Elara closed her eyes, still thinking back to the music she had practiced with Miss Helen.
"She is a good pianist," Elara thought, giggling to herself.
"Something funny, Miss Elara?" Elara heard, snapping back to the present, where she saw the whole class staring at her, waiting for an answer.
"Oh no, sir. It's nothing," she said meekly.
"Perhaps you would like to share your thoughts so that we can giggle with you?" the teacher asked, his tone hinting at sarcasm. Elara felt embarrassed as she shook her head, hoping the earth would swallow her up at that instant.
"It won't happen again, sir," she said apologetically.
"Perhaps you could focus your thoughts on what's on the board?" The teacher suggested, gesturing to the diagrams Elara had missed due to her daydreaming.
Looking at the board, Elara saw a plethora of diagrams, confused as to when they had appeared. She had never paid attention, too caught up in her thoughts, and now she was caught off guard.
"I...I...I have no idea, sir," she stammered.
"If you'd pay more attention, you would know that we were discussing the nitrogen cycle and how it's replenished in the atmosphere," the teacher explained.
"She's daydreaming about her boyfriend," a voice piped up from the back.
"Maybe the boy she plays violin with. Right, Violin Girl?" The whole class erupted in laughter. Elara recognized the voice - it was the bully who had called her "Violin Girl" that morning, and now he had made the name known to the whole class as a point of mockery.
Ken had said this new place could feel like a new home, but this was surely hell on earth.
"Alright, alright, everyone, that's enough," the teacher intervened, taking control of the situation. "Miss Elara, make sure to listen attentively from now on. Let's continue."
Elara was on the verge of tears, fighting them back but unable to hold back the ones in her left eye. She quickly wiped them away, but her zeal to learn had been quenched like an extinguisher putting out a fire. All she hoped for was for the final bell to ring so she could get on with her day. This was not the ideal first day she had been looking forward to.
Eventually, the last bell sounded, and everyone rushed towards the main entrance to head home. Elara walked towards the entrance, receiving unfriendly comments and mockery about being "Violin Girl." Her eyes swelled in tears as she rushed through the hallway.
Ken pulled up in the car park and got out to receive her bags. He didn't notice her face, eager to ask about her first day in obliviousness.
"So, how was today?" he asked, getting into the driver's seat and placing his keys in the ignition. Before he could start the car, he faced his stepdaughter, noticing tears on her left eye.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" he said in concern, leaning over to draw her closer. "What's wrong? What happened today?"
Author: Adams__SDA
(Sorry for the late updates. The Violinist is fully back)