I inhaled shakily as I grabbed my bag from the living room about to step out.
"You seriously need to stop panicking. I can feel those tension rubbing off on me." Diane chided as she fixed her hair before strapping her bag.
I found out after Diane had told me we were attending the same school that Paul had arranged for us to stay together in an apartment he had purchased near the school. I had rejected it at first but when he mentioned Diane was also going to live there with me, I could not reject it. At least I would not be sharing a room with a stranger.
I sighed.
"I can do this. " I hopped on my foot and Diane threw me a grin.
"Keep repeating that and you will be fine." She said as we stepped out of the apartment. "It is such a shame we are not in the same class though but I can always come over. " she piped, bouncing around me.
"Yeah, you can. "
"I cannot believe we are in the same school. " She squealed for the hundredth time we packed in together.
I was thankful for having her next to me as she chatted excitedly about random stuff she had planned for us.
After reporting to the administrative office, we were shown our lockers and teachers.
Good luck." Diane mouthed as we followed our respective teachers and I threw her a nervous grin.
Exhaling deeply, I tailed behind Miss Millie, a tall and beautiful lady who looked like those of those models on fashion magazines.
"We are doing this. " I muttered to myself repeatedly as we passed through the corridors.
Students stared at me as I walked by them and some peeked through the open windows of their classrooms making me more nervous than I was.
I had been excited about entering Crestwood and I still was but... I was damn nervous.
"Calm down . " Someone spoke up and I glanced forward and met with Millie's calm gaze. "Take in a deep breath and release all that tension. " she whispered calmly and I did as she instructed. "I get how you are feeling but they do not bite. However, if you are having a hard time adjusting, you can meet with me. "
"Really?" I piped and she nodded her head in an assuring manner.
"Now let us get this over with. " she smiled before opening a door beside us.
Exhaling deeply, I followed her inside, and dear Lord the way they all turned their eyes to me almost had me running out.
Shyly I bowed my head as Millie told me to introduce myself.
"I am Tora Aurora and it is nice to meet you all. " I spoke up.
There was something about me that even if I was peeing in my pants with fear, my voice would not project the nervous battle in me and that gave me a little confidence most times and today was not an exception.
Raising my eyes to the class, I saw some smiles while some kept a straight face and I could not help but drop my head back down.
"I hope you guys get along. " Millie chipped in, rubbing her palms together. "You can sit there. " she pointed at an empty seat beside the window.
Throwing her a shy smile, I walked to the seat thankful that it was at the corner of the class.
"Settle down guys let us begin." Their teacher began as I sat down and I felt someone tap on my shoulder softly. I turned my head back a bit to look at the person.
"Nice meeting you as well. " the brown-haired guy smiled widely as he stretched his hand for a handshake and threw him a small smile extending my hand to him. "Aaron."
"Oh, it is nice to meet you too. "
He was about to say something when Millie spoke from the front. "Aaron spare the girl. "
Holding his hands up in a manner of surrender, he smiled widely at her. "Yes ma'am. "
At the same time, a paper was thrown at him and I chuckled lightly.
"If you need assistance with anything, I am available. " He whispered nonetheless and I nodded with the smile still plastered on my lips.
I guess it is not as bad as I thought.
Periods went by with teachers inquiring who I was I had to introduce myself a thousand times while Aaron kept whispering what he supposed to be fun facts about each of them.
"Liv make sure those notes get to my table before the end of the lunch break and you all... " Cade, a tall lanky man who taught history paused and looked at the faces of the students. "Do your assignments. " he said and we all groaned.
"First day, first week. It is the first day of resumption and you are giving out assignments? Really? " A blonde boy with freckles scattered on his cheekbones murmured loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Really." The teacher nodded before making his way out and I caught the boy flashing his middle finger at him.
"Are you coming for lunch? " Aaron said as he walked to my table.
Now that I can see him I realize that he was taller than I had imagined him to be.
"I dunno. " I shrugged as I went back to my notebook.
"Why? " he wrapped his arms around his torso as his eyebrows went up inquisitively.
"Well, I am new here and I hardly know anyone also, I hate to be where I am not welcomed so to prevent being treated like an outcast I am staying."
"Come on. They are not that bad. " he defended them and I cocked my head to the side. "Okay maybe most kids here are just as you are thinking, it does not stop you from mingling with the rest. "
"Still I prefer the solitude. "
"Too bad I do not approve. "
"Join us." The boy with freckles walked up to us.
"Yeah, I seriously need a company. " A girl in glasses joined us.
"What are we?" Aaron asked pointing at himself and the other boy.
"Boys full of ego. " She said winking at me and I chuckled
"Seriously Zara. "
"Yeah seriously. " she smiled before turning to me. Closing the books in front of me she said. "Now I do not want to hear any arguments from you. You are eating with us. " She said with a tone of finality and the boys wowed.
Pulling me up, they led me to the cafeteria.
The group turned out to be fun and I loved the way they pulled me into the discussion like we have known each other for a long time.
"What about Lim? "The freckles, who I found out his name to be Sam.
Zara shook her head as she placed her hands on the table."I do not know I think he...oh there he is. Lim! "
Turning my head in the direction she waved, my jaw dropped.
It was those blue eyes again. The guy I met at the basketball court.
"Hey, guys. " He waved at them with a broad smile on his face.
When those blue eyes met mine I think they contrasted.
"Lim, this is Tora. Tora, Lim. " Aaron introduced us and I closed my eyes.
Taking a breath, I opened my eyes and smiled at him. "Hi."
*********************************
Throughout lunch, I could feel his gaze on me and it took a lot of strength not to look back. I was sure he was confused. I was relieved when he left to attend to something but I could not stop thinking as the rest of the day went by.
"You need a ride home? " Zara came up to me asking.
"No, I am fine. I live not so far from here. "
"Okay cool. I will be going now."
"Bye." I waved at her which she returned.
When I packed my books into my bag, I gave Diane a call asking her to meet me at the gate when she was done. As I walked through the almost empty corridor, I began to feel weird like someone was staring at me from behind and when I looked back I found nothing as the other students were preparing to go home.
Shaking the weird thought from my head, I continued walking. A hand suddenly pulled me into a dark corner, covering my mouth to prevent the screams I let out.