|2| Fresh meat
1069 Words
"Are you just gonna stand there?" The bulky lady at the reception asked.
"Sorry, I'm new here."
"As if that wasn't already obvious. Name?"
"Ethan Reed."
"Mm-hmm." She typed on her computer. "Just sit over there and wait there till your schedule is printed out."
I nodded awkwardly, sat on one of the seats next to this other boy in a baseball cap. He looked like a douche, so I choose not to give him much attention. I looked around instead.
The reception smelled like bleach, which I enjoyed because it meant that this place was cleaned on a regular basis.
"You're new right?" Baseball cap asked.
"Yep."
"Cool. Fresh meat!" He exclaimed.
"Your schedule's ready." The receptionist said and I sighed in relief because she just gave me a chance to escape earning myself a bully.
"And the principals office is that way, she wants to speak to you."
I took the schedule and on my way there, I heard her say to the baseball hat boy. "What did you do this time, Chase?"
That was all I needed to hear to know that I should distance myself from him.
Well... that'll be easy.
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The principal was a beautiful Latino woman in her late thirties. She had bangs and looked too happy for a high school principal.
"You must be Ethan," she said with a Spanish accent. "I'm principal Rodriguez, but you can call me Paula. Did you get your schedule?"
"Yes ma'am."
"It's Paula. You make me sound old." She said playfully. "You'll be moving to honours math class due to your outstanding academic performance. Correct me if I'm wrong but you've managed to obtain eight scholarships in the ten schools you've attended to in the period of four years?"
"Yes ma'am."
"That is quite impressive. Considering that you have such good grades, records and high recommendations. You just might be a contender for a scholarship here at Camden High."
"Thank you ma'am."
"I heard from your mother that you're requesting for the scholarship as soon as possible?"
I nodded.
"Well, if you want to obtain the scholarship in such a short period of time, you'll have to prove that you won't slip. Your results are commendable, but we want to see if you can live up to those standards at our school."
She shuffles around under the table top and emerges with a file. "If you want to achieve the scholarships before the end of this semester, you need to out perform our most prestigious students in the up coming practice tests. Jamal Martin, Manuel Cortez and Nicole Hamilton."
My heart thudded at the mention of her name. I looked over at the files, with Jamal holding the highest GPA.
"Yes, Ms Rodriguez. I'm confident that I can easily out do this three candidates." I really was confident that I would. This will be a walk in the park.
I looked at the school photo of Nicole. She had a impassive look on the face. This time, her hair wasn't straight down and sleek. She had a pixie cut, which looked badass and hot all at the same time.
"But I do have a question because I do find this quite unsettling. You've been in ten schools in the period of four years. How? Why?" She asked.
"Yeah," I scratched the back of my head. "We move a lot."
"Well, if you have any problems at home--"
"No ma'am, that's not the case."
"Ethan," She held my hand sympathetically. "You know that this is a safe place."
"If there's anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to tell us. You can sign you up for counselling. If there's anything we can do to assist you in anyway. Even financially, just tell us."
"But ma'am-"
"Promise me you will?" She looked at me dead in he eyes.
I sigh. "I promise."
"Thank you Ethan. Now, I believe that your first class is math?"
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Room 27, Mr McCormick.
My schedule read.
I walk through the hallway, quickly checking each door for a room twenty seven. So far, it has been easy to blend in. I knew that I couldn't and wouldn't attract that much attention.
I found room twenty seven and tried as best as I could to look inconspicuous as I walked into the room. Well, I didnt really have to try. I spotted Sakura talking with a blonde haired boy in a red hoodie. He looked like a hippie male version of repunzel.
"Hey." I greeted her and she happily waved back.
"Trent, this is my newly acquainted sci-fi buddy. We literally share the same taste in fun. Unlike you, he thinks that books are way better."
"Yeah... that's weird." He states. "Moving on, hey newbie." He offers his hand and I reluctantly gave him my hand. I enjoy this form of contact the least.
Then my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw Chase walk past me with a football at hand.
So much for avoiding him.
Hey buddy." He sits on my table. "Is Camden high treating you good?" He ruffled my hair, laughs and goes to talk to a group of cheerleaders sitted at the back of the room.
Mr McCormick got into the class five minutes and thirty nine seconds late. He smelt of cigars and as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, all he seemed to utter was vulgar.
Plus, he was well past his retirement age and sounded a little bonkers.
"Well, if you going to come to my class late at least have the bloody common decency to apologise, Ms Hamilton."
I look up to see the figure Mr McCormick was talking to and my eyes widen and my throat does the exact opposite.
Nicole Hamilton.
She barely acknowledged his statement and mischievously smiled at me. The air in the room thickens and everybody watches her in anticipation.
This situation was a disaster waiting to happen, so I look down at my empty notepad. All the seats around me are occupied, so I just knew that she wasn't going to seat anywhere near me.
That's a relief.
But she being the tyrant I heard she is, walks up to me and pushes all of Sakura's stationery unto the floor. Sakura stands up to pick them up and the empress of darkness takes her seat.
She sits back and looks at me.
"Missed me?"
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- Writer
