Eliane

"Are you ready for today Eliane?" My mom asks. Today was my first day of sophomore year and I was dreading it. I stood in the bathroom, staring in the mirror, hoping to gain some sort of confidence to help me with this day.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I said to myself and with that, I opened the door, and walked out. Making sure to grab my things, I put my bookbag on my back, and held my phone securely in my hand.

"Come on mom." I said as she was still in the kitchen, drinking some orange juice. She nodded and shooed me away to the door with her hand and I just rolled my eyes. Grabbing the keys, I unlocked the doors, walked out of the house, and to the car. She would catch up.

Looking down at my phone, I saw I only had notifications from CNN. Putting my phone into my pocket, I walked over to the passenger side, and unlocked the door. I waited for my mom to get out of the house.

" I can't wait to get me a car." I said to myself in my head.

Five minutes later, she came outside. Looked the door, and walked to the car before getting in. She drove out of the driveway and I found myself looking out the window. Thinking about how school is going to go this time.

"So, are you excited? You're gonna learn new things and meet new people."

"You say that every time we move and I go to a new school. It's all the same." I just rolled my eyes and looked straight.

"Maybe it'll be different this time. Maybe we won't have to move again. This could be our permanent home baby."

"Yeah ok." And that was it. Nothing more. Not a word about school. And not a word about work. We got drowned out by the radio but my thoughts were still racing. Playing with me.

About ten minutes later, we pulled up to the front of the school, and I stared at the building. In my mind, I pictured it to look like a haunted mausoleum. With bones hanging on the walls. But it looked like a regular school. Just a big building.

"Alright kiddo. We're here. Give me a hug. I'll see you at 3:00." I gave my mom a hug and she whispered to me, I love you and I said the same.

Getting out the car, I saw everyone else who couldn't drive, doing the same. Each student getting out each car walked up to someone. They have friends. And I don't. I stopped pitying myself and walked into the building. Wishing that I had already graduated, then maybe I wouldn't be in this mess. I took a piece of paper out of my pocket.

Looking around, I couldn't tell which way I should go. My mom went and got my paper with my teachers names and classroom numbers. So looking down at the paper, I didn't know where any of these rooms were at. So I didn't have a choice but to ask someone for help.

A girl was walking past me and I leaned over, about to ask her for help, but she kept walking.

Taking a deep breath, I was about to tap a boy on his shoulder, but his friend beat me to it. I felt emotionally exhausted right now. My anxiety was at a high and everybody was ignoring me. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just run out of the building.

It seemed like everything was failing until I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder, making me turn around.

"Are you new here?" A boy asked me. Scratch that. A man asked me. He seemed to be taller than 6'0, with jet black hair, and brown eyes. His voice was deep. Really deep.

"How could you tell?" I mentally face palmed myself for seeming out of the ordinary. I didn't want to attract any attention. But it seems like I already had.

"You seem a bit out of place. But that is common for freshmen." I stared into his eyes as he looked into my mines.

"I'm actually not a freshmen. I'm a sophomore." He seemed a bit intrigued but played it off.

"You seem so young. Could've fooled me." I didn't say anything as I looked back at my paper, thinking about which hall to go down.

"Let me see." And with that, he just grabbed the paper out of my hands. Not even bothering to ask or wait until I held my hand out. I didn't let it phase me so I just shook it off.

This was my first day here. I already met a new friend and I didn't want to make anyone angry on my first day.

"I'll show you where your classes are. You have A lunch which is right after second period. Let's go. Imma show you where your first and second hour classes are." He grabbed my hand and walked me down some hallway.

"What's your name?" The stranger asked me as we continued walking.

"Eliane." We make it to my first class which is Geometry.

"I'm David. So this is your first hour. Your second hour is right across the hall which is American Literature. Meet me across the hall after second period is over and I'll take you to lunch." And with that, he leaves, but not before winking at me.