The girl I like is confusing

The moment we were out of the walkway, I could see the school. Well not quite the whole school, but just the top of it, the rest was behind a fence. The road we were on ended in one direction and went on to the main road in the other – which is where it should join up with the route that I normally take.

Rachel tossed her bag over the school fence and then gave me a cheeky smirk before climbing over to join her bag. "Feel free to take the long way." Rachel said, and I heard her footsteps crunch away on the dry leaves. Although I was sad that Rachel had left, I didn't want her to be late for tutor time. Besides, it wasn't like we were friends or anything.

I looked toward the main road and then back at the fence. I had never done something like this before. I put my hands on the fence and tried to pull myself up like Rachel did, but it didn't work. For a moment, I felt like giving up, but then I was hit by a bolt of inspiration. I threw my leg forward and after a few tries I managed to hook my leg onto the fence. After a bit of effort, I was able to get my self onto the rim of the fence and then roll over and fall into the school.

"You pulled that off with all the elegance of an elephant." Rachel said, leaning by a tree, slightly breathless. Wait, didn't I hear her walk away before? Did she come back after she heard me fall? That made me feel warm inside.

"Come on, don't just sit there daydreaming." Rachel came over and pulled me up by the arm, and I twisted around to steady myself. Then we found ourselves face to face, so close that, if I leaned forward, we would kiss. I was tempted to do it, but, since we were only acquaintances, I wouldn't be able to dismiss it as a joke if she dislikes it. Rachel might even box me in the ear, I've seen her do it to some girls for much less.

To my surprise though, Rachel's face turned red, brightest at her ears, which suddenly made me want to bite them. Was she blushing? It must just be my imagination, right? I looked into her bright red eyes and for a moment we stood like that, and it felt nice. Then Rachel pushed me over and stormed off, saying. "On second thought, you can pick yourself up."

Why did Rachel get annoyed? Did I do something wrong? Thinking such things, I hurried after her, but, when she stopped at a corner, I bumped into her back. Rachel didn't seem to notice, so I manoeuvred around her. There was a girl in front of her. She was pretty and smiling like she had just found a means to an end. It was kind of an unnatural smile, but not a strange one – in fact, it felt comforting.

"Hi, I'm Steph." I looked at Rachel, because she didn't respond, and the girl didn't look like she was going to continue speaking either. What was up with this tension? Did they know each other? Wait, then why did that girl introduce herself?

"So?" Rachel said, breaking the silence. "I need to get to class, so get out of the way."

The girl didn't move, and I knew that Rachel wasn't going to just walk around her. I really hoped they wouldn't fight, we were late as it was. I tugged on Rachel's blazer, but she didn't seem to notice.

The girl took a hold of Rachel's hand. "Please, this is my first day and I don't know where my form is."

Suddenly, I felt angry. It isn't the anger I felt this morning. It's different – this girl was touching Rachel. Why was she doing that? This was the kind of person that is late on her first day of school, has no idea where her classroom is, and still smiles like all is well in the world. She is either stupid or crazy, and she is not worth Rachel's time. I went to push her, but Rachel held me back, and I looked back in confusion. "Calm down, Linda."

Rachel wasn't looking at me, though. I felt embarrassed for acting without thinking and looked down at my shoes. Was Rachel angry with me now?

"Do you know the name of the class you are in?" Rachel asked.

"I think it's class A."

"Then you two are classmates." Rachel said, pushing the new girl into me. "Have fun."