Class 7C1
I walked in step with the rest of the Vickers kids, trying to keep my head down and blend in. The assembly hall doors closed behind us, and we made our way through the corridors, the chatter of excited voices filling the air. My mind was still buzzing with everything Miss Wharfe had said, and I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. I just hoped the day would get easier as it went on.
We eventually stopped outside a room labelled
Just as I was getting settled, the door swung open, and a tall man with slicked-back hair and a confident stride walked in. He had that kind of presence that made everyone go quiet without him even saying a word. His blue eyes scanned the room, taking us all in, and then he flashed a grin.
"Alright, everyone, listen up," he said, his voice carrying easily across the room. "I'm Mr. Regan, your form tutor for this year. I'm also one of the PE teachers here, so you'll be seeing plenty of me whether you like it or not."
A few kids chuckled at that, and I couldn't help but notice that Mr. Regan had the kind of look that probably made all the girls swoon—tall, athletic build, and a smile that seemed to put everyone at ease.
He leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. "Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty, I'm going to explain how things work around here. First off, you've probably heard the talk about class placements, right? Well, depending on how you did in your SATS last year, you've been placed in a specific class for all your academic subjects. The top class is 7A1, and it goes down from there—7A2, 7B1, 7B2, and so on. You're all in Vickers, but your academic classes will mix you with kids from the other houses."
I could hear some of the kids around me muttering excitedly. A boy in the front row pumped his fist and whispered, "Yes! 7A1, here I come!"
Mr. Regan continued, "Your timetable will show you which class you've been placed in. That'll be the class you're in for every subject throughout the year, so get used to it."
My hands were already fumbling in my bag, pulling out my timetable. I scanned the sheet, my eyes searching for the class name. There it was—7C1. I let out a small breath I hadn't realized I was holding. It isn't the worst class, but not the top. Relief and disappointment mixed inside me. I was glad I wasn't in the bottom class, but a part of me wished I had made it higher, maybe even 7A1 like the boy in the front.
Around me, kids were reacting to their placements. Some were cheering, others just shrugged, and a few looked as disappointed as I felt. A girl sitting a few seats ahead of me raised her hand eagerly.
"Yes, you, what's your name?" Mr. Regan asked, pointing to her.
"Josie, sir," she said with a bright smile. "So, now that we know what class we're in, does that mean the thing right next to our class on the timetable is the room we're in for each subject?"
Mr. Regan nodded, clearly pleased with the question. "That's right, Josie. The room number next to your class on the timetable tells you where to go for each subject. Now, Chelmer Valley is a big school, and there are a lot of blocks to get familiar with."
He walked over to the whiteboard and started writing out the different block names as he explained. "We've got the English Block, Two Science Blocks—one for Chemistry and the other for Biology and Physics—the Mathematics Block, Art Rooms, Drama Block, Music Rooms, Humanities Block where you'll have Religious Education, Geography, and History, Tech Block, Foreign Languages Block, and Computer Studies Rooms."
He turned back to us, tapping the board with the marker. "To figure out which room to go to, you look at the subject. For example, if you've got Maths, the room will start with 'M' followed by a number, like M1 or M4. That's in the Maths Block. The only exceptions are Languages and Computer Studies. For languages, the room name will start with the first letter of the language—'F' for French, 'G' for German, and 'S' for Spanish. And Computer Studies will start with 'CS.' Got it?"
The room buzzed with murmurs as everyone looked over their timetables. I followed suit, my eyes scanning for my first class. There it was—Maths, Room M4. I felt a little flutter of nerves in my stomach.
Maths wasn't my worst subject, but it wasn't my best either. I wondered what my teacher would be like. Would they be strict? Kind? Would they even notice me?
Mr. Regan clapped his hands, drawing our attention back to him. "Alright, you've got a few minutes before the first bell. Use this time to ask any questions or get to know each other. Remember, you're all in this together. Make the most of it."
He gave us one last smile before he turned to organize some papers on his desk. The room erupted in chatter as kids started talking to each other, comparing timetables, and making plans to stick together for the first day. I looked down at my timetable again, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. M4 didn't seem too hard to find, but I wasn't sure who I'd be walking with.
I glanced up, thinking maybe I'd try talking to someone again, but before I could, I heard Josie's voice, bright and full of energy. "Hey! What did you get for your first class?" she asked the boy beside her, who was checking his timetable.
"English, Room E3," he said, sounding relieved. "At least it's not Maths first."
Josie laughed. "Lucky! I've got Science First—Chemistry, Room C2. I just hope I don't blow anything up!"
I couldn't help but smile a little at that. Josie seemed nice—maybe I'd try talking to her later. But for now, I focused on memorizing my timetable and trying mentally to map out where I needed to go. M4, then RE in H1, and then... I traced the day with my finger, trying to ease the nerves building up inside me.
"Let's try to get through Maths first," I thought, glancing up as Mr. Regan moved to the door, signalling time to head out. 7C1, here I come.
With the bell signalling the end of form time, I watched as the other students from Vickers dispersed, heading off in different directions. We weren't all in the same class for our subjects, and now it was time to find out where we really belonged. I double-checked my timetable: Maths, Room M4.
Taking a deep breath, I joined the flow of students heading toward the Mathematics Block. As I walked, I noticed that some of the faces around me were familiar from form, but most were from other houses. Everyone seemed to know where they were going, which only made my nerves tighten. Don't worry, you've got this, I told myself, trying to stay calm. Just get to M4, and you'll be fine.
When I arrived at the Mathematics Block, there was already a group of students gathered outside Room M4. They weren't going in, just standing around, chatting and laughing. I slowed my pace, unsure of what to do. Why were they waiting outside? Was the room locked, or were we supposed to line up?
A boy with blonde hair and a yellow tie, marking him as part of Einstein's house, caught my eye. He seemed to be the center of attention, his voice loud and confident. I could tell right away that he was one of those kids who enjoyed being noticed—his whole demeanour was cocky like he expected people to listen when he spoke.
Suddenly, he made an exaggerated moaning sound, loud enough to turn heads. Some of the students laughed, but others looked away, their expressions a mix of annoyance and discomfort.
I hesitated a few steps away, feeling a wave of uncertainty. Was that supposed to be funny? My cheeks flushed as I tried to decide what to do. I didn't want to laugh if it wasn't the right thing to do, but I didn't want to seem like I didn't get the joke either. The last thing I wanted was to stand out in the wrong way.
In the end, I just hovered nearby, trying to stay close enough to blend in but far enough away to avoid drawing attention to myself. My mind was racing with thoughts, trying to figure out the best way to act in this new environment.
Before I could make up my mind, a woman's voice cut through the noise. "Alright, everyone, line up, please!"
I looked up to see a tall woman with neatly styled hair and glasses walking toward us. She had an air of authority that made everyone go quiet almost immediately. She must be our Maths teacher.
The students quickly shuffled into a line, and I slipped in behind them, relieved to have something clear to do. The teacher, Mrs. Wood, unlocked the door and stepped inside, leaving us to wait in the hallway. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as I tried to calm myself down.
"Come on in, and find a seat," Mrs. Wood called from inside. "Sit wherever for now—I'll sort out a seating plan later."
I followed the stream of students into the classroom, scanning the rows of desks. I didn't want to sit too close to the front, but I didn't want to be in the very back either. I spotted a seat in the third row to the right, with just one row behind it. Perfect. I slid into the chair, placing my bag on the floor beside me.
As I settled in, a girl with a light blue tie like mine sat down next to me. She had beautiful dark-brown hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders and striking blue eyes. I could feel my heart beat a little faster, not out of nervousness, but out of a sort of shy excitement. She turned to me with a friendly smile.
"I guess we're in the same class, huh? Miles!" she said, her voice cheerful and warm.
I looked at her, surprised that she knew my name. "How do you know my name?" I asked, genuinely curious.
She laughed, a light, melodious sound that made me feel less self-conscious. "Don't you remember what we did in form?" she asked, still smiling.
I frowned slightly, trying to recall what she was talking about. I'd been so caught up in my worries that the morning felt like a blur. Seeing my confused expression, she laughed again, but not in a mean way—it was more like she found me amusing.
"The whiteboard game," she explained. "We had to reveal our name, one truth, and one lie, and everyone had to guess which was which. Even Mr. Regan got involved."
"Oh, right," I said, scratching my head as I started to remember. I'd been too preoccupied with everything else to pay attention to the game. "I guess I was a bit distracted."
"Don't worry, it's only the first day," she said, waving it off. "I'm Jess, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Jess," I replied, smiling back at her. I liked her already—she had this easy-going way about her that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, today wouldn't be so bad after all.
Before we could continue, Mrs. Wood clapped her hands to get our attention. "Alright, 7C1, welcome to the wonderful world of Maths," she said with a slight smile, but her tone was firm. "We've got a lot to cover this year, so let's start by getting organized."
She handed a stack of orange exercise books to the students sitting in the front row, instructing them to pass them down. As the books made their way back to us, Mrs. Wood continued speaking.
"Before we dive into the curriculum, I think it's important we all get to know each other. So, we're going to do a quick icebreaker. I want each of you to stand up, say your name, and tell us something about yourself—anything you want to share."
The room buzzed with nervous energy as students exchanged glances. One by one, they started standing up to introduce themselves.
"Luke Hughes," said a confident boy from the front row, standing up with a theatrical flourish. "I'm from 7E, and I love football. I'm gonna be a pro one day." He grinned, clearly enjoying the attention as a few students nodded in appreciation.
Next, a boy who looked completely at ease, even a bit bored, stood up. He had a light blue tie like mine, so he must have been in Vickers too, but I hadn't seen him earlier. "Kyle Briscoe," he said with a casual wave. "Got lost this morning, so I missed form. No big deal." He smirked slightly as if getting lost and missing form was just another part of his day, something that didn't bother him in the slightest. A few students chuckled, and he sat back down, still looking like he was perfectly in control.
Then, a boy with a muffled voice and ginger hair stood up. "Otis Murray, 7H. I like making people laugh."
There was a ripple of laughter across the room, and I noticed he had two front teeth sticking out slightly, giving him a distinctive look.
A girl with beautiful blonde hair and blue-green eyes stood up next. "Rosie Tinsley, 7E," she said confidently. She had this glow about her like she was already a class favourite.
As the introductions continued, I tried to keep track of everyone, but it was hard with so many names and faces.
A tall girl with curly hair stood up, her expression confident. "I'm Masie Dyer from 7C. I'm into netball, and I guess you'll see me around with Ayesha," she said, nodding toward another tall girl across the room. They exchanged a knowing smile, clearly close friends already.
The other girl, Ayesha Clark from 7R, stood up next. She had a poised, almost reserved manner. "Yeah, I'm Ayesha," she said, her voice soft but clear. "I'm into art, so if you need anything drawn, just let me know." She smiled faintly before sitting down, her gaze steady and calm.
Then a girl with a round face and a big presence stood up. "I'm Tia Potter from 7L," she said, her voice booming slightly. "I'm the biggest girl here, so don't mess with me!" She grinned, her statement more playful than threatening, and a few people chuckled.
The tallest boy in the room got to his feet next, his head nearly brushing the ceiling. "Jack Gulyas, 7E," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "Yeah, I'm tall. It's not that great, trust me." He rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched, betraying his amusement at the whispers around him.
Next, a girl with black hair and an air of confidence stood up. "Ellie Sanders, 7L," she announced. "I'm into drama—so don't be surprised if you see me on stage in every school play." Her voice was loud and clear, and she radiated a self-assured energy that made everyone listen.
A quieter girl followed, barely making a sound as she stood. "Emma Ashwell, 7C," she said simply, before quickly sitting down, her eyes darting around nervously.
Then came a girl with a green tie and an awkward but infectious laugh. "Jess Green, 7L," she said, already giggling. "Sorry, I laugh at everything! I'm a bit of a goofball, but, uh, I guess that's okay." Her laughter filled the room, and soon a few others were chuckling along with her.
A blonde girl with a high-pitched voice stood next. "Mia Southgate, 7C," she said, her voice squeaking slightly as she spoke. A few students snickered, but Mia just smiled. "Yeah, I know my voice is squeaky. No, I'm not a mouse." The class laughed, and Mia grinned, unfazed by the teasing.
The smallest kid in the room then stood up, his presence commanding despite his size. "Atilla Kalkici, 7H," he announced proudly. "I'm Turkish, and yeah, I know I'm small, but good things come in small packages." He shot a playful look around the room, and a few people nodded in agreement.
A girl with light-coloured hair and green eyes introduced herself next. "Georgia Taylor, 7L," she said, her voice even and measured. "I like reading, so if you need book recommendations, I'm your girl." She offered a small smile before sitting down.
The boy who had made the inappropriate noise earlier, the blonde one with the yellow tie, stood up, clearly enjoying the attention. "Will Smith, 7E," he said with a grin. "Yeah, that was me earlier. What can I say? I like to keep things interesting." He winked, causing a mix of laughter and eye rolls.
Next, a boy with a mischievous grin and a thick British accent stood up. "Harry Pavelin, 7V," he said, his tone light and teasing. "Don't worry, I'll be the class clown—you lot just have to keep up." His confidence was infectious, and the room filled with laughter.
Then, a quiet girl with her hair pulled back stood up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Megan Wade, 7H," she said, her eyes on the floor. She sat back down quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
The next girl to stand had a bit of sass in her posture. "Jasmin Norris, 7E," she declared. "I'm not afraid to speak my mind, so don't expect me to stay quiet if something's wrong." She gave a little shrug, her tone unapologetic, before taking her seat again.
A girl with dark hair and glasses stood next, her movements careful and precise. "Abigail Gardner, 7H," she said softly. "I'm more of a listener than a talker, so, um, yeah." She smiled nervously and sat down, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
The girl who stood next had a demeanour that seemed a bit more mature than the others. "Ashleigh Langford, 7M," she said, her tone casual but with a hint of attitude. "I'm into writing, and, well, I guess I've seen it all already, you know?" She smirked slightly, her words carrying the kind of world-weariness that felt more like teenage rebellion than maturity.
Then a boy with large, bright eyes and a slightly twitchy nose got to his feet. "Haydn Brook, 7H," he said with a quick grin. "I, uh, get compared to a squirrel a lot. I guess that's fair." He laughed a little nervously as the others chuckled along.
A girl with olive skin and dark hair stood up next, her expression neutral. "Charlotte Akers, 7C," she said simply, offering no extra information before sitting down quietly.
The last girl stood up, her brunette hair framing her face. "Elizabeth, 7H," she said, her tone almost bored. "I'm Rosie's friend, but I'm not as... bubbly as she is." She rolled her eyes slightly, clearly not interested in the introductions.
Finally, a girl with light-coloured hair and a big smile stood up. "Ruby Holland, 7R," she said, her voice bright. "I'm basically Jess Green, version two. We're practically twins, aren't we, Jess?" She winked at Jess, who laughed in agreement.
Luke's going to be a football star, Jess is the friendly girl everyone likes, and Will's already the class clown...The thought kept racing through my mind that these introductions weren't just about names—they were setting the tone for the entire year, determining who would stand out and who would blend into the background.