CHAPTER 10

A few years earlier

      Dylan Lewis and her mother Wendy arrived in Los Angeles,after moving from Louisiana where she had grown up.This move was meant to be fresh start and the place seemed to be the best choice for them both.She was excited and sad at the same time.Leaving her friends behind  had been a sad occasion,especially her basketball team who were more of a family to her.There was no team in the entire school that was more united than them and she was just the deputy captain.It came without a saying that she was a little anxious of he kind of people she would find in her new school and whether she would make any friends,nearly as good as the former ones.Even though she was a social person,being new in a place came with it's disadvantages.She only hoped for the best.

Her excitement came with the fact that her mother had looked into he school first and there was a basket ball team and they had two spots to be filled from  recent transfers.She was certain she would get one of them since her former principal who had also been her coach had agreed to put a word in for her.She loved and breathed basket ball.She didn't think she could live without it.It was a huge part of her and she felt most alive when she was playing it.So the last night towards her first day of school,she made sure everything she required was set ready for the next morning.Her ball beside her schoolbag as she always did. 

    The next morning,most of the kids found her already there,though she was still in the car with her mother.Since she had been admitted the previous week,all she needed to do was go to the principal's office to collect the schedule and locker assignment.A group of girls with cheerleader uniforms passed by chatting excitedly.By the look,they didn't seem to be as intimidating as the ones in her former school were.As she was still looking,another one passed.This one was more composed,her uniform a bit different from the others and it made Dylan wonder if she was their captain.If she was,then they were doomed.She gathered that much from the way she walked,how she looked,posing with her held high and confirmed it when she joined the other girls just a few paces from her mother's car.She immediately took the floor and the other girls remained quiet as if their mouths had just been sealed.Right then,she decided that she already hated that girl whatever her name was.

Then,the no name girl turned and holy mother of fates,she recognized her.It was the girl she had seen the previous day from the back window of their new house.The girl had been sun bathing in a swim suit in their back yard.So she was next door neighbors with the first girl she had decided to hate,a beautiful girl but a toxic cheerleader. 'Great.' 

 "Are you nervous about your first day?" Her mother asked her the question she had asked,countless times before. 

 "I'm sure it will go okay," she replied with what she thought was a confident smile.

 "You are great at making friends.I'm not worried about that." Dylan knew that the statement was more to reassure her because in all honesty,none of them really knew what awaited her.They were only hopeful.

She sighed,"Okay.I should get going then."

 "I'll be here by four to get you."

 "Okay,bye.I'll see you later."

And with that,she was out of the car;her schoolbag on one shoulder and her ball on the other.She walked up the platform of stairs quite confidently and disappeared inside without looking back and headed straight to where the principal's office was located.It wasn't hard finding it since she had been there the previous week.From there,she had no idea where she would begin but trusted she would be assigned to someone who would show her around.

                      ***********

  The principal was already in his office when she got there.He ushered her in immediately and instructed her to sit down before he took the telephone to summon someone else in the office.

 "So,Dylan Lewis," he began as soon as he had put the phone down."Why did you transfer from your previous school.I can see that it is a great school.It's standards are high yet very pocket friendly," he paused then furrowed his eyebrows."You didn't like start a fight or rebelled,did you?"

At first Dylan wondered why he was asking her that.Weren't those the kind of questions he was supposed to ask before admitting her? The principal noticed her look and laughed.Dylan smiled nervously but then relaxed when she realized he was joking.

 "We just wanted a fresh start," she replied.

 "Okay.I have gone through your academic file and I am impressed.You are a bright student and we are happy to have you with us.And that means you have a clean shot at acquiring a spot in the basket ball team," he said motioning to the ball on her lap.

 She smiled,"Thank you so much Principal Ford."

A moment later,a slim girl with round rimmed glasses walked into the office.She glanced at her briefly then turned to the principal.

 "You asked for me Mr Ford?"

 "Yeah,this is Dylan.She's new as you can see and she is your assignment for the week.Show her to her locker,then her classes until she is comfortable enough to do it on her own."

The girl turned to her with a huge smile and offered her hand.She took it.

 "I'm Chelsea pronounced with an S not a C.Sophomore,class president.I believe you are in my class?" Dylan nodded. "Welcome to West Dale high."

 "Thank you.I'm glad to be here,"she replied and hoped she would say the same thing a few weeks to come.

It was a nice start.The principal handed her the schedule and wished her the best.She rose up,thanked him again and joined Chelsea who was now waiting patiently at the door.