I had always been better at English and History so I wasn't as excelled in my math and science courses. I still got good grades but they weren’t advanced, this often lead to rowdy classmates and an overall harder learning experience. I went into the class unaware of what to expect.


It was pure chaos in the room because the teacher wasn’t present. A group of girls gossiped in the back of the room and gave me dirty glares when I walked into the room. A few guys who had been play wrestling paused when they saw me they started whispering and fist bumping each other. I rolled my eyes and searched the room for someone civil to speak with. One kid sat in the corner reading some book about robots, he seemed pretty focused so I didn’t want to disturb him. Another girl examined her fingernails, she had horribly dyed hair but that wasn’t the worst part. She was wearing a shirt with Adolf Hitler on it. Utterly freaked out I turned away and my eyes landed on a clam boy flipping through his binder.


“Excuse me, where’s the teacher?” I politely asked him. I hoped that I wasn’t being annoying but the gentle smile on his lips told me that I wasn’t a bother.


“She left minute ago to get more coffee. I think she wanted something to get her through this class. “ He laughed and motioned for me to sit down. “You’re welcome to sit here, we have a group of three and I need a lab partner, I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to…” He trailed off and ran his hand through his short, quiff hairstyle. I sat in the seat next to him and plopped my books on the lab table. The boy smiled and extended his hand, “I’m Liam.”


I shook his hand, “Avalynn.” I smiled.


“So you live next to Harry, strange bloke he is.” Liam chuckled. I didn’t know how to respond nor did I know what a bloke was. Suddenly I was hoarded by a group of boys they all waved to me and introduced themselves.


“Hey I’m Paxton!” One of them called. I awkwardly waved and turned to Liam who shrugged and glared at the kid with the beanie who introduced himself as Louis. The other boy was quieter, his name apparently John Thomas.


“So Avalynn, how’s your father?” Paxton asked while grinning. Louis seemed a little angry while John looked like he was going to burst from holding in his laughter. I had no clue why he was asking about my father, he didn’t even know him! I figured it was some british slang that I didn’t know. I turned to Liam, he just shook his head and mouthed to me that I should ignore him. Suddenly some other girl popped up.


“Hey, do you want to have sex with him?” She asked. I was taken aback at her boldness, she was certainly confident.


“No!” I chocked out while staring at her and Paxton suspiciously. “Good because he’s an arse. And that idiot there is Gabe not John Thomas.” She continued while rolling her eyes and settling down in her seat. “What is this? Primary school?” She seethed at him. They eventually retreated, defeated except Louis who plopped down next to the girl. “I’m Jodi by the way.” She glanced up at me and then returned to examining the rings on her fingers. I widened my eyes and ran my hand over my forehead.
“Okay class, I don’t trust you with sharp objects but today we are dissecting animals so go grab your coats and goggles. Make sure to grab this activity sheet as well.” The teacher called. It was a group assignment so Liam went to get the supplies while I got the sheet and textbook. We met back up at the table. He handed me a coat and goggles, I thanked him and pulled the protective eye wear over my face and the coat over my clothes. For a moment we just stared at the frog and didn’t do anything, it looked too gross and slimy.


“I’ll do the cutting open.” Liam said while picking up a small knife. Honestly I kind of wanted to do it but I guess I could fill out the worksheet. I examined the sheet of paper and rolled my eyes, I knew that I should have taken AP Bio. I effortlessly filled in the labeling part while Liam was struggling to dissect the small animal.


“Liam, just cut from it’s throat and then down.” I said while giggling, and showing him how. He looked over at the sheet.


“You’ve finished it?” He asked in complete shock. i simply nodded and looked around the class, all of the other students were frantically searching through the textbooks to find the answers. I just shrugged and watched Liam continue to pull miniature body parts from the amphibian.


———


After class I was worried that I smelled like nasty frog ooze. Liam calmed my conscious by telling me that I smelled heavenly. I grinned and we walked to the door together. In fact, we were walking in the same direction. It was now lunch and we had an hour to spare before third block began, I was on my way to meet Hollie at my locker.


“So, where are you headed?” Liam asked me while fiddling which his phone.


“I’m going to go meet up with a girl that I met today.” I replied and waved when I saw Hollie standing at our lockers. She returned the gesture and Liam shot me an amused face, “You two met already?”


“Yup!” I said happily turning toward him. “Are you two friends already?” I asked. Liam chuckled and put an arm around Hollie goofily.


“Only the best.”


We began walking toward the back doors of the school, the building was surrounded by trees but there was a small, dirt path that cut through the curtains of foliage. They lead me to a small clearing at the end of the path with a large magnolia tree growing in the center. A few picnic tables had been placed under the tree’s massive branches. A group of teenagers were hanging out, some smoking while others just laughing.


I recognized a few faces, Harry and Jodi but that was all. One girl was sitting on a guy’s lap while sharing a cigaret with him. Jodi and a girl with very curly hair stood next to him. Two other boys were kicking a football around while rough housing. Harry and a blonde headed guy were having some intense conversation.The blonde guy had a contagious laugh and a cigaret hanging loosely out of his mouth.


I cautiously approached them, I felt like I was front and center on a stage with dozens of people staring at me, waiting for me to mess up.


“Who’s that?” One girl remarked in an almost snotty fashion. Harry turned around so that he could see the newcomer. Realizing it was me , he half smiled and waved.


“Chill Cori, its Avalynn. She’s cool.” He told her while joining Liam, Hollie, and me with the blonde guy hot on his heels. “This is Niall, he’s a crazy bloke. Oh the laughs we have.” Harry playfully punched Niall in the shoulder. Soon various other people were making they way over to me to introduce themselves.


I met Tex who was one of the boys playing football, the other was Louis whom I had already met. The group’s “it” couple I learned was Perrie and Zayn who both seemed rough but still nice at the same time. Next was some girl named Corinne who didn’t seem to like me. Oh well, can’t please everyone.


Later I was sitting at one of the picnic tables with Hollie on my left, Liam on my right and Harry directly across from me. Everyone had gathered around to hear some of my stories from America. “How do you live without being able to go to bars?” Perrie asked me from Zayn’s lap. I was taken aback by her question, I knew in Europe that kids were legally allowed to drink alcohol, not that I would want to anyway.


“Uh, I don’t know. It wasn’t that hard really.” I shrugged while receiving various shocked glares from most of the group.


“Have you even drank alcohol?” The girl Cori spat. She was very rude but I ignored her awful attitude and answered her question.


“Yeah, I have I suppose.”


“I bet you’ve never been to a single party. Probably because your prude ass didn’t get invited.” She seethed while crossing her arms.


“I’ve been to plenty of parties but not the kinds that you are speaking of.” I replied while nervously glancing to Hollie for support. She just shook her head and sly gave Cori the finger. Liam noticed and quietly laughed.


“I bet you’re a virgin, no guy would want you because you’re too sissy to actually go all the way. Hell I bet you haven't even had your fir-“ Cori continued but she was cut off by Harry.


“Lay off Cori, you’re jealous that she has all of the attention.” He barked and Cori angrily sat back down. Luckily lunch was over and it was time to go back to class. Hollie and I walked together because we had AP French. After waving goodbye to everybody we walked down the trail together.


“I’m so sorry for Corinne, she’s a jealous hothead.” Hollie apologized. I told her that it wasn’t her fault and then I changed the conversation to our upcoming french class.


———


“Bonjour classe! Dévoirs sil vous plaît.” The french teacher called out in a husky, french accent. I took a seat next to Hollie and took out a notebook. I wrote Classe de Français in my neat penmanship on the cover. For the whole block I listened intently to the teacher drain on about french culture in Africa. Nothing that I didn’t already know.


———


“Hey hon, how was school?” My mother asked when I came home from school. I dropped my bag onto one of the kitchen bar stools.


“It was different, but still good.” I replied while reflecting on my day. I told my mother that I had met some very nice people and that I liked all of my teachers, especially the french one. After I ran out of things to talk about I headed for the fridge to grab the vanilla yogurt that I had put in the freezer.


A few minutes later I was in my bedroom with a couple of textbooks propped open in my lap, I was going over a couple of large words that would most likely be on an upcoming test. I grabbed my container that held flashcards and found the ones that I had made earlier during study hall. I picked up the first one I saw.


Harbingers


“Bringers of warnings.” I rambled off the definition and pulled out another one.


Blighted


“Uh.. Damaged.” I flipped the card over, sure enough I was correct. feeling giddy I pulled out another, this time picking from the middle of the stack.


Lachrymose


“Sad.” I scrunched my eyebrows together as I said the definition. Quickly I pulled another from the stack.


Laceration


“A cut.” I whispered to myself before hastily throwing the flashcards away from me. That was enough studying… Suddenly my phone vibrated which gave me a little shock. I reached for it to see who texted me.

Notes

• Heeeyyyy youu looking around!!!! Thanks for reading!! :D
• Foreshadowing? Yes? No? Maybe?
• Yay!! She met everyone!!! Who do you think texted her? A secret loverrrrr or like her mom. Haha, you'll have to see!!
• BTW: sorry for any grammar or spelling errors. Plzzzzz don't hate meee!!! D: