Chapter 1: Let’s Be Friends

The day has come...my first day at a new school! My heart is pounding, I've never been so nervous to be somewhere new. I'm that girl, the one that sits by herself and try's to stay out of everyone's way, the girl that stays quiet while everyone talks about her like she's not even there, yep, that's me. Jade Bradford, the outcast. I don't like being called an outcast but I've accepted it and moved on, I feel like if I wanted to be popular and do sports or something preppy like that I could, but I like things the way they are. I never mentioned what I was wearing, I put on a pair of simple bootcut jeans with a gray shirt and a flannel over that and some converse shoes. I put my dark brown hair into a messy bun and just put on some mascara. I put on my bracelet, grabbed my bag, and got into the car my mom got me and I headed off to school...

I just got to school, I had no idea what I was even doing or where anything was. I went to kindergarten and part of first grade here, but this is high school, it's different I guess. Some guy came up to me and said, "Hey, I'm Ashton, are you new?" "Uhm, yeah I guess so." I said awkwardly. He replied, "I noticed you were looking around, uh- do you need to find like the office or something-" he trailed off with a laugh and I nodded, "Alright. Well why don't you tell me all about yourself on our way to the office?" "Okay" I said. We started walking and I asked what he wanted to know about me, he said just basic stuff like my name. I said, "Well, I'm Jade Bradford, I was born here but I moved to California with my dad and now I'm back with my mom, Kelly Bradford. Uhm, my sister just graduated last year, her name is Talia. I am 17, I'll be 18 in about 7 months, and...well that's about it. I know nobody else here so..." I think I came on a little to much with all the information, but I think scaring him off failed, like I said, I'm a loner with no friends, I'd rather keep it that way. Ashton clearly didn't get that because he said, "Well Jade, you can consider me your new friend, and here we are, so you want me to wait for you, I can show you around if you want?" "No, thank you though, I think I'll be able to find my classes." He replied, "Okay, find me at lunch though alright!" I nodded and walked into the office. I guess it was kind of nice to have a friend here. I got my schedule and headed to the east side of the building where my first class, world history, was at. Let the boring life begin...

Lunch. At least they serve pretty decent food here. I looked around the cafeteria to try and find Ashton when I locked eyes with someone, he looked very handsome. Dark strawberry blonde hair, hazel eyes with amber highlights, a modern yet classy look that fit him perfectly. I quickly looked away when Ashton popped up in front me. He turned his head and noticed that guy sitting over there starring and he said that his name is Nathaniel 'but if you call him that he'll beat you up so call him Nate or Nathan' in Ashtons exact words. I wanted to talk to him but what would I say, nothing, so I just sat down at Ashtons table with all of his friends while I turned back occasionally to see 'Nathaniel' sitting alone. Ashton introduced me to all of his friends, there was 3 of them sitting with us. Two girls and another boy, Tessa, Karrie, and Josh. They were all very nice and welcoming to me, but every time I'd look back at him he'd be facing the opposite way, except for once, I caught him looking at me too. The same awkward eye contact, but I broke it off when curiosity got the best of me. I asked everyone at our table what that guys deal was, Tessa said, "His name is Nate or Nathan, whatever you want to call him. Anyway, he moved here a year ago and just keeps to himself. He's kind of scary sometimes, but only when people call him by his full name, he hates it I guess. Nate is that one guy, you know there's always a guy everywhere that only comes to school when they feel like it. His excuses are that whenever he's gone it's because his family goes camping or something like that, weird, I know. He also has the next 3 classes with you according to your schedule. Oh, and if you're wondering how I know, it's because I'm president here, and I have access to everyone's schedule. So we all just pray that you don't have to sit next to him. Oh...that's the bell, we all better get going, see you later Jade!" Wow! That's a lot of information. I have the last three classes of the day with him, huh, interesting. In a way I agree with Tessa, I hope I don't have to sit next to him, we basically starred at each other a lot, talk about awkward. Anyway, I got seated right next to him, I smiled and said hi just trying to be friendly but he looked at me like I was crazy and turned away. It was like that the rest of the class and soon enough it was the next class. He was seated a few rows behind me, then the last class where he sat in front me, awkward eye contact in every class...

Finally! The day that seemed to drag on forever finally finished. I walked out to my car when someone came speeding around the corner of the parking lot, I turned around when I heard a screeching noise from the tires trying to stop. The car almost hit me, but then I felt someone grab me and pull me out of the way just in time. I looked at them and it was him. I looked at him and before I could say anything he whispered, "Are you okay?" I nodded and right before he left I called out, "Wait!" "What do you need?" He said obnoxiously. I said, "Thank you for saving me, and by the way, I'm Jade." He replied, "I'm Nathan, you can call me Nate." I them said with a smile, "Thank you Nathan, but one question...how did you get over to me so fast, you weren't even in the parking lot, I didn't see you at all out here?" He replied, "I was standing right by you Jade, I saw the car and pulled you over so you didn't get squished. You must've missed me." "No. You weren't out here, I know that for a fact. I wouldn't have missed you, there's only like 6 other people out here. So I'm asking you again, how did you get to me so fast?" He then said more angrily, "Nobody will believe you if you say anything!" And then he left. Nobody will believe me if I say what? What is there to tell? He just disappeared! Oh well, I'm not dealing with this right now, I almost got squished, I think I deserve a nice, hot shower to get over this...