Chapter 2:

We reach the edge of a soccer field and started walking across it to a strip of concrete that laid under the bleachers. People were placed at the end of the fields near soccer goals, green and yellow flags around their waist. They were all wearing matching attire, green shorts, and white tees plastered with the school mascot. It was a beaver with furrowed eyebrows, mean beady eyes, and a straight mouth, buck teeth popping out. Under it were the words 'Belmont Beavers Here To Win! Win! Win!' in gold and green. 

The dewy, cold grass started to soak through my shoes. Some of the people in English class were out in the field, PE must be a four-year thing here in this school.

"Is PE a four-year thing?" I asked to confirm my thought. I looked at Cody, covering my eyes with my hand to block out the blinding morning sun.

"Yes. Our school takes PE very seriously, its like an extra practice for our sports. You don't have to take it but most people do since its part of the school environment," he replies. I think that's the first I've ever heard of a school having PE all four years.

We take a turn to the back of the school where I could see an auditorium, football field, and inside the gyms: a basketball court that were so shined, it could mirror your reflection. This school is nice compared to other schools I've seen, or been to.

"Well, I can tell your not really a sporty person so I'll skip this part of the tour," Cody said, walking past all the sports area of the school and I think even a little hall that was dedicated to all the wins they had. I didn't protest.

"In that little nook between the gyms and that unmarked building is the lockers rooms. And behind the locker rooms is an indoor pool," Cody explained, pointing to buildings that could be it. I wasn't exactly sure where he was pointing.

We walked up to a court area with tables and benches. Through a pair of double doors that were painted green, more tables inside with pull-out chairs in bright colors of orange, blue, and yellow.

"This is the cafeteria, most people don't sit in here except for the clubs that aren't sports, like film club, and freshmen if they are planning on going into drama or something. I'm not exactly sure what goes down in here, but I know enough that it's boring." Cody shrugged.

"What if it's raining, or cold?" I asked him, pulling out a blue chair from under a white top table and sat down. Cody took his place in front of me, the chair the color of a fire truck.

"We sit up in the hallways, sit in our favorite classrooms, or just sit on the covered patios, which is out there." Cody pointed outside the large windows which line up the side of one wall. We continued out of the back door, to the patio, which led us back into the main entrance: large staircase to the second story classrooms and the office.

"Hey, Cody, what are you doing out of class?" Someone demanded him from the office window.

"Just skipping class," he joked, looking over at the person and winking.

"Well, you're lucky I don't write you up in front of this young lady," she nodded, turning back around to her computer and chewing pink bubble gum in her mouth. She had a quirky head scarf on, her brown, curly hair puffing up all around it.

Cody turned and said in my ear, "That's MeMe she's probably one of the nicest people here besides Ms. Day, so if you ever get in trouble talk to her." Noted.

We continued down the hall and passed a giant glass case displayed with some trophies. "#1 Freshman Football Champions," one of the trophies said carved on the gold colored plate. Next to the trophy, a large picture with freshman boys all huddled together, smiling and laughing. In the photo, I could see Cody. He was holding the trophy over his head as the coach gleamed at him. I stopped to study some of the other pictures around it, and a school article taped in a frame.

"You guys won first place freshman year? That must be a big break for you."

"Yeah, that was a good year." His cheeks flushed a rose color.

Cody showed me all around the inside of school, every classroom (that we could enter), corner, and wall. He explained every spot, who hangs where and what I needed to do to make it through some of the same classes we had in common. He had also briefed me on all the work I missed and had to catch up on within the next week or two. We were done with the tour.

"Alright Jamie I'll see you at lunch," he said as the bell rung and before running off outside somewhere. I stood there for a couple seconds, processing where I should go as people shoved by me out the same door Cody had gone. I walked outside to find the PE locker rooms, trying to remember what building it could possibly be from Cody's tour. PE, I remember now how much I hated it. 

With some guessing, a wrong turn I had found the PE teacher's office.

"Welcome to Belmont High, do you play sports to be in advanced PE?" The fit teacher asked. A bright red whistle hung down her neck.

"Not anymore," I answered.

"Oh really? Well, before I hold you up with questions, get dressed down so you're not late. I'll have my TA get you a locker and some clothes. A medium of both?" She turned around to a girl with red curly hair, brown eyes, and a sweet smile to match her Bambi eyes. The coach left the locker rooms in a rush, leaving me behind with the teachers' assistant.

She grabbed a medium of some shorts and shirt. I nodded my head and followed her to a row of lockers. Her curled hair swished behind her as she moved, looking like a sea of red waves. 

"Your locker combo is 14-32-00," she informed me, handing me the lock and pointing to the only open locker. She left, leaving behind a trail of intoxicating perfume that reminded me of Ms. Day's classroom. I don't remember if she had said her name.

I quickly got dressed down, thanking myself I wore my converse today. They weren't proper athletic shoes but it was better than nothing. I placed all my clothes into the locker. I realized that there wasn't enough room to shove my bag in without squishing its contents. I left it unlocked, defeated that I couldn't get it to close all the way. Besides, I  had already forgot the combination. 

I watched as some of the girls that were in the locker room run out and go to a number. What number would I be on? I tried to think while finding someone to ask. I didn't see anybody and according to the schedule that was taped next to a big clock, I only had a minute before the bell rung.

"Hey! Jamie! I didn't realize we'd be seeing each other again until 5th," Cody laughed. I turned around pulling my French braids to the front of my face, hiding the fact that I was startled. I was relieved that there was someone I knew in this class.

"What do you know," I forced a laugh back. It sounded awkward and I immediately regretted it, hoping that my face didn't show my embarrassment.

"Who is this?" A guy asked Cody, not bothering to ask me as he hits Cody in the arm. His eyes trailed up and down my body and he smiled to himself. He met with my eyes and raised his brows. I shifted my weight, the burning feeling returning to my cheeks once again. The loose fitting tee started to feel itchy on my skin the more I adverted my eyes from him, trying to ignore the swirling feeling in my gut.

"This is Jamie, she's new here," Cody turned to me, "Jamie this is Syros. I was showing her around for second and third period," Cody replied, nudging him off.

"Cody has got to get at everybody now, doesn't he?" Syros looked slyly over at Cody.

"What do you mean by that?" I shouldn't be prying into this curiosity, I thought to myself as the words slipped from my lips and the swirling continued.

Cody rolled his eyes, "Nothing."

"Cody, Syros, enough flirting and get on the field! All of you!" the PE teacher yelled, blowing the whistle furiously.

*

Finally, lunch time. I was almost done for the day and I could finally relax.

Everyone ran back to the locker rooms. I changed out of my sweaty PE clothes and put them in the locker, hanging each item on its own hook. I'll stop by and pick it up after school, I thought.

I went on my phone to text my best friend. She didn't reply immediately, I didn't expect to her to, but it would be nice to hear from her. I miss home.

Cody caught up to my side when I walked out of the locker room while I undid my French braids, revealing a wavy poof of hair, maybe not the best idea.

"Getting lunch or brought your own?"

"Brought my own. Not a big fan of food I can't see prepared," I smiled, as I followed in line at his side.

Syros ran to my other side, bringing a rush of cool breeze. "I'll go save us a seat over on the lawn," he spoke briefly, running ahead of us. I watched Syros as he zig-zagged through the crowd of people.

"Nice game, you are really athletic. I was wrong about you before," he said with sincerity in his tone. 

"Thank you. Not to bad yourself," I replied. Cody punched me in the arm playfully.

I thought about how everyone here was kind and inviting, they welcomed me with bright smiles and cheerful faces. It reminded me of my mom. She always told me, 'be nice to people, you never know what they're going through.' 

I wished it all happened differently. I wished it would all just go away.

I could feel the knot tighten in my stomach, and my throat clench as I followed behind Cody through the sea of people. I tried to keep my head low and darted my gaze away from people to hide the tears that were streaming down my face.

Stop it. I quickly wiped them away, taking a deep inhale of air.

Just breathe. Stay sane.