Chapter 3: At First Glance, Today Was a Perfectly Normal Day
As Sarah rushed down the hall she was greeted by a familiar voice. "Sarah, hey!" It was Isi. Isi ran up to her and gave her a hug. "Hey, there you are. I've been looking all over. Blake said you weren't back in class yet and we were worried that you had been caught by Jess or one of her other friends." Isi said with a relieved tone. "He was worried?" That's nice of him, maybe this place won't be half bad after all, Sarah thought. Isi started talking, "yeah, he's a gentleman and all. Seriously though, we're going to get detention if we don't hurry." Isi dropped her off and the teacher was calling attendance as Sarah walked into the classroom. "Ah, Sarah! There you are, I was getting worried. I'm your new Advanced Calculus teacher, Mr. Yate. Like Nate, but with a Y. Anyway, take a seat." Sarah hurried to her seat next to Blake. "Pssstttttttt", Blake whispered. He passed a note to Sarah. The note read(Hey, u ok? What took you so long. Isi almost gave me a concussion because I didn't know where you were." Sarah was a bit uncomfortable because she was so quickly introduced into their little group. She had never been so comfortable around a group of people so quickly. But you know what? She didn't mind. Because for the first time in her life, Sarah felt safe. Sarah wrote on the note. (I'm good, I ran to the bathroom on the first floor then got into someone else's convo when I walked into the wrong classroom). (The first floor?) Blake wrote back, (that's hilarious, you went all the way to the first floor?). Sarah picked up the note and drew a face sticking Its tongue out. The teacher called out, "Mr. Sulton? Mrs. Bensyl?" "Sorry!" They both said while blushing. The rest of the class was full of small joyful moments like that. By the end of the day, Sarah was exhausted from all of her classes. But, her mother would approve of her new friendships.
Sarah was walking to her locker as Isi and Blake approached her. "Hey!" Isi said. "Blake said he'll pay for our food if you want to go out for dinner!" "What? No I didn't. I mean, I'll pay if you'll come with us Sarah!" Said Blake. "Okay!" Sarah said with joy. "Let me run to my locker real quick, I'll be back! Actually, let's just meet in front of the school." 15 Minutes Later…
"Why isn't Sarah here yet?" Isi asked. "I'm sure she'll find her way. We need to let her be independent or she'll never learn her way around." "Fine Blake, but if we're standing here for an hour waiting, it's on you."
15 Minutes Earlier….
Alright, I just need to get to my locker. Then I need to call Mom and let her know that I'm going out with Isi and Blake. Crap, she won't be home. I have to call Aunt Mallory. Okay, I'll call in a minute, when I get outside. Apollo wandered over to Sarah and tapped her on the shoulder. "Ahh! You scared me! Oh, you're that boy from earlier. What's up?" Sarah asked, now once again calm. "Hey, I'm Apollo. I just wanted to thank you for earlier." Apollo said with a face of gratitude. "Oh, of course. He was being straight-out rude. It doesn't matter who he is, he's just a jerk." Sarah expressed angrily. "Man, I wish everyone thought like you." Apollo said with a chuckle in his voice. "Anyway, I gotta get going now, I have someone waiting for me. Thanks again for your help earlier." Apollo said quickly as he turned and walked away.
*ring**ring**ring*
Sarah's phone started going off. She picked up her phone and looked at the caller ID. It was her dreadful Aunt Mallory. Gosh she didn't want to answer the phone. Sarah answered the call anyway. "Where are you? Why aren't you home? Why aren't you answering me? See? This is why your mother has to work herself to bones. You are so ungrateful."
"I'm sorry M-M- Mallory." Sarah said with a fear in her voice.
"Excuse me? What did you just call me?" Aunt Mallory asked with an unnecessary aggressive tone.
"Ummmm...Uhhhh…���...Ummmmmmm… I'm sorry Aunt Mallory. I'll be better, I promise."
"You better be."
*Hung up*
Sarah was on the verge of crying. She was having a difficult time keeping it all in. I.. I'm… I'm used to this. I'm okay, this has happened before. She's always like this. So why am I so emotional right now? What the heck?! Sarah's Aunt's words would not get out of her head. No matter what I do, I will always be the disappointment. Always. That's why Mom is so unhappy! Sarah started shaking. She couldn't control it. All she could feel was fear, apprehension, and the thought that she couldn't stay with her Aunt and Mother anymore. I have to leave..
Apollo heard someone crying. He turned around and saw that it was Sarah. He came back to Sarah and asked "Are you okay? What's wrong?" "I'm fine." She said, with a cold dark expression that gave Apollo chills. "No you're not. Come here." He pulled her into a hug that felt like it lasted for hours. It was the most comforting hug that Sarah had experienced in the last year. Between Mallory being absent and cruel, and Mom always rushing to work, Sarah hadn't felt this comfort in way too long.