I did introduce myself in a hostile way to keep them at bay, though. Acting like I'm not interested would surely steer them away from me, right?
"Nice to meet you, Joaquin!" Natasha said.
I nodded."Ok."
Then, I began walking again after I lightly pushed Dominic away. But to my luck, the three of them followed me like a bunch of curious chickens.
"So, Joaquin, where did you come from? Out of all the places, why Honeycreek?" Dominic asked.
"Hey, what's wrong with Honeycreek?" Natasha defended.
"A lot," Diana answered instead. I agree.
Should I speak, or do I leave them hanging to maintain my botherless figure?
"I had no choice," I ended up talking. It's because the three of them looked at me with their eyes almost popping out of their sockets. I kid you not, my face has never been fast, but they still kept their distance close to me.
People were looking at us now since we're clustered eccentrically.
"By you have no choice, you mean you were forced to move here?" Natasha ask with her lower lips extended, as if she's going to cry at my situation.
Yeah, no shit.
"Were you a bully? What have you done in the city? Jesus, don't tell me you killed someone," Daina further probed and moved Natasha to her side, protecting her of some sort.
"I didn't, and it's none of your business," I stated once we got to the steps leading up to the main entrance of the building. I stopped, and so did they. When I looked back, they held their heads high, giving me the perfect opportunity to say, "Leave me alone."
Turning my heel, I could hear the three of them bickering. "Why would you say that, Dian? You spook him."
"Right, you should've asked that for later! Rule one, Dan. Rule one!" Natasha's voice boomed.
"I did the right thing. What if he's actually a…"
After Diana's plea, I didn't hear anything anymore because I entered the building and went ahead to the locker area. I stood on my spot for a while and combed each silo. The lockers in this school is quite different. Instead of being lounged on the wall to make space for the hallway, it's situated by the first floor, next to the middle staircase leading up to the upper levels of this main building like its rows of shelves. Each stack had up to four levels, so if you're short, it's troubling to put your things if your locker is on the top level.
As far as I know, my locker would be around the last rows of the white steel cabinets. Heaps of students are now looming around me, so it's a bit crowded. Taking turns and twisting my body abled me to reach the last row of lockers. There are labels with the student's names and sections on the doors, so I just looked closely and read each labels.
When I reached the last locker, there was no name, but it was situated on the lowest level. I clicked my tongue and kneeled. Then, I put the things I wouldn't be using for the first subject inside. Since literature and math takes the cake for the morning subs, I kept those books to myself and tucked the rest away. When I locked my safe and stood up, a hinging echo blasted my ears.
I looked at this dude who slammed the locker next to me and saw his insolent face. He had glasses, thin arms, a sad bowl cut, and a pale complexion; a typical bozo. He also had braces, the stones in the manly color of… baby blue.
"The heck is your problem?" I asked and sneered. I was taller than him, so it really got me wondering where he got such credence to charge like that.
"This is my territory."
For a while, I just looked at him. After hearing his breathy, and cracked voice, I tried so hard not to laugh. He better be joking…
"This is your territory? But this is a high school, kid. The middle school is on the other side of the street," I replied cheekily and realized that I made heads turn. Some of them laughed, but most looked at me as if I'm the bad guy.
"Hey!" the pipsqueak tried to act tough, but his voice cracked again. "You better watch what you're saying. I can have you expelled!"
"Oh, please, you can't even speak without puberty taking a toll on you. Give your throat a rest and shut up," I said and stepped away, mildly pumped. His appearance was rather unexpected, but I'd give him a coin for having the confidence to talk shit.
What is he, trying to be cool or something?
"We'll deal with him soon, Riven," I heard one of the guys behind him whisper.
I'd love to see you try.
In the end, I just shrugged his stunt of and walked up the staircase located at the tail-end of the building. I figured less students would take that course since it's on the quieter part. According to this pamphlet I received beforehand, my room is on the fourth floor. Upon walking upstairs, I reached interjections on each floor. There's this gigantic window that enabled me to see what's on the back of the building.
There's nothing much to see except the grassland that can be used for football and stuff or the array of woods sitting on the foot of the mountain. I didn't see any concrete part where I can play basketball, but I saw that there was a lonesome ring hanging at the furthest part, erected by the wall separating the school grounds from the creepy timbers.
Seems like I can't practice here either. One thing that has me worried is that I've nowhere to practice. I reached the fourth floor and walked in the corridor that had the rooms on one side and the windows on the other, a typical building perfect for the romance archetype. Too bad all the girls that I've seen so far seem weird and nerdy. I'm way out of their league and I probably won't get laid for a very long time because I don't want to.
"Class E… Class E… Class E…" I muttered and looked at each classroom. Students are mostly inside already, so just imagine them looking at me as I pass by. Actually, when I crossed Class A, I saw Natasha and Diana. Natasha tried to wave at me with the same joyous face, but Diana pulled her hand down and scowled. The fuck is her problem with me?
I shook my head and passed through Class C and just before I cross the door to Class D, Dominic appeared by the door while he talked to a guy. "Oh! Joaquin. Are you lost?"
Does it look like I'm lost? I'm definitely not because I can see the sign of Class E on the—
"Class E is this way!" He pulled me by the hand and ran to the room next to his. "It's here!"
Yeah, no shit, sherlock. I can read that.
Class E's room is in the furthest part, right next to the balcony and another set of stairs. The windows here are immaculately bigger and had a clear view of where the sea and the mountain meets.
"It's sad that we're not classmates, right? But since I'm from class D and my room is just next to yours, we don't need to worry about anything!" he said and patted my back with a strong force again.
It's like he can't read my poker face at all.
After that, he opened the sliding wooden door to my supposed room and pushed me inside. The sound of the students having fun stopped when they noticed me. They all stared in silence before Dominic yelled, "Hey, this is Joaquin, your new classmate! Be good to him, okay?!" He laughed and pointed at one of the students, "Especially you!" They then bickered back and forth; seems like the saying is real. Everyone here is very close.
I slowly made my way towards the back. Looking at each of their faces, I finally gave up. Not a single cutie is here, this is going to take a toll on my masculinity.
I sat down and eyed the window; next to me is an empty seat and the view from here enabled me to see each and everyone clearly. "Hey, Joaquin! I'm going now, good luck!" Dominic cheered. Jesus, why is he so enthusiastic? Does he think we're friends already? I looked away, avoiding him and only looking back when he left.
My eyes, unfortunately, hit the eccentric stares of everyone; they looked at me with agitated gazes.
I did a head count and figured out the numbers, there are only 17 students including me. Talk about a small town, eh?
We waited for a moment and finally, a teacher arrived. No, it's not like I'm excited to learn or study. It's just that their judging stares are creeping me. It's my first day here, so I need to act a little mighty to avoid trouble.
A woman entered the room; she had small eyes and a gentle smile. "Hello, everyone! Welcome back. I'm Sam, your literature teacher!" She greeted us and welcomed the new academic year, saying things like senior year is harder, blah... blah... blah...
Just then, she called me up front.
"Oh, right! We have a new student all the way from the city! Will you introduce yourself to the class?" she asked softly while looking at me. Having no choice, I nodded as a response and stood up.