The students were talking and moseying around until the classroom door opens, making all heads turn.
"Quiet class," a tall lanky woman said as she grabs a piece of chalk and began to write on the chalk board. The class quieted down, curious to what she was to write on the black board.
The woman cleared her throat before turning around and leaning on the podium. "I am Ms. Arvin. I will be your teacher this year." She introduces, grabbing a ruler and pointing to what was written on the board.
Ms. Arvin, it read.
Ethan took this time as she called role to look around the classroom. A few familiar faces from the previous years were here. "Alexandra Olive," Ms. Arvin called and a girl who had an interesting choice in clothing raised her hand with a following "here."
Different colored bows and nick knacks stuck in and out of her messy hair, which made Ethan raise an eyebrow. Every year, that girl surprises him with her fashion choice.
"Ryder Schottsman?" Ms. Arvin called and the whole classroom looked around confusedly as they looked for the boy. Ryder, Ethan was familiar with him. They had friendship or more accurately, a good aquantince. He was English; which made him a bit popular with the ladies as they found fond in his accent as it wasn't so strong.
"Irene Schottsman?" The class looked towards a girl with brown braids who wore a slight scowl. She looks reluctant as she rose her hand and uttered an, "here." Ethan studied her, he remembers this was the girl who bumped into him in the hallway. He hadn't known that she was Ryder's sister, but he does recall him mentioning her.
Something along the lines that his sister was coming back from England to stay after an event.
"Jack Paris." Jack raised his hand with smile and called, "here!"
"Ethan Pinwick." Ethan flinched slightly at his name being called but rose his hand and said, "here." He noticed some girls turn their heads towards him but he paid no mind. Ethan remained popular as he did since elementary, but it doesn't bother him anymore than it should.
He glanced over at Irene as Ms. Arvin continued with roll. She was looking out the window, unconsciously fiddling with her pencil. He turned his attention to who sat next to him. No one, must be Ryder then. Ethan thought as he looked at the empty desk.
"Alright class, let's do a simple get to know exercise for the first day." Ms. Arvin spoke with a smile as she came around and labeled each student with either a '1' or '2'.
"Can I get all my ones to come forward." Ms. Arvin spoke and the class was silent as everyone labeled with a one came to the front of the classroom, including Ethan.
"Now, you ones will choose a two to converse and get to know. I want to hear a discussion. Ask the questions, 'how old are you', 'what's your name', 'where are you from', and so on. Let's begin with you." spoke Ms. Arvin as she tapped Alexandra's shoulder.
The girl giggles as she scans the people left in their chairs. "Hm, you." She sing songs, going over and tapping a boy in the front. Ethan recognizes the boy as Liam Walker, who came to the school about a year ago.
Liam was a smart boy and Ethan and him often collaborated when it came to projects. Liam had ebony skin and blue eyes that contrasted well.
"Okay, next." Ethan was next and he was more curious than he should be about Ryder's sister. He silently walked over to the girl with brown braids, who was still gazing out the window. The class was silent and the girls were eyeing hawks.
"You." He chooses, catching her attention. She looks up at Ethan before her face scrunches into a scowl and she looks back out of the window.
Next was Jack Paris and he chose a boy Ethan was unfamiliar with, but Jack was a peoples boy and most likely knew the boy.
After everyone has chosen, Ms. Arvin instructs the conversations to begin and she walks around as the students talk.
Ethan sat at the desk next to hers and he scooted his chair closer to right side of her desk. He clears his throat and smiles slightly. "So, what may your name be?" He tries to ask, but is shot down by a glare and smart remark.
"Don't act like you didn' hear my name being called." She huffs and turns to him. What a hard person to converse with, he had thought but he kept his thoughts as thoughts.
"So, where are you from?" He presses, leaning against the desk slightly. He observes how she pauses slightly and her thin lips purse.
"Not obvious? I'm from England. Suppose Essex." She awnsers, going back to staring at the window.
"Hm, you have a soft accent. Did you use to live in the states?" Ethan questions, getting curious.
"Yes, so what? Leave me alone." She glances at him before hiding her face in her arms on the desk. Ethan decides to continue his questioning.
"How old are you?" He asks, looking down at her as she hid her face in her arms. No response. But she was obvious to be no older than fourteen by her hieght and her grade if Ethan had to take a guess.
"So, what happened to Ryder?" He questions, looking back at the desk next to his who was now occupied by Jack at the moment.
That seemed strike a cord in her as she suddenly stands up, making all heads turn towards her and she looks down at Ethan with a nasty glower. "You—! You are getting on my last nerves, Pinwick! I'm going to—!" She leans forward and he cowers back as she looks like she's about to swing.
"Hey, hey!" Ms. Arvin panics and mazes her way past the desks and she grabs Irene's wrist. "Ruth, go fetch the principal— or I don't know—another teacher!" Ms. Arvin instructs and the class erupts in murmurs and gossip. "Calm down, sit down. Ethan, go to the principals office." She says as she tries to get Irene to sit down and calm herself.
"Get away from me, Pinwick!" Irene hisses, stomping her foot on the ground.
"Fight!" Alexandra announces and the whole class goes into an uproar. "Fight? Ethan Pinwick?" Liam Walker gasps.
She got all worked up over a question about her brother? Ethan had wondered as he silently got up, still shook and made his way to the classroom door. What happened?, What was going on? He hears murmured across the classroom and he looks back to see Jack looking at him questionably.
As he walked through the halls, he kept his head down. His mother would most certainly not be happy if she is called up to the school. Or worse, his father would be called and give him a nice grounding. He didn't wish to disappoint his parents and he hadn't mean to make her snap.
He enters the principals office and is asked to take a seat. A couple minutes later, he sees his parents arrive into the office and he feels he wants to shrink and shrivel. How did his parents get here so fast? He had thought.
He could hear footsteps coming and he looks over his shoulder through the principals little window and he see Irene and the counselor, which he knew was Ms. Lady from previous years.
He moves out the way and they enter the room, Irene boring a deathly glare into him. He catches her gaze for a moment but he quickly looks away.
"Come into the counselor's office, please." The principal instructs, gesturing for Ethan and Irene to follow Ms. Lady. Ethan nervously glances to his side and sees his mother and father looking at him, disappointment written all over his mother's face. Before he enters the counselors room, he sees a lady with blonde hair enter the principals office.
He gulps and enters the counselor's office; neither can he ignore the glare that is boring into the side of his head from Irene.
"Have a seat, both of you." Ms. Lady says in a kind voice as she walks around the spruce desk and takes a seat in the springy cotton swivel chair. Ethan obediently sits and he glances over to Irene. Her legs are crossed and she holds a cold expression as she crosses her arms.
"Right, so your parents are discussing with Principal Fitzgerald. In the meantime, you two had an altercation as per your teacher has said. What caused this?" Ms. Lady questions, leaning against the desk and looking between them.
Irene did not speak and turned her head away defiantly so Ethan decided to talk instead. "Um, we were doing an assignment in class and I had asked her a question." He explains and casts his gaze downwards, keeping his hands on the wooden armrests.
"Hm…" Ms. Lady smiles and nods in an understanding manner. "Well, what did you— or rather, what did he ask you to make you react in such a way?"
Irene glances at her but stays silent.
"Er, well, I had asked what happened to her brother, Ryder as he isn't here today." Ethan had explained when he saw Irene wouldn't awnser.
"Ah, I see…" She trails off, sitting up. "Ryder Schottsman? Yes, i've heard about him. Why, but that doesn't warrant such a reaction." She explains with a brief shake of her head.
Ethan smiles weakly, "it's okay. Really. I shouldn't have asked." He says, placing a hand over his heart. Had been raised considerate, he had a big heart and did not enjoy holding others accountable.
Irene looks over at him and glares, uncrossing her arms. "Leave me alone." She huffs, but before she can say or do anything, Ms. Lady intervenes.
"Right, calm down Irene. It seems you two don't get along. Maybe we should split you two up. Irene, dear. Why don't we move you to a different classroom?" Ms. Lady offers with a smile, writing something down on a clip board.
"Oh, please! Get me away from this twat!" She snarls, gripping the armrest in quite a tight manner.
Ethan gulps and keeps his head down. "We shall make the arrangements. Ethan, your parents are waiting for you outside and Irene, please stay so I can speak with your parents." Ms. Lady says, her smile never once leaving her tan face.
"Yes, ma'am." Ethan whispers and quickly gets up to leave the awkward situation. He opens the heavy door and it closes behind him with a soft click.
He turns his gaze upwards and he finds his parents speaking standing aside the principal along with a blonde haired woman who he had assumed was Irene's mother.
"Come on, let's go." His father spoke up sharply and Ethan followed silently as he was led out the double doors. Him and his parents walked home silently and he could tell they were more than disappointed just by the tense atmosphere.
His mother lagged behind slightly and ruffled his chestnut curls, making him smile slightly. "It's okay, we heard about the altercation. You should be more mindful as sometimes others are sensitive." His mother speaks in a soft and welcoming manner.
This made his father looked over his shoulder. "Maraline, you are too soft with that boy. You shouldn't spoil him. He got in trouble on the first day, I say we ground him." Spoke his father in an indifferent monotone way before he began to walk again.
"Oh, mother, may I add I suggest she was in the wrong this time. I had done nothing to upset her, yet she lashed. I will accept it, I suppose. Making an enemy is not how I want to start out my year." He explained, looking up into her mahogany eyes. She smiles and pat his shoulder before catching up with his father, her house dress swishing slightly.
Ethan sighed softly and began walking along with his mother and father again. What a eventful first day of school it had it been. One which he will most definitely never forget.
When the chestnut haired boy is stressed, he likes to play with his golden bracelet that held a key charm. He absentmindly reached his left hand over to his right to fiddle with the bracelet, but lest his surprise when he couldn't feel it.
His eyes trailed downwards and low and behold, his bracelet was not where it had been this morning on his right wrist where it had always rested.
Where had his bracelet gone?
He couldn't lose it.