Was even the teacher looking at her strangely?

"So you are Ms Penhurst?" said Mr Tomas, his smile contacting to a thin line.

"Just Tarlie." At least he didn't say announce my ridiculous real first name to the class.

"I see," he with a civil tone that bordered on coldness. "Take any vacant seat."

I slunk into one nearby at the front. It was wooden with metal legs. I amused myself by trying to read the tangle of graffiti etched on the desk's wooden surface while the teacher droned on. You'd think with all the media attention last year they'd have got some pity money to improve the school. Seems not.

"Now class, I assume you are familiar with the school's Values and Behaviours? Tarlie?" My head jerked up. He kept his eyes on me as he went through them. I could hear the other students rustling and whispering behind me.

At the end of the lesson, Mr Tomas insisted another student take me to my next class, ironically Maz who promptly abandoned me with a smirk at the classroom door.

By mid-morning I decided I was not being paranoid. The teachers had all been odd with me, even Ms Harmer's dynamic striding around the classroom faltered when she passed by my desk. She interrupted her own enthusiastic lecture on the mating rituals of giant water beetles to remind the all of us students and especially me about the school's Values and Behaviours.  Glancing behind me, I saw Maz roll her eyes and several students groaned. Was this obsession with school rules considered my fault? Surely they did the same for every new student?

When the recess bell finally rang, the other students rushed out. Ms Harmer looked at me, then came over.

"Not nice of them to leave you behind," she said with a gentleness in her voice that was absent before.

"No." My eyes suddenly felt watery so I blinked to clear them.

"Want to me to find one of your classmates? I can ask them to look after you." 

"No," I said, firmer this time. "I'll be okay."

"Alright then," said Ms Harmer, stepping back. I gathered my things and left. As if on cue my stomach rumbled. I leaned back against my locker and wondered if I could just stay in the empty corridor, my feet resting on the grey polished concrete and eat my lunch here.

"Ah you must be Ms Penhurst," said a gravelly voice behind me. I whirled around and saw Principal Johns. He was a burly man in a tight fitting shiny blue suit. There was a cautious expression in his squinting eyes that ran all over me before resting above my shoulder.

"Being in the corridor during lunch is not allowed, unless you have a good reason. Do you have a good reason?"

"No, sorry," said I. "I don't know where to go".

"You need to go outside." He paused and pursed his lips. "Our school is now compliant. There is nothing to find here."

"Right," I said. "I'll just go out there then". I felt my hands trembling as I shut my locker, walked down the beige vinyl corridor and swung the door open. The sunlight hit me along with shock as I processed the Principal's words. He thought I was spying for my aunt! Just like Jason! I shook the dazzle from my eyes then focused.

There in front of me was Ez, a welcoming grin crinkling face as he renewed his invitation. As I stumbled alongside him to the oval, a nasty jolt of fear raced through me. Ez would find out the teachers feared me and why, and he'd never want to speak to me again. I would be doomed to being alone for the whole school year.

So I plastered on a fake smile and allowed myself to go with him. Why not enjoy the illusion of making friends for at least a lunchtime?