ready (I should). But more than anything, I hate the stares. I hate being the centre of attraction, but I guess that will never change about me. It's who I am. I'm beautiful, no doubt. My golden hair, one of a kind, then my eyes. I know I'm different, but I'm not exactly sure how. This school looks different, Sylvia has always chosen the perfect things for me and this is one of them.

I stood outside my new school in a freezy march morning wondering. Why me? I was just in sweater and leggings and I felt I didn't belong here. It's way too orderly out here. From the look of things, school life here will be boring. My formal school was totally different from this. There were usually hundreds of kids outside the school clamming, screaming and shoving each other. It has always looked like a prison yard. The kids laughed too loud, cursed too much, shoved each other too hard but here in my new school, everyone's minding their own business. I smiled at myself as I clicked a pic on my smartphone. Maybe, just maybe, life can as perfect as it seems. The truth is that I'm still very nervous and some part of me do not want to go into the classroom. This school is just too urban. I've always been to schools that have grasses, trees, the sky. Here, there's nothing but city. To get a bit of familiarity with the school, I decided to take a walk. There were guards everywhere, so I could not go too far.

Learning has begun some minutes ago, I guess it's high time I joined them. At the entrance of the hallway, two tight faced guards stood, and I'd have to pass through a metal detector with airport style security. There were other kids there, I'm not as bad a student as I thought.

“Empty your pockets ” one of the guards said.

I had nothing in my pocket so I didn't budge.

“ I SAID EMPTY YOUR POCKETS” he snapped.

“ I have nothing in there ” I said stylishly. In some way I felt stupid as I hurried to walk pass the detector.

The alarm shrieked. “ YOU! ”snapped a guard.“ Off to the side”

I flushed red as the other kids watched as I was made to raise hand and the guard ran the scanner up and down my body.

“ Are you wearing a jewelry? ”

I felt my neckline and suddenly remembered. The pearls.

“ Take it off ” Snapped the guard.

“ I'd rather not ” I answered outrightly.

The guard stared at me, cold as ice. I prayed silently that he let me be.

Suddenly a commotion broke out. The alarm shrieked again and the other guard was busy.

“ YOU, OUT ” He snapped. The boy took to his heels and the guard pursued him. I had the opportunity to go.

This is a bad omen. I thought. I thought this school would be better. I just pray things don't get worse.

***

I pushed the door open to my classroom, braced myself for all kind of looks, that's unavoidable. I was interrupting a silent class. The room was designed for 30 students and it has less than thirty. I discovered how late I was when I saw the board. They've done a lot. The teacher, a lady, white, almond shaped face with a black wavy hair. She was staring at me.

“ The new girl? Katrienair Mitchell?” she asked.

“ Yes” I showed her my ID.

“ And why are you late? ” She said and some kind of mysterious laughter followed.

My face turned pale red. At last, it has been proved that this is also a school with ‘humans’ in it.

“ I never meant to” I said carefully.

“ You'll be pardoned, since it's your first day. Get yourself a seat”

I stalled myself and walked tentatively down the aisle until I got to the end of the class. Not one empty seat! I stood there, feeling like an idiot and felt other kids starting to notice me. Some were even laughing. I didn't know what to do. Certainly, I can't stand there the whole.

“ Excuse me” I interrupted the teacher again. She stared at me, and the class also. I guess I'm going to get used to that very soon.

“ Oh, your locker isn't ready yet, it will be ready tomorrow ” she continued teaching.

For crying out loud, she didn't profer any solution. What the heck?!

I turned and looked again, scanning helplessly. I heard another derisive laughter from few aisles away and I knew it was directed at me. My cheeks flushed as I started to feel conspicuous. Just as I was getting ready to walk out of the class or maybe out of the school, I heard a voice.

“ Here ”

I turned.

In the first row, beside a window, a tall boy stood from his desk. I walked up to him, feeling numb, trying not to stare into his crimson blue eyes, but I couldn't help it. He had a smooth olive skin, quite different from others. His short and brown hair looked quite unique.

Handsome? That's an understatement. And he, the same guy, is offering me his seat. I've never been smitten by a guy. I've seen friends have crushes and I'd never really understood, until now.

“ Where would you sit?” I asked trying not to sound as nervous as I felt.

Laughter filled the room and I was forced to ask myself. ‘ What the hell is wrong in what I just said? ’

“ I'll be right there ” He pointed to the back of the class. There was a concrete pavement at a corner. I wish I have seen that earlier. I would have rejected the offer, but it's my first day in school and I don't want to create controversies.

“ Okay thanks ” I said and regretted immediately. Thanks? That's all I can manage. Just thanks?

Silence gave in and the teacher continued her teaching. I felt so uncomfortable and I knew I wasn't concentrating on the class. That guy, I can't stop thinking about him . Crush? No I don't have a crush, but there's something else. I just can't wait for closing hours already.