Chapter 14

"Hey, did ya hear? We're getting a new student today," gossiped one of Maria's classmates behind her.

"Really? Who?" she asks as she turns around in her desk.

"Don't know. But her family is supposedly rich. Like, stupid rich."

"How rich are we talking here?" asks a classmate to the Italian girl's right.

"Rich enough to buy a castle apparently."

"Damn! I wonder if she's cute," comments the classmate with a wicked grin.

"Pervert," sighed Maria right before the bell rang. Almost immediately, in stepped an elderly lady with crooked glasses and a long ruler, followed by a small blonde girl.

"Good morning class," greeted the elderly woman.

"Good morning miss Schultz," greeted the students back.

"Now, as some of you may already know, today you are getting a new student. Her name is Angelica Deforest. I want you all to treat her, as you yourselves would like to be treated. Now, Angelica, please introduce yourself," said Miss Schultz as she sat down at her desk.

"Bonjour. My name is Angelica and my family is from Marseille. In my previous schools I've been a perfect, straight-A student. I'm a fluent speaker in most languages. I'm naturally gifted in most subjects, but my specialties are chemistry, biology, maths, physics and sociology. And that's about it."

"Very good. Now take a seat please," ordered Miss Schultz. Angelica nodded and scanned the classroom for a free seat. Her eyes meet Maria's and the Italian could feel her heart skip a beat.

"Ok, that was definitely weird," she thought to herself. Angelica made her way to Maria and sat down next to her and Maria felt herself getting more and more nervous.

"Holy jeez, calm down already!"

"Hi, what's your name?" asked Angelica, causing Maria to jump a little.

"H-Hi. Um, my name is Maria Caglione," she barely managed to blur out.

"Well nice to meet you, Maria. I'm sure that we'll get along just fine."

"Yeah-I think so too."

"Psst! Hey! Ask her if she's single," whispered the classmate to her right.

Maria let out a sigh of frustration, placed her hand on the back of his head and slammed his head on the desk with enough force to nearly brake the wooden desk.

"What did you do that for?!" asked Angelica.

"No reason. He was just being an annoyance," grumbled Maria.

"Maria!" screamed Miss Schultz as she slammed her ruler down on her desk.

"Care to explain the reason for your actions?" Maria merely rubbed the back of her head and smiled sheepishly.

"He he-. sorry?" the elderly woman sighed and adjusted her crooked glasses.

"Never do that again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes mam, I apologise."

"Very good. Now, open your textbooks. It's time for some chemistry," the class groaned in unison before Miss Schultz slammed her ruler once again.

"Ruffians-" she mumbled under her breath.

After what felt like a century, the bell finally rang and the students rushed out of the classroom.

Maria placed her backpack on her shoulder and was just about to sprint home when Angelica's voice stopped her.

"Um, excuse me. But, if it's not too much of a bother, could you please show me around town?"

"Show you around town? What, you mean like a tour or something?" asked Maria as she stopped in her tracks.

"If it's not too much trouble of course. It's just that I get lost really easily and would like at least some landmarks," Maria laughed a little and held the door open for Angelica.

"Sure thing. Not like I had anything better to do. We can even stop for a quick bite. I know a place where they make wicked burgers."

"Oh, I'm a vegetarian," said Angelica as they walked out of the school.

"Oh that's cool, they have salads too."

"Then it is settled then," declared Angelica as she walked side by side with Maria, while the Italian pointed out all the landmarks that Angelica could use to orient herself with.

They stopped at a little fast food restaurant called The Broken Kettle where Maria looked at the blonde girl, with her head resting on her palm and a crooked grin, as Angelica sat there and ate her salad with precise elegance and grace.

"I don't know what's happening to me, but ever since Angelica showed up my life seems just a little bit brighter. Maybe-this will be the beginning of a very beautiful friendship."

"Maria-" called out a distant voice.

"Right. Maria and Angelica. Besties for life."

"Maria."

"Yes, that is my name. Thank you, ominous voice that sounds a lot like Angelica."

"Maria!"