Chapter 9

I had gotten down from the car, not receiving as much attention as I expected which was a good thing.

Presently seated in the principles large office, I thought of the day I was seated in the principal's office at my previous school. I blinked the image off my mind. The structure of the school impressed me. I couldn't help feeling a bit excited.

The principal looked up from her paperwork with a kind smile.

"Hello, Sophie."

"Hello."

"There is no time to waste. As I speak your mates are busy learning, and the sooner you get to class the better." she peeks at me from above her glasses.

I nod.

"Good. I hope you know that your admission is a special one, and we would be watching you."

My eyes widen, but she didn't see. What does she mean watching me? I wasn't a bad student in my previous school.

"I'd like to ask you some questions."

"Okay."

"She pulls out a paper. "What made you change school."

I clench my fist that was beneath my bag. "Relocation. We relocated."

She nods."What made you apply for this school."

"I didn't apply, my...guardian did." Of all words Sophie.

"Your guardian! What about your parents."

Is this a job interview? The questions aren't even school-related. Why can't miss Rodriguez fill in for me on this one?

I took a deep invisible breath." My mom is in Chicago...she is divorced."

"Oh. So who do you stay with?" Her voice was softer.

"I stay with miss Rodriguez."

"Who is she to you?"

I stare at the woman. "...My grandmother?"

"Okay, that's good. So-"

"Excuse me, please. You said earlier that time is not my side and I'm really sensitive about my education...um, you can see from my grades." I said nodding at my printed school performance on her table.

She sits up in awareness and picks up some papers from her desk."Of course, I see. I'll soon be done."

The phone beside her desktop rings. She glances at the screen and picks it up. "Sorry, I have to pick this call."

Go ahead, take your time. I rest my back on the chair and cross my legs. Not more than thirty seconds later, she drops the phone.

"Okay...Sophie..." She says opening her drawer and bringing out a thin black book. "I want you to have this.

I reach out slowly and collect the book. In front was written in bold letters 'The Rule Book.' And under in quotation mark was written 'rules are made to be obeyed, if not get ready to face the repercussion.'

In my opinion, rules were made to be broken. When the rules are made it just makes us want to break them even though I don't.

"I want you to open to page forty-two, trail down to five-point two three. It talks about students coming to school in their uniform." She allows it to dawn on me and then continues. "You will be pardoned today because you just got transferred, you will also get your uniform today and will be expected to wear it starting from tomorrow."

I nod...Why not at least dress code.

"You are expected to read, study, and portray every rule in that book."

I nod. For me, rules weren't hard to keep.

"Welcome to Golden apple high school, I am personally delighted to have a student like you here in this school. Don't hesitate to approach me if you have any problem and remember, our students are quite friendly so don't be shy to always ask for help."

I smile genuinely. "Thank you."

"It is my pleasure. You can go to class now, be careful not to lose your copy of the school calendar and timetable. It is very vital, especially for a new student like you."

"Yes ma'am."

"What class do you have now?"

I surf for the timetable in my backpack. "Maths."

"Okay, you are slightly late... I'd love to hear from you later, and maths class is the second to the last door on this hallway and by the left."

Smiling, I nod and stand."Thanks."

...

I push open the door described by the principal.

I was met with a medium-sized quiet class with probably not more than twenty students. They were all wearing white uniforms and a tie for the girls, a bow for the boys. Wasn't it meant to be the other way around?

The green-colored wall had few posters on the wall, one had rules as the header. Sunlight streamed into the class through the two extra-large windows, causing everywhere to be extremely airy and bright.

From the windows, you could see the view of the large football field-

"Class, meet our new student."

I quickly turn my gaze to the teacher that stood in front of the class. I tilt my head, causing my long black hair to cover a side of my face from the class. Feeling the class's eyes on me, I summon all the confidence I had and walk towards the teacher...

I am Miss Paula. Could you introduce yourself to the class?

"My name is Sophie, I was transferred from..." Source Spin community school. I needed more courage than I had to finish my sentence, I just figured out that I wasn't proud of the school's name, what were they thinking, source spin?

"Sophie?"

I look at the maths teacher innocently and turn back to the class like she had interrupted me. "I was transferred from Chicago-

"Yeah! we already have enough information about you, you can bugger off now." Came a masculine voice from behind.

Some other students grunted in agreement.

"Jaxil you should aim to be a more welcoming person, at least to a new student."

"I was just trying to make her intro a lot easier for her since she was having some problems. And it's Jax, not jaxil."

Miss Paula looked helpless."Apologize."

"What."

Miss Paula folded her hands."I said apologize."

"To who?"

"Her!" Miss Paula gestures at me.

"Can I get a detention instead?"

"No!"

"Okay." He looks at me and our eyes meet. Why did everything have to happen with me in front of the class?

"I'm sorry Sophie." He said still staring at me.

Was that a smile I saw?

"Good, look around for an empty seat Sophie...Ooh, there's one in front of jaxil, I'm sure you'll be good friends."

Friends?

"It's jaxxx." Came an audible whisper.

I walk past the desk and chairs to the back, everyone stared at me like they were trying to guess the color of my undies, at least that's how I felt. Most of the students looked like models, a girl in front of the empty seat had a bag that had little fake diamond all around, a pink purse, a purple pen- Eew. They were all scattered on her table looking like Barbie accessories. This is a maths class!

My eyes meet with his, again. His eyes appeared dark to me, he had dark eyelids- was that natural? Or did he just put it to look more attractive? His dark brown tousled thick hair crossed its boundaries, covering one side of his defined face. It made me want to reach out and feel the texture.

With a smirk on his face, he pulled the chair in front of him for me to sit. I Break eye contact and sit down, immediately tucking the chair into my table.

He scoffs.