The New Girl's Secret

Part 1-The First Day: Chapter 6: The Misunderstanding

Mr. Stokes P.O.V. 

    After Trevor left, the tension in my face disappeared. “Are you okay?” I asked her. I was worried about her, more than other new or existing students here at Highsaw High. “You can talk to me. I don’t have class this hour, and I wouldn’t tell. I’m a counselor part-time.”

    “Okay. umm...right here? In the hallway?” She was shy, nervous again. 

    “We can go to my classroom if you’d like?” 

    “Okay.”

    We walked into the classroom. I sat at my desk. She closed the door and sat at the desk in front of mine. 

    “What happened? Someone pick on you?”

    “No.” Her eyes started getting teary. She was picking at the nude pink nail polish on her fingernails. 

    “What happened then?” I paused. She didn’t respond. “Was it about the health topic? Your old school? I know what happened there.” She stopped. 

    “You know? How? Nobody here really knows the truth. It’s all just a bunch of rumors.” 

    “It’s in your file and your mom emailed your teachers.”

    She stared at me. “She didn’t.” Her voice sounded like she’d been crushed. Tears rolled down her cheeks. I stood up. I walked around my desk. I sat on the desk next to the one she was sitting at. 

    “I understand how health could trigger memories.” 

    “Do you think so? You have never been through all the things I have.” She was starting to get riled. Her voice was shaky and crying. 

    I remember high school. “I’ve made some mistakes, ruined a few lives myself. I couldn’t do it again. I haven’t done a lot of things since high school because of it.” Sadness filled my voice. 

    “You’ve done what the people at my old school did?” She seemed mad. I thought telling her, she’d understand. 

    “Yes, but can I explain? I’ve changed since. It was 8 years ago. I was a Junior when it happened. That’s why I’m a counselor and Junior science teacher. I want to help kids at the age I screwed up badly, so they don’t make the same mistakes I did and to help kids heal.”

    “I get it. I just can’t right now. It’s all too fresh. I need to get back to class.” She grabbed her stuff and left. She was mad and annoyed. It had nothing to do with her; I made mistakes, and I am sorry for it, but I can’t change my past either. I couldn’t tell her that now. I’d have to wait until the bell rang. She'll get caught up in something knowing this school.