3 Answers

Author's POV

Approaching the last break for that school day. all the students went out, and Kehna got out as the last person.

Once she managed to come out of the classroom everyone was already in their so-called cliques and was abandoned by the others, till a lady approached her. She looked breathtaking, maybe in her late twenties.

"Hey! What are you doing here all alone?" She asked showing Kehna a glimpse of concern.

"I'm kind of new here... and I haven't really made any friends yet". Kehna replied with a wave of sadness noticeable in her voice.

"Kehna right?"

She nodded. "I'm Alexandria". She replied with an astonishing smile. There was a tangle at the moment that made Alexandria come to some kind of conclusion. "You don't talk too much, do you?"

"Well, I do. It's just that, I don't know what to say. I've said a lot, that I'm starting to regret". A few moments of dilemma, uneasiness, and discomfiture started replaying in her head.

"Look I know... or rather I might know how you feel right now. You know... we've all been in some fairly new place with new people and new attitudes. But we all get used to it at some point. So I advise you to give it some time.''

"Okay, so, you mean you're like a teacher I can come to at any time and pour out my problems... or?"

"You can define it that way. I'm not a teacher but, if you don't feel at ease talking to the other teachers about your problems or worries, you can always talk to me". 'Nevertheless, Kehna continued to carry the expression of 'I still don't get it' on her face with a raised brow.

"I work here as a normal worker, I'm just not a teacher, for example, the domestic workers at this school also work here just not as teachers".

"Oh, okay, now I understand" She nodded rapidly seeing she finally got to understand the job status of the not so-called teacher.

"Um... so the thing is, I don't know how to explain it because I don't even know what happened... so when I came I met someone, on my first day of school her name was Ruby. When I got to school, everyone was staring and glaring at me, and then the next day I tried explaining to one of my classmates, the kind of relationship I had with this girl I recently met and she completely lost it. I've tried not to get into conclusions yet, but what am I supposed to do? The bad thing isn't that I almost don't have any friends, it's that I can't make any, because I get ignored by literally everyone".

"Well, I guess that's a lot for the first day of school. I'm sorry but you seriously can't blame them... look, I know Ruby isn't in school right now but tomorrow she surely will, so you can talk to her tomorrow, okay?" With that, Alexandria quickly tried to change the topic.

Alexandria a 28-year woman with contagious eyes, black hair, moist lips, and of course a perfect sitting nose. She was kind of the pillar of her family while working at the school paid half their bills she as well worked the cafe nearby.

Although Alexandria didn't act any different than Olivia she decided not to take it to heart. 'What's wrong with this school... No! What's wrong with this place in general?' Kehna fought with the senses in her head.

The bell rang, Kehna wanted to enter but she was aside and couldn't enter.

So she waited till everyone else was gone.

She finally got in, but there were students everywhere and she couldn't come through, she knew for sure that she was going to be late for class.

Kehna ran as fast as she could. She finally reached the classroom and tried to apologize quickly.

"I'm sorry that I'm late there were so many people in the hallway, I couldn't come through". She said still panting, the teacher looked at her with disbelieve, meanwhile, the others were either laughing or exchanging confused looks with each other.

"Go take your seat, Ms. Arellalo". She'd rather be buried in the ground than have to sit there till class was over.

It had been like 15min but it felt like years "Kehna!" She was paying attention, the whole time but when Ms. Kelly called her, it totally caught her off guard.

"Since my teaching bores you out so much I'm assuming you're quite familiar with this topic and you're ready to answer any question I give you, So... what is a Cytoplasm"? The not-so amused biology teacher asked leaning against her desk.

'Cyto- what?' She thought. "Uh, an animal cell?"

"You could have also answered that in a full sentence," Kehna thought Ms. Kelly didn't mean what she said, so she didn't say anything but, Ms. Kelly kept on looking at her.

"A Cytopla-"

"You know what? Forget it, let's continue". She took a deep breath and sighed. At that point no one cared and just acted like, it was all normal.

She started writing on the board and she was so fast Kehna couldn't follow her, she cleared the board after every sentence.

And then, out of all moments, the bell rang, and she was still trying to figure out what she had written down before, canceling it from the board. She felt dumb at that moment. It was only her and a few students that were remaining in the classroom.

"You made a good first impression of, yourself to Ms. Kelly" a boy, she didn't recognize whispered, he chuckled and left right after that

Then she realized that she had to get on the bus before she missed it.

She was so certain that she was going to miss the bus this time and she already had a miserable day.

For the second time that day Kehna ran like she was running for her life, the bus was about to move but she still got there on time.

She was breathing hard because she ran so fast.

And once again, she was given weird looks from each side. She sat down bored waiting like a little kid to finally get home, she looked out of the window thinking looking back at the "Amazing" day she almost had behind her.

"I'm home!" Kehna said exhausted, she met her mom alone in the kitchen.

"Afternoon" she smiled and said, "How was your day?" She hummed trying to distract her mother from the question, but it didn't seem to work.

"So are you going to tell me?"

"Where's dad?"

"He's asleep because you remember, he's going to work a bit earlier today, so how was your day?"

"Fine, and yours?" She blurted out like every normal sentence just, in an annoying way. "I just want to know how your day was, you didn't have to use kind that of tone on me. Look, today has been a busy and stressful day for me, apparently for you too. You can warm your food by yourself, I'm going to rest my head".

At that moment she started asking herself what had come upon her.

Kehna did as her mom had told her and went straight for her homework. She finished late but didn't want to go to bed, because she just wasn't tired.

She also wasn't ready to face her mom after, what happened that afternoon. She then went to bed, not forgetting to pack her stuff.

It was "finally" morning.

"Morning mom," she said lazily. "Morning how was your night?". "I'm sorry that I talked back at you like that yesterday, I was just having a bad day".

"It's okay, here's your breakfast, I wasn't having the best day either but I'm sure today is going to be different. I'm going to that boutique on the next street and I'm going to ask if there is a free space for work, I have a good feeling about it."

"Okay, I wish you lots of luck but, why boutique you could also go for a restaurant or bakery"

"You're right but I need a job. I can't stay home all day and you know the money your dad earns won't reach for us as a family".

"Wish you lots of luck then" and with that, she left for school.

"Morning sir," Kehna said entering the bus. "Can I have your bus card?" he replied rudely.

"Sure" Kehna felt like everyone was so fed up with her.

She entered after showing her card and fortunately, she saw Ruby and she waved at her, signaling her to come to sit with her. "Hey long time no see," she said sarcastically, Kehna just laughed a little. "Hi," Kehna said lazily. "Are you okay?" she took a deep breath and "Yeah, it's just it's been a long week, I mean I've been in school since the day before yesterday, but these have been my worse days in school".

"I couldn't even make any friends, because everyone ignored me," Kehna said pouting but Ruby was looking out of the window like she didn't hear any of it.

'Is she also ignoring me now?'.

She just disregarded that, they both sat silent the whole ride long.

"Everyone going to Amsterdam high school, get out!" The bus driver shouted and they all got out, at least the students whose destination was 'Amsterdam high school'.

"Come on we've got to hurry, we've got biology!"

"Ugh" Kehna groaned, while Ruby looked at her with a confused wondering why her motivation was so low.

They went to their locker and they were opposite each other. "Come quickly" she rushed, this time the students made way for her and Ruby but the day before she had to wait until everyone was gone.

Kehna just sighed and followed her. "Good morning, class" miss Kelly said without even looking at the class "Good morning miss Kelly," the class replied, lazily. "Today we're going to be talking about our previous topic so I'll explain it to you again and you'll do the exercises I prepared for you"

"Is she always so excited about teaching? " Kehna asked sarcastically, but also annoyed. "You want to get thrown out of this class, don't you?" Was she mad? Her facial expression said it all, after that we both stayed quiet for the rest of the lesson.

After the lesson ended, Kehna didn't bother to wait for Ruby.

"Hey, Kehna," she breathed out trying to catch her breath. "Look I know we haven't known each other for long, but you've got to understand that my family and Ms. Kelly are kind of friendly... you know? So I've got to make a good impression of myself to her, and with that attitude of yours you're never going to pass in her classes she's strict, so be careful how you talk or do things around her... or around here in general".

'That was a long conversation' she thought. But she was going to listen to her since Ms. Kelly seemed to have a bad temperament, she wasn't going to let her mouth or thoughts ruin her education.

Normally she wasn't like this, all sassy and low-spirited, maybe it was puberty. They both went to their lockers preparing for the next lesson.

They were on break, so Ruby took Kehna to the cafeteria, all eyes were on them again, or on her or Ruby or-. Ugh, she couldn't decide, it was already full, she was about to tap Ruby on her shoulder when Ruby walked to a table she had been staring at for a while.

"Let's go," she encouraged Kehna, she hesitated but followed anyway.

Students were sitting there already, like I said the cafeteria was full. "Ruby we can'-" the students immediately stood up when they saw Ruby approach. They left their table. Kehna seemed shocked but also felt dumbfounded by Ruby who was already sitting.

She didn't want to ask anything because she felt like no one was listening to her or wanted to give her attention so, she'd better stay caught up in her thoughts than always say something wrong.

The bell rang...

Only two lessons were over, that day just felt like forever.

"Ruby?" She called out. "Do you mind explaining to me, why every time I'm with you people keep running away from me?" she chuckled softly "Are you trying to say, that I'm the reason why you can't find friends?"

"No, that's not what I meant"

"Well, technically it is" she replied with a different facial expression and shrugged her shoulders a bit.

"You're right, I'm sorry it's just that I hate the fact I can't make friends an-"

"What about me?"

"Sure, I just meant everyone is ignoring me and I'm sorry to say this but I mostly get arrogant stares and mumbling, when I'm with you".

"Yeah, you're right about the staring of the students and they also have the right to do so." She sighed heavily "I don't know you, I just want to be friends with you. Since it's going to be difficult, to make friends with the others".

Ruby looked like she was at the edge of crying "Sorry I didn't mean to-" with that, the bell rang and she didn't care waiting for her. It wouldn't be a surprise to Kehna if Ruby didn't want to be friends anymore, were they even friends in the first place?

The school was over, they could, now finally go home "hurrah!!" She almost forgot she was going to apologize to Ruby, Kehna looked around for her but couldn't find her till... She saw the same black-tinted car from last time. "Ruby! Hey, are you going home already?"

"What do you think, that I was going to sleep in school?"

"No, that's not I meant I... I'm... Just -"

"Are you going to get to the point already, or are we going to stay here till evening?",

"I'm sorry that I said those things to you, even if we've only known each other for two days, I shouldn't have judged you"

"Okay, bye" before she entered the car, Kehna quickly stopped her.

"Is that it?"

"Yeah, what else do you want? We're good, see you on Monday" so she left after saying that.

She once again almost missed the bus. She still managed to get on the bus this time. Her parents would kill her if she missed the bus even just once.

Kehna luckily entered the bus once again and immediately looked for a seat.

"Hey, can I sit here?"

"Yeah, sure" Since Kehna had something for awkward moments she didn't dare to at the stranger sitting next to her in the eye. "Are you a new student?" She quickly faced her and said, "Umm... yeah" The stranger nodded with a reassuring grin.

They entered this awkward silence again "So you go to Amsterdam high school?"

"Yeah".

"By the way, I'm Kehna?" Kehna confessed after gathering enough courage.

"I'm Stella Garcia my dad owns a big restaurant, I like boosting about it, you know?" She chuckled before saying... "Can't really, relate"

"Sorry, didn't want to seem pompous"

"No, what I meant was I can't boast about anything right now, we're new here and we still have to get used to this place and 'the people' here" the last part she said out loud "I know what you mean when you say 'people' "

"Really?"

"Yeah, they're sometimes rude you hardly find nice people in this place. I mean you've probably noticed, it almost seems like a dead city. You know what? I'll soon get off so give me your number or tell me how I can contact you," Stella asked. "You want my number?" When she stated that, Stella almost broke out in laughter.

"You've got to see your face right now, I'm not asking you if you want to get married I just want your number, so we can get to know each other better" At this moment Kehna didn't want to act desperate for a friend so she hesitated a bit. "You know what? Could you maybe... give me your phone number, my phone is at home"

"Okay, no problem" she responded with a little beam. "Stella?"

"Hmm?"

"Umm... no, forget it" She quickly added before-

"Everyone going to Old street, get out!"

"Bye," she waved.

The bus arrived at Kehna's destination "Have a good day, sir" Kehna was so excited and happy that she didn't care if he answered or not.

"I'm home!"

"How was your day?" My dad said with his full concentration on the newspaper.

"Umm... It was okay. I guess?"

"Your mom isn't back yet, you can warm the food and eat I've already eaten" after warming the food, she sat down to eat. She and her dad didn't exchange more than those words with each other. It was normal, he waited till her mom came back so he could go to bed. The next thing they heard was the doorknob twisting.

"So exhausting" was the next thing they heard coming from the lobby.

"Okay! I almost thought there were no people in this house, you know you can talk with each other, it's not a crime"

"Hi mom"

"Hi dear, how was your day?"

"To be honest at first horrible, but then great"

"Well, I'm happy you had such a wonderful day, mine didn't go as planned" she was about to say something when her dad interrupted. "Hello, I'm also here don't forget me!" with that her mom pecked father on the lips. "Ewww! Don't do that in front of me!"

"You're going to do stuff like this in the future so get used to it. Anyway have fun you two, I'm going to bed now".

"So why was your day so bad?"

"Remember I told you I was going to ask if there was space at that boutique? They told me there was no space for me, I even went to supermarkets, but no"

"Oh, that's bad why don't you try asking at restaurants?"

"Yes, I already thought of that, I'll try asking".

After she was done eating and putting her things, in her room she suddenly remembered that Stella had given her, her number so she quickly took out her phone and went back to the kitchen "Mom today I kind of exchanged numbers with someone, I didn't give her my number but she gave me her's"

"What's her name?"

"Umm... Stella Garcia"

"Okay."

Meanwhile at the Garcia's

"Papi, I'm home!" Stella searched for her dad "Nenita you're back, how was school?"

"Umm... Papi as usual but I met someone today"

"Oh, you made a friend?"

"Something like that Papi, anyways I gave her my number. I think she's friends with Ruby"

"Que?"

"I know Papi, we shouldn't mix ourselves with the Williams family, but she doesn't seem to know anything about them or Ruby"

"Okay".