Sweet Charity

Charity: Chapter 9: New Surroundings

I am supposed to ride the bus to school this morning, but Lauren got called in to work and she's dropping me off at the school. I guess it works out because she can also pick me up. I love hanging out with my cousin. She's twelve years older than I am, but she doesn't get irritated with me or treat me like I am some whiny kid that tags along.

She's showing me how to be who I am. It should be automatic, but I was raised human most of my life and it's all so new to me. She did say I would come into my own when the time was right and everything that's should be second nature to me will be. I almost feel like I am learning faster than she is teaching me.

I snap out of my thoughts as someone brushes against me. He looks back at me and mumbles an apology. I smile in acceptance except he doesn't make eye contact. He isn't rude, just hurried. I take my time because I have to go see the office staff. It surprises me that I can smell humans and wolves here, but there are other scents I can smell as well. I make a mental note to ask Lauren about them. I feel a slight heaviness as I enter the building; a barrier of sorts - I remember reading about barriers in certain places that keep magic from being used.

"What's your name, sugar pie?" I am greeted by an older woman behind the long desk. She is a tiny woman, probably no more than five foot tall. She's a little portly with dark blue eyes. Her scent tells me she's human.

"Charity Wilson," I say and fidget with the edge of a paper on the desk. She licks her thumb to rifle through a stack of papers. It's so cute that she does that. She begins shuffling the desk around. "If you're looking for your pen, it's in your bun." She laughs.

"Here's your schedule," she takes the pen from her bun and circles a few places. "For new students, we do pairing. These first few classes here, you're paired with a girl named Andrea Martin. I will take you to the first class and the teacher will introduce you to her. After this it's your lunch. For the last three, you'll be paired with a young man named Anthony Collins." There is a star beside the class directly after my lunch. She points to it with her pen. "This class you will have to find on your own, but I will give you a hall pass before you I take you to the first class."

"How long will I need to be paired?" I ask, nervously biting my lip. I wouldn't want to burden anyone or be made fun of.

"A day or two in most cases," she answers, distracted now because she's looking for the hall passes. They're on my left so I scoot them closer to her. She laughs again. "I seem so scatter-brained today." I wasn't going to mention that. I giggle at her joke - I hope it was a joke. She grabs the paper I had fidgeted with and comes out from behind the desk.

I stroll slowly; trying to stay beside her. It's not easy being nearly six foot tall when everyone around you is shorter. She has me wait in the hallway for a moment while she speaks to the teacher in my first class. I can see her through the open door. The teacher motions me in. He is almost my height with dark blonde hair and brown eyes. He tells me he is Mr. Randall.

He nods with his head toward a girl that's around my age; her hair has purple tips and pink and blue streaks dyed in. She winks one bright blue eye and blows a kiss. I deduce that she's my partner for the day. At least she's unique.

Andrea passes me notes during class. I don't read them. I put them in my pocket and she smiles every time I do. I keep feeling stares and when I look around, people smile and wave at me. I just smile back and they turn around to their school work. I'm used to people staring at me. To date, no one has been outright mean to me.

Andrea pulls me along through the hallways between classes. She isn't rushed by me; just eager. I meander behind her and smile at other students. I'm sure they know how the pairing works and I'm certain they all know I'm new. I tend to stand out. I hear whispers as we pass, but I tune them out.

Finally, the morning passes and it's time for lunch. Andrea pushes me through the lunch line. I take out my money to pay, but she stops me and she pays. She shows me to her favorite table. I take out all of her notes while she's eating and talking. I pick at my lunch. I try to read them; there are about a dozen notes.

"Hey, Andi," I say, watching her eyes shine brightly. "What's all the phone numbers here?"

"That one is mine," she says, pointing. "The rest are all the people who kept staring at you in class. Thanks for my nickname, by the way. It's adorable."

I put her phone number in my phone and tuck the rest of the notes back in my pocket. I pull the paper I got from the office from my folder and realize it's a map of the school. I mark my morning classes with a check mark.

The bell rings and I gather my tray. Andrea blows me another kiss as we part ways for the day. She's definitely different than anyone else I have met. I already like her and I know we will be great friends. I follow the map to my next class.