First and last days are just really easy to write I'm sorry.

[Alana's POV]

Being a new kid at a new school usually is not a fun day. But, in all honesty, I was sort of excited about my new school. There's new people and new friends! And the best part is, I'm starting on the first day of 9th grade, so everyone is as nervous as I am!

I found my locker and opened it, enjoying that new locker smell. Everyone's always talking about new car smells, but almost nothing is better than a fresh metal box with the some of Lysol wipes. That's how you know it's a new year!

I looked from my schedule to my backpack, trying to figure out what books to store in my locker to pick up later, when the locker beside me almost hit me the the face, opening.

"Ow!" I squealed, stumbling back a bit. I turned to see that the boy who opened the locker was about my height. He had brown hair and glasses, and, to be completely fair, he was kinda cute. He was staring at me with a deadpan expression, not apologizing.

I scrunched up my face and said, "Oh, of course, it's fine." I sneered, indirectly pointing out the fact that he didn't say sorry.

He shrugged, "Didn't realize it actually hit you, sorry."

I saw this as an opportunity to make my first acquaintance. I'm not really out looking for friends at the moment. After what happened at my last school, I don't want to give my trust to anyone too early on in the game.

I stuck out my hand. "Alana, Alana Beck." I said, expecting him to shake it. He didn't, though, he just stared at me, confused.

"You want me to shake your hand?" He asked, "Are you a teenager or a business women?"

He sounded like he meant that as an insult, but I laughed, legitimately finding it a little funny, "A little bit of both, I guess."

He dropped the act and smiled at me, obviously impressed. "Jared. Jared Kleinman." He mocked, shaking my hand, "You new here?"

I shrugged, "Aren't you, too? I mean... freshmen and all."

He laughed, "Yeah, guess I am."

The warning bell rang, and we parted ways, heading to our different classes.

I walked in to Chemistry and was told to sit at the table in the back of the class. There was no one at that table yet, but it looked like we were going to have lab partners.

I took out my notebook and started doodling on the first page when someone finally sat beside me. I looked up to see a taller boy with dirty brown hair that was at about the length of his shoulders. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and had a bag strung around his shoulder.

"Hi," I said, though he wouldn't look at me, "I'm Alana. Looks like we're gonna be lab partners!"

He shot me a glared and sighed, "Yep. That's what it looks like."

I sat there for a minute, expecting him to introduce himself. When he didn't, I decided to prompt him. "What's your name?"

He sighed again, "Connor."

I nodded, "New here?"

He shot me a daggerous glare, that could probably cut me in half if I was a slice of cheese, "Duh. We're freshmen."

That's my joke! Except it didn't really sound like a joke when he said it.

I sighed, "I get it, you don't like me-" I started, but he cut me off.

"Glad you can take a hint."

I ignored him, "but I like you. And we're gonna have to at least be acquaintances to work together in this class."

He shook his head, disappointed.

I rolled my eyes as the class started.

---

I walked into the cafeteria and looked around nervously. Lunch has always been the hardest part of school for me. Either everyone's expecting you to sit with them, or no one wants you there at all.

And I've only meant 2 acquaintances so far today, and they both seemed to have their nice little tables. Jared was at a table with some taller, cooler kids, and Connor was sitting with another kid, who seemed to be his friend.

I scanned the cafeteria again and found a boy with dirty blond hair and a purple striped polo sitting alone at a round table, picking at his food. He must be upset, so I decided I would sit beside him.

"Hey." I said quietly, sitting down, "You okay?"

He looked up and nodded, before turning back to his food.

"First day jitters?" I asked, moving my head so I could maybe get a glimpse of his face.

He shrugged, "S-something of the sort." He said, his voice soft but worn-out. He was probably crying.

I gave him a sympathetic smile, "Hey, don't worry." I said, "I don't have anyone to sit with either. We can sit with no one together!"

He looked up again and smiled a tad, finding my joke amusing. "I'm Evan," he said.

I nodded, "Alana. I'm new to the district."

Evan nodded and quickly said, "You probably think I am too. But I'm not- I'm actually just really uncool and..." he slowed down, " Long story. "

I smiled at him curiously, "I didn't assume you were new. You just looked lonely."

He shook his head, "I'm not supposed to be."

I didn't know what that meant, but I had a feeling Evan didn't want to be pried open at the moment.

"I'm sorry." We both said at the same time. This caused us to start laughing awkwardly.

"We're gonna be good acquaintances."

---

The final bell rang and students started bolting out of classrooms, trying to get out as soon as possible. I'm not entirely sure why, it's just the first day, no one should be worn out yet!

I started along the sidewalk to my house, and a girl with a bike zoomed passed me, knocking off my backpack.

"Oops!" She called back, parking her bike an running over to help me. She had long brown hair, bleached and dyed indigo on the bottom. "Sorry about that. I'm Zoe."

We both picked up supplies and put them back into my bag, "I'm Alana." I said, "I'm a freshman here."

She smiled, "No, I don't think so." She pointed to the building we were stopped beside. The middle school. "I think you're a freshman at the high school."

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah, that's what I meant."

"I'm just in 8th grade." She said, "So we probably won't see each other around much." She got back on her bike as I put my backpack back on. She laughed and said, "But who knows. Maybe we'll all be part of some elaborate scheme someday."

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Word Count 1142