One

Trying to fit in at a new school is something I've always struggled with. I try to make friends. Nothing. I try to join clubs. Nothing. It doesn't matter what I do, I never seem to get it right. As I stare up at yet another new school I silently curse my mother for liking small towns. In almost every small town I've been to, everyone knows everyone. That makes it even harder to find a group. Mom says that this time we might stay, but she's said that before. I'm starting to think we'll never stay anywhere for very long. I understand, or I think I do. Mom can't stand being in one place too long. The last time we stayed for a while was four years back. We stayed in a big town for three years. Within those three years, Dad had enough time to cheat on Mom. From then on we've moved, just mom and me, from one small town to the next. Never staying for over a year. Mom says this town is special because she spent some of her happiest days here. Apparently, her parents moved around a lot too and this was one of the many towns they stayed in. She says that the people here are wonderful and I'll have no problem making friends. Has she not been with me for the past nine years? I don't make friends. Nor do I succeed in getting a boyfriend. Heck, I can't even get a pet to stay alive long enough to become faithful. Never mind my repeated attempts to get a single dang plant to grow. I shake my head of negative thoughts and force a smile on my face. I have to be positive if I want even the smallest chance of making a friend. Just as I'm about to step off the curb and onto the sidewalk, I hear the screech of tires. I glance back just in time to see a green jeep spray water onto me. Curse the rain! Who knew that the downpour we had last night would affect my first day of school. I growl as I examine my now see-through white shirt and throw on my sweater. I definitely don't need that reputation. The new girl who showed up in a see-through shirt. I glare at the jeep as it pulls into a parking spot and decide that it's not worth my time. I turn on my heel and head toward what my mother had described as the Mall area. It's basically just a big open space with benches inside the building for kids to hang out in before school starts. There's mats when you walk in the door to wipe your shoes off on. Even so, there's a clear warning that informs you the floor is slippery. I look for a seemingly dry spot on the tile floor. I spot one and take a step. As I go to push off my foot slips. I land unceremoniously on my butt. My face lights up and I thank the stars my skin is tan so the blush is hidden more easily. It's fine I tell myself as I stand and face the people staring at me. Several are laughing while others look at me with pity. There's one group that role their eyes and turn back to their phones. It's alright, I'll just tie my sweater around my waist. Great idea Emmie, the same one that's hiding your see through shirt? I try to push my way through to find my first class. No sense in standing there awkwardly until the bell rings. Before I make it very far I hear a snotty voice. "Oh man. I'm so glad I got that on video! I can't believe the new girl is so clumsy. I got second hand embarrassment just watching." The words are followed by annoying laughter. I turn to find the face that belongs to the voice. Just as I suspected. She's a heavily makeup-ed blonde chick with ridiculously long legs. They look like spider legs. Great, I'm so glad I made an impression on her. She catches me staring and smirks. "What do you want?" I roll my eyes and turn to walk away. "Oh, okay weirdo" she says sarcastically. I turn back again. She seems delighted that I even acknowledged her speaking. So she's one of those. The one girl that draws as much attention as possible no matter the kind. "Really?" I ask her. I can't stand people like her. Her eyes widen at my obvious accent, though it's not one from a country. I've just always had this accent. I've been sent to several speech coach's only to have them give up. Eventually Mom gave up too and said she hoped I'd grow out of it. I haven't this far, much to her confusion. I narrow my eyes at the mean girl and decide that she's not worth it. I turn back around and make my way to my homeroom. I met all my teachers this weekend and I have a good layout of the school. I'll just hope that she's not in my class. I walk in and see that not even the teacher is in here yet. His door was open, but I don't feel comfortable being in there alone. Well, until I see I wouldn't be alone. There's a dark haired boy in the corner. I go in and before I sit down I clear my throat. The boy, who was resting his head on a desk looks up. "Yes?" He asks tiredly. I twist my rose ring on my finger in a nervous habit. "Are there assigned seats?" I ask him. He nods and I sigh. I guess I'll have to wait until the bell rings after all. He lay his head back down and I stand there awkwardly. I have no idea what to do. The boy sighs and narrows his eye as he sits up. Why are you standing over me like that. I can't sleep with you breathing down my neck. Geez, someone is grumpy. I blush, but my teeth grit together. What a pouty butt! He could at least be a little considerate. I glare at him and he seems to smile a bit. I wonder why that is. Maybe he's decided he was being rude and is trying to fix it? "You can sit next to me." He says calmly. I plop down in the chair before I even think about it. "No one sits here right?" I have to make sure. I don't need another encounter like the one with spider legs. He shakes his head. "No one sits by me" That's a little weird. I mean, sure, he sits in the very back corner. Still, you'd think he would have someone sitting near him. They have assigned seats after all. The guy watches me as I think about random stuff. I need to return that one book to the library. I completely forgot the title, but it was a good read. I think back to something Mom said. "Oh my heck, you can recite pages from a book. Heaven forbid you actually remember what book you're reading!" I smile at that and admit that it's true. I can never remember the titles to books, but they're all so good I don't pay attention to that. I twist my ring as I think about spring. Mom says that the wind here is ridiculous, but the day are hot. Perfect combination in my opinion. It's really hot in this classroom. I unzip my sweater and start to tug it off. Then I remember why it's on in the first place. I blush and look over at the guy. His head is down again. I sigh in relief before zipping it back up. I'm so glad I somehow avoided that situation. I continue to let my thoughts wader here and there until the bell rings. The door bursts open and the teacher I met this weekend walks in. She spots us and her eyes widen. "Oh. Emmie." She seems really surprised to see me. I wave at her as she stands there. "Hello Mrs. Warner." I say politely. She smiles at me, seemingly recovered. "Hey there, let's move you up here. Grande doesn't like having people sit so close. The guy, Grande I guess, lifts his head. "It's fine Mom. She's okay to sit right there, I asked her to." Wait what? Mrs. Warner has a son. This is him? I examine them both as students pour in. They have the same black hair and green eyes. That's cool, I guess. I get to be the only person that can sit by the teacher's son. Maybe this is fate's way of saying sorry for the water mishaps this morning. I smile to myself as the tardy bell rings. One last students pushes through the door. "Addison, you need to start being on time." Mrs. Warner scolds. I turn to see that the person is none other than spider legs. I frown as she meets my eyes with a glare. Man, just as I thought my luck was changing.