"Hey" the girl says. "My names Lauren." she has the hint of an English accent. "So why you hanging out with her" she pauses looking at Sam and then back to me, "when you can be hanging out with me."
"Why can't I hang out with the both of you."
She rolls her eyes. "Because girls like us aren't supposed to hang out with girls like that" she says eyeing Sam again.
"What do you mean girls like her" I say suddenly angry.
The girl takes a step back startled. "Wow, re-lax. I'm just trying to offer you a ticket into popularity 'cause you're pretty."
"Well thanks" I say. "If I ever need you i'll be sure to come to you." I realize that what I said was not mean but I just don't know how.
"Yeah okay Rowan. You're offer will only last for a limited time. So hurry up." she leaves and I breathe out.
Sam who was behind me walks up to me and pats my shoulder. "Thanks" she says. "She's never really liked me since the first grade."
"It's fine" I say. "You have to stand up for what's right and the attitude she's showing you is not right."
She smiles and we both walk out to our next class. We have this one together too. We also end up taking a seat next to each other this time.
"Hey class" says a brunette guy teacher. "What's chillin in your grade nine hizhouses."
I have to say I don't understand what the heck he is saying. The class laughs though some with him and some against him.
"The name is Mr.Evans. Welcome to you're first year at vimy school and to your first of my art class."
I smile. He's really positive and upbeat. Beside me Sam scowls at him. "I hate people like him" she whispers.
"Why?"
"Rowan, it's 'cause he's so annoying. It's so stupid to be so positive like that."
I look at Mr.Evans once again. I admire him being so positive. It makes me happy, but I understand that Sam doesn't like that trait about him. Sometimes when you're upset and see someone having a good time it can make you frustrated.
"Over there" he continues pointing to a huge area of the side of them room that doesn't have any desks is a huge area with pedestals. "So in a moment you're all going to go to one of the places in the back and start painting freely however you feel. Go!"
I jump to my feet. Sam with me as we sit at two easels next to each other.
"So, get to know the people beside you. These are your permanent seats."
I smile at Sam and turn to my right to see a boy.
"Hi" he says. "It's nice to meet you Rowan." He sticks his hand out and I shake it.
"You know my name? How?"
"I'm in your math class. I sit next to you."
"You do" I say surprised. "What's your name?"
"The name is Bond. James Bond." I start to laugh. "Okay it's actually Will."
"That I believe" I say. I laugh again.
He smiles and his eyes go wide.
I pick up a blue and just start painting blobs of blue then red and every other colour I can get my hands on.
"What in the world are you making" asks Sam.
"I think it's paintballs" says Will.
"Maybe it's abstract" says Sam.
"No. Wait, actually when you turn your head like this it looks like a bird."
Sam and I both look at Will laughing.
Finally I say,"it's just blobs of paint. I'm not trying to be creative."
I see Sam has painted a dinner table with four chairs. Will has drawn...Angelina Jolie. I don't say anything that might sound mean. I want to make friends not push people away.
The bell finally rings and Will looks at me. "You have a good day." I smile as he says it.
"So um" starts Sam. "You want to sit with me during lunch."
I smile. "I'd love to." I furrow my brows. What about Lor. I think for a hard ten seconds and decide she can either join us or hang out with Olivia.
I grab my homemade lunch from my locker and then save a seat for Sam as she buys lunch.
Lor is sitting with Olivia, some other girls, and....LAUREN!
Anger swells up inside me and my face heats up. "What's wrong?"
I turn and see Will. "Nothing."
He takes a seat. "Really 'cause I just saw you looking at Lauren and your face got redder than I have ever seen someone get."
"I'm fine" I say a little meaner than I meant to. "I just ate something spicy."
"You haven't even open your lunch bag" he states.
I look at him annoyed. "Look, I just met you and for someone like you to try to put yourself in my business is just wrong. So get out if face twerp."
He looks hurt and then I realize what I had just said. I've never hurt someone like that. I feel my hands shaking now.
"Okay" he mutters. "I was just trying to be nice." He stands up and I stop him.
"No" I say. "I'm sorry. It's just that its the first day of high school and my best friend since like ever is hanging out the girl that wanted to be my friend but is a total jerk."
"Don't you have anyone else" he asks.
"Yeah" I say. "It's just that she's my best friend. The one that told me we'd stay together forever."
"I have to go now" he says "but I always got your back if you need me." He gives me a genuine smile of concern. I wave him goodbye as he heads back to his friends.
"So" says Sam sitting down. "Why was he here."
"Oh. He was just saying hi."
She looks at me. "Seems like more than hi."
"It's nothing. My face just got really red so he came over to make sure I was okay... Which I am."
"Hey Rowan!" I don't need to turn to see who said it. I know that British accent. The one that is burned into my mind. I put a smile onto my face.
"Hey Lauren" I say seeing Laura is right beside her. "How's it going?"
"Great! So have you decided to be a part of my little... I mean big group if friends?"
"Oh well. I'll be your friend, I just won't hang out with you guys that much."
Lauren smug face turns sour. "Yeah okay. You still have time to decide."
"Row" says Laura. "Why don't you just come hang out with us."
"I'm not interested" I say. "I'm with my friend Sam."
Laura eyes Sam with jealously but she's the one that decided not to even say hi to me at the beginning of lunch.
"But I'm your best friend though" she says. She grabs my arm "come on."
"No thank you" I nudge out if her grip. "I'm fine here."
"Stop being a stick in the mud" she grabs my arm again.
"Lor, just leave me alone." Her grasp is harder and I have to jerk away accidentally push Lauren who falls into Sam's lunch trashing her hot pink top.
I have to hide my laughter but everyone else sound like hyenas. "I'm so sorry Lauren. I didn't mean to..."
"Shut up" she screams. "I withdraw my offer. You'll never be one of us. I don't care even if you are one if the prettiest girls in school. In fact I'm going to make the next four years of your life here miserable." She storms off with Laura at her heels.
I hide my watery eyes with my hair and sit back down. "Great" I say. "What a wonderful first day it has been so far."