I sit straight up. My alarm is ringing. Since when did I set an alarm?

A look at the clock which tells me it's half an hour too early to my normal time on school days. I will be needing that half an hour for a shower, though. I'm a little bit sweaty.

Not risking anything today. Gosh, for that few days I was panicking and now this day is today.

I run a hand through my knotted hair and decide against washing it again.

But still, who set that alarm?

I'm replaying my thoughts. Yesterday. I went to my room to pack. I had panic and took a pill that wasn't working and then. Then what?

Panicking. No air. Thomas.

Could this be any more worse? I let out frustrated groan and got up. My bag wasn't packed!

I came to a sudden stop. My school stuff was placed as a big stack on my desk. My backpack was placed beside the desk.

Walking over there, I also notice my schedule laying on the desk, separately. Opening my backpack I let out a small gasp.

All my stuff was packed, and it seemed to be everything I will need for today. Everything was just the way I needed it to be.

Do I have blackout? No, not possible. Maybe somebody else packed my bag.

Then I loudly heard the click in my head.

Thomas must've packed it and put everything stacked on my desk.

That was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.

There was no time to get sentimental, so I rushed to the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water.

I also shook my head to sort my thoughts, though that didn't help much.

Thomas was literally hugging me yesterday. In this room. Well, not my bathroom but still.

He successfully helped me to calm down. How do I thank him? Does he even expect me to thank him? Should I apologize? I probably gave him this burden he didn't ask for.

Does he know think I'm weird? Weak? Helpless?

I don't want to seem weak. Not in front of anybody. Certainly not in front of a male person. Most certainly not after a man who nearly took my brothers life, though now a man did. Thomas did.

But why doesn't that bother me as much as it should? I'm mostly embarrassed.

While the water runs down my body, I wished it could take my thoughts down the drain, as well.

The cold water relaxed me, it made me think clearly, most of the time.

After I dried my self up and finished everything that needed to be done in the bathroom, I threw myself into a white skirt with a light pink long sleeve.

It was end of spring, so summer wasn't far anymore. Though where was the joy I always felt?

After what felt like years, my white converse where on and my hair in a half up-half down.

"Good morning, Honey!" My moms head came into sight out of the kitchen. "I made eggs with bacon."

The delicious smell entered my nose the closer I stepped.

"Dibs on all the bacon!" Elliot grabbed my shoulders and pushed me to the side, rushing to the plate with the bacons. "Nah-ah." My mom gave him a playful smack with a towel.

"Good morning to you, too." I murmured as I grabbed myself some eggs and bacon.

"So? You guys excited for your first day of school?"

"No."
"Yes!"

We said in unison. "Oh, I bet it's gonna be just fine." She squeezed my shoulder and placed a kiss on my head.

"Morning." Das entered the kitchen and grabbed a cup of coffee.

"Good morning." Me and Elliot said, again, in unison. What a weird start.

Mom gave Dad a quick kiss and started to clean up. And soon enough, we stood up,  ready to go.

I don't want to.

I really don't want to.

//°°\\

Definitely not voluntarily, I stand in front of the school building.

It feels like all eyes are on me, though when I look closely, everyone seems to mind their business.

My Dad dropped me off and gave me an awkward you-got-this talk and left for work, so now I'm standing here and let my eyes scan from left to right.

Just as I thought I was in the clear I noticed two girls staring right at me. Simply averting my eyes I make my way in, trying to avoid them.

My hand slips in my pocket to fish out my schedule on which I also wrote my locker number, the floor, room number, hallway and everything else important down.

Walking in I start to unobtrusively search my locker. Number 107.

A silent sigh leaves my lips as I scan the locker numbers.

93. 94. 95.

Then a hallway. Then-

145?

What the hell? I turn right. 135. This is like a maze. Plus the numbers don't even align.

Becoming more frustrated I turn around.

Eyeing the two girls from before. The two girls who are know not bickering and staring, but also giggling.

And approaching me.

"Hey, we noticed you seem kind of lost." The girl with dark wavy hair smiles brightly at me. She may be Indian.

"Uh." I start to stammer, "not lost, just the locker numbers don't align." This is so embarrassing.

"Yeah, everybody who's new looks the same wondering and lost way." The other girl snickered, though I don't find the situation funny.

She has pretty curly hair, seems quite small.

I nod and wish to be gone. Out of the window or down the floor.

"I'm Rebecca," the taller one, Rebecca introduced, then pointed at the smaller girl, "This is Anabeth."

"Name's Hope." I reply.

"What a pretty name!" Rebeccas smile widened. She was so...kind. She didn't laugh at me for being new, nor did she made me trip.

"Come one, let us show you your locker." She snatched the paper out of my hand which made me startle. "Now let me see."

Anabeth leaned closer to look at the paper as well. "You got a really pretty handwriting, I must say."

My cheeks flushed. "Thanks."

"Okay come on, we'll show you around." Rebecca hooked her arm with mine and pulled me with her through the many hallways. Anabeth tried to explain me the arrangement of the lockers, though I don't think I'll ever understand.

"Trust me, you'll get used to it."

I shrugged it off.

"Don't worry. You got us now. And we'll stick with you." Rebecca came to a halt. "Here."

Number 107.

"Thank you guys, never ever in my life would I have found that."

What was the combination again? It stood written down on my paper. The one in Rebeccas hands. Awesome, a complete stranger now knows my combination.

"You're welcome, and here." She handed me paper at the sight of my face. "Don't worry. Mine is 830 and Ana's 496."

I blinked. Did she just told me their combinations? They trust me? Don't make fun of me?

"Oh we're friends now. Sooner or later you'll be familiar with all our secrets." Rebecca said. "So now that it's official, call me Becca or just any nickname of your choice."

"Sure thing, I hate Anabeth, so just Ana. Maybe Beth, I don't know."

"This is for real?" I blurt out. Gosh why did I say that?

"Of course!"

A warm feeling evolved in my stomach. I made friends.

I. Made. Friends.

"Alright, let's head to class."

Me and Rebecca had class together, Ana not we said goodbye and entered.

Luckily I don't have this weird entrance where the new one comes late to class and all eyes are that person. Way to cliche.

I sat together with Rebecca in third row and everybody seemed to mind their own business. No one cared I was new.

No one laughed and no one made fun.

Relive rushed through me, but vanished the moment the teacher came in and laid her eyes on me.

I froze.

"Aah, I see you must be Hope! Welcome! I'm Mrs. Windfield, you wanna introduce yourself?"

My eyes have to be as big as the apple she just put down on her desk. I do not need everybody to stare at me while I talk about myself. Ew.

"Uh, that won't be necessary, right?" I stammered.

"Don't be shy, come here!" She tries to encourage me but I just shrink in my seat, "You don't have to come up to the front, just stand up!" That women really is clueless. She is a bit elderly, I must say.

All eyes are already on me and this is worse than any of my predictions.

"Mrs. Windfield, I don't think Hope is comfortable to stand up now. Maybe you could start your lessen and she can settle in a bit. Maybe tomorrow or so when she voluntarily wants to introduce herself, she can. Also, she get to know these people by herself and meet those who she chooses to talk to." Rebecca spoke up. For me. And she put a way to nice smile on her face.

She stood up for me. Nobody ever has.

Mrs. Windfield doesn't even look bothered. "Thank you, Rebecca, then let's start with our lesseon."

"Thank you, Becca" I whisper over to her. "You're welcome. Windfield is a little bit, you know," She motions at her head and circles her finger. I chuckle quitly at that.

"You won't get it trouble now, do you?" My eyes lay on the teacher. She talks about things in geography that I already had at my d school. Just before we moved.

"Of course not. That woman is clueless if you put a smile on." Becca scoffs and and smiles. "And now that we're friends, you need to know how to behave with the different teachers. Good thing that you either have me or Ana, or both, obviously, in classes."

//°°\\

Rebecca didn't lie. She and Ana both helped me through the day and now we sit together at lunch.

Becca and Ana are talking about something I don't really followed with, so now I'm not even trying to listen.

"What do you think, Hope?" Both their heads turn to me. "Sorry, but about what?"

Now they will get annoyed by me. They think I don't listen and I don't care but I do. Just forgot to listen. That's it, I'm a loner again.

"I wanted to paint a tote bag, though I don't know what motives to use. And I thought I could paint three for all of us." Rebecca started to explain, her eyes sparkled a bit. She wasn't mad, nor was Ana.

"What interests do you have?" I asked 'cause I knew nothing about them.

"I do ballet," Ana started, "I really love lipsticks and sushi."

"Sushi is disgusting." Rebecca laughed. "It's not! Anyway, Becca always goes shopping. Her parents are like super rich!"

Well I didn't except that. What if she thinks I'm after her money?

Before I can overthink again, she starts talking. "I got the Idea. Ana for you I'll paint lipstick, for me I let it look like a shopping a bag and for Hope," she turns to me. "What are your interests?"

"I don't know, I don't do much. Reading and watching TV, I guess." I reply.

"What's your favorite movie?" Ana asks. "Maze Runner."

"Then I have a really great idea, though that's a surprise. And don't get your hopes up, I'm not that good at painting."

The rest of lunch goes kinda good. I was very nervous about everything I said. Every word for that they would turn their backs and hate me. So I took one. Only because it's the first day. Just to calm me down a bit.

And it did. I even enjoyed it to talk to my friends.

After the lesson was over, me and Ana walked out of class together. We waited for Rebecca as a group of boys walked into our direction. And when I saw who was part of the group, I nearly ran of.

I turned away so he could only see my back. So Thomas wouldn't approach me. Luckily, I saw Becca walking around the corner.

"There she comes." I turn back to Ana as he passed. So he would see my back again.

"Should we drive you home? She has a drivers license." Ana asks and starts walking as Becca was beside us now. "Not today, my dad's here to pick me up."

"Alright. Give me your phone, we can exchange numbers." Rebecca helds out her hand. I give it to her. "You can text us your address, tomorrow I can pick you up and drop you off."

"Thank you," Happiness fulfills me. "I don't want to make you unnecessary circumstances and you don't have to make a detour."

"Oh nonsense. That's why I have a drivers license."

We hug goodbye and I look for my Dad's car.

"Hello." I plop down in the passenger seat. "And, how was it?" He asks as he starts driving. "Alright. You don't have to drive me any more." "Why's that?" His eyebrows scrunch together wich causes some wrinkles to appear.

"My friends offered to pick me up and drop me off. You don't have to drive me, I know that your office is in the other direction."

"You made friends? Awesome. Your mother will be very happy to hear that." Proudly he gave me a quick look.

"Yeah" I sigh. "She definitely will."

She is going to be delighted.

//°°\\

Hope got friends, yay!

Hopefully their conversations aren't too long or boring.

I think my writing in oral conversation could need some improvement.

If you got any other tips let me know!

Btw I'm glad this chapter didn't turn out short.

Have a good day or rest of it!

WrittenBy09