Torn Between Two Worlds

FirstDay

Mary-Kate’s POV

“Are you ready for your first day at an elite school?” dad asks in a teasing tone when he says, ‘an elite school’.

I giggle.

I still can’t believe I am now a pupil at Cali High Academy.

Dad and I are just heading out of our apartment.

“Yes, I think I am.” I give him a small smile.

“You don’t sound that confident.” He notices my tone, he always picks up the little things about me even when I try so hard to hide my emotions.

“I am nervous dad, what if the other kids don’t like me because I am poor?” I ask biting down on my bottom lip.

He scoffs, “Honey, anyone would love you rich or poor. It’s what’s in here that matters.” He points at my chest.

“Thanks dad.” I give him a small smile.

He always knows just the right words to say to me.

“By the way, you look great in your new uniform.” He smiles.

I look down at myself and then back at him.

“Thanks, I wish I could say the same thing about you.”

He is dressed in his usual work clothes, smart pants, shirt, and a jacket. He is always dressed like this even on Fridays. It is too hot to wear a jacket, but it is a requirement for him like it is for me in my uniform.

I like my new uniform a lot, a short grey skirt, white shirt with a black blazer which has the school logo on it and black knee-high socks. I would have taken the blazer off and remain with the sweater vest since it is warm, but the first rule is to Always wear your school uniform correctly. My old uniform was awful, a checked dress with an ugly shade of blue with black. Boy, am I glad to be done with such an ugly appearance?

“Unlike you I have no new uniform and still have to dress like this.” He smiles.

“I know. I am sorry about that.”

“We better get going before we are both late, have a great day baby girl.” Dad moves closer and kisses my forehead.

“Have a great day too dad.” I smile at him.

We both go our separate ways walking towards opposite bus stops, dad has to take the bus going into town while I have to take the bus in the opposite direction which will take me close enough to Cali High.

“Good morning, Mary-Kate.” The bus driver smiles at me.

I look up and see a familiar face. I occasionally catch his bus when I need something in town or heading to my old school, surprisingly he is heading in my new direction.

“Good morning to you too Mr. Ben. How amazing it is that you are heading in the same direction as I am.” I say with a smile.

“The company reshuffled our routes. That’s a new uniform you are wearing.” He says as I take the first seat at the front.

“That’s wonderful, I will get to see you every day on my way to my new school.” I smile.

“Wait, there is only one school in my direction.” He says with a serious face.

“Yes, that’s the one.” I say with a huge grin.

I am so excited about studying at Cali high Academy. Mr. Andrews was more excited about the news when I informed him last Friday. I expected him to be sad that I could only go in for full shifts on weekends but that wasn’t the case, he was excited for me.

“Congratulations young lady, I hope you settle in well.” Says Mr. Ben.

“Thank you.” I say.

Mr. Ben is a nice man. He has been driving buses around the city for the past six years. I first got on his bus two years ago when I started high school. He has been so nice and generous to me even on days I forgot my purse, or I could not afford to pay for my ride. He is a nice gentleman.

****

“Excuse me is this seat taken?” I ask the brown-haired boy.

He looks up at me then ignores me like he didn’t hear me ask or say something to him. He doesn’t have earphones plugged in, so I don’t understand why he chooses not to respond to my question. Let me try again.

I tap his shoulder, “Excuse me I asked you a question…..”

“I heard you the first time.” he rudely responds.

So why didn’t you respond then?

He rolls his eyes skywards. “No darling the seat isn’t taken.” He responds with a hint of sarcasm.

What is wrong with him, he doesn’t have to be rude.

I have a whole year to get through with rich snobs and spoilt brats, the least I can get is some kindness on my first day.

“Thanks.” I say to him before I take the seat behind him.

I am not sure if this shall be the right seat for me even though. I don’t want to sit next to a rude person for the rest of the year but all the other seats seem to be taken except the two right behind him. I pull the brown envelop out of my backpack and check my class schedule. I am in the right class which took me fifteen minutes to locate. This school is so huge I bet everyone gets lost during their first term.

My first class according to this schedule is one period of Math, then two periods of English my favourite subject, a 30-minute break then two periods of science then another two periods of history. Not bad at all, I am only nervous about Physical Education on Friday. We did not have any physical education at my old school. And lastly two periods of business class after lunch.

“Good morning, Class.” a tall African American man walks in. He must be Mr. Brown according to the schedule, I wonder if he is related to Mrs. Brown my guidance teacher.

No Mary-Kate they might not be related just because they have the same last name.

“Today we shall start quadratic equations.” He says as he writes on the white board with a black marker. “Anyone wants to give it a try?” he turns around and scans the whole class for a volunteer after writing an equation down.

I know how to solve the equation, but I will not be volunteering. I do not want any attention on the first day, so I keep my head low.

“Honestly, I expect everyone to raise their hands because this was in your holiday assignment. This just shows that none of you did your own assignments.” He says disappointedly.

I am not surprised by his words, pupils at my old school did the same thing, paying people off to do their work. I have never done that, not because I don’t have money to pay someone off but because I enjoy doing my own work and I doubt anyone can do a better job than myself. The lesson goes on with Mr Brown taking us through several equations until the end of the period.

The school bell finally rings, Lunch time. The last seven periods were hectic, I have a lot of catching up to do in some subjects.

During the 30-minute break I decided to stay in class while everyone went out to do God knows what. I packed an apple and a chicken mayo sandwich before I left home. I had the sandwich during the break and kept the apple for later.

The cafeteria is full, and everyone is seated in groups talking about their rich selves from what I can hear. I grab a tray at the end of the queue and wait for my turn to pick up my food. It smells so good in here I just hope the food is amazing.

The first section is full of starters. So much to choose from, salads, soups, and other foods I fail to recognize. Presented well like five-star hotels do, not like I have eaten at one, but I have seen from the movies I watch on our little 32-inch TV back at home.

“What would you like Miss?” The person on the other side asks.

I look up at her face, she looks so irritated and tired. I am clueless about what to pick. Everything looks great but I better make a choice soon before she gets angrier.

“A salad please.”

The lady dishes out a portion of the garden salad in a small bowl and then hands it to me.

“Thank you,” I say then move along to the next section which has main meals. I can’t remember the last time I had such a variety of food in front of me. The last time I saw so much food was during Mom’s memorial a few years back. My mom’s relatives had a memorial service for her after her fifth death anniversary. There was a buffet everyone was enjoying the food except me. I didn’t have much of an appetite. I am never in the mood for anything around her death anniversary.

I miss my mom so much.

“May I please have some steamed rice with beef stew?” I ask the gentleman standing on the other side of the serving bay.

He nods his head and then dishes out my food, I hope the steamed rice with beef stew will taste as good as it appears.

“Here you go.” He says with a small smile.

“Thank you.” I return his smile.

This man was much nicer than the lady before. She was mean and looked like I was bothering her with my undecided self. I move to the last section which is the dessert and drinks table.

I pick a pear and a bottle of water, I already have so much food on my tray I can’t add anything else although their cake looks delicious. The last time I had cake was two years ago when Dad surprised me with a cake on my birthday. Life has been very difficult for my dad and me so some things are a luxury.

Once I have everything I need, now somewhere to sit. I scan the cafeteria and all the tables are full and everyone looks comfortable sitting with their friends or cliques. I am new here and have no friends yet or so I hope.

There is an empty table in the far corner of the cafeteria, I can sit there. I make my way there and sit facing the wall. I pick up my cutlery and start eating my delicious mouthwatering food. This food is amazing, better than I expected.

I can’t help the few moans that escape my mouth. Good thing I am seated by myself otherwise people would think I have no manners. The food is too good for me to just chew and swallow.

Once I am done, I wash down the food with some water. I look at my watch, I still have 30 minutes before the last two periods of business studies commence. I get up with my tray in my hands to take it by the end of the serving bay where all the used trays I saw were being put. As I turn around, I come face to face with a hard human brick wall.

I hear plates breaking and cutlery hitting the floor and my tray is still in my hands.

Darn it Mary-Kate!

I bet everyone is staring at my misfortune.

I quickly kneel to the floor to pick up all the broken pieces of the ceramic plates and stray cutlery, “My goodness I am so sorry I didn’t see you coming.” I apologize while I pick the broken pieces.

I don’t even know who I just bumped into. I have not looked at their face afraid of the furry I will be faced with.

The person kneels to the floor as well.

“It’s okay, I was equally absent-minded.” I hear a charming male voice.

I look up from picking the broken plates and find the most handsome guy I have ever laid my eyes on. I thought the handsome ones were only in the movies, I guess they exist in my world too.

“Hi.” He says.

His jet-black hair is messy, but he looks very hot. Beautiful space grey eyes, a long perfectly shaped nose, with nice moist lips, and the whitest teeth I have ever seen. He is so handsome I bet the gods must have spent their time when creating him ensuring everything about him was perfect before letting him step foot on this earth.

“Ahem.” He clears his throat.

Oh my goodness I hope I wasn’t drooling. “I am sorry.” I say then resume picking the broken pieces.

“Careful with those you might.....”

“Ouch!”

“….hurt yourself.” He finishes. “Let me see that,” he picks up my now bleeding finger.

The moment his fingers touch mine I feel sparks all over my body. I don’t pull away because the sparks are just amazing.