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We stood in the car park, staring at the building before us.
"Sigh, I'm already feeling dizzy just looking at it," Emma said, rolling her eyes dramatically. We all laughed.
As we walked inside, we headed to the auditorium to collect our schedules. My stomach dropped when I realized I didn't have any classes with Emma or Olivia.
"Sigh, looks like I'll be flying solo," I muttered.
Emma and Olivia exchanged sympathetic looks. They both knew how hard it was for me to talk to new people. Being in a class full of strangers, with no one to talk to, would be torture for someone like me.
"Cheer up," Emma said with a comforting smile. "We can meet up at recess and catch up, okay?"
The bell rang, signaling it was time to part ways. While they moved on confidently, I lingered, unsure of what to do. Finally, I forced myself to move, navigating the crowded hallway in search of my classroom. But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find it.
"Lost?" a voice behind me asked.
I turned to see a boy in a grey jacket smiling at me.
"Yeah, I'm looking for the English class," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, that's where I'm heading. Follow me," he said, walking ahead.
"By the way, I'm Mike," he added, looking over his shoulder.
"I'm Alisa," I replied.
"A pretty name for a pretty girl," he said with a wink. "I hope I see you around, Alisa."
I couldn't help but smile. He felt like my savior—I might've wandered for hours without him.
We reached the classroom, and Mike joined a group of his friends while I found a seat near the window. I was lost in thought when a soft voice interrupted me.
"Mind if I sit here?"
I looked up to see a girl with kind eyes standing beside me.
"I don't mind," I said with a smile. "But I won't be lonely even if you don't sit here."
She laughed as the teacher called for attention, and class began.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn't focus. My mind kept spinning scenarios of all the things that could go wrong in high school—being bullied by popular girls, losing my friends, or worse, becoming a social outcast.
Before I knew it, the bell rang.
"Hey, Alisa! Want to have lunch with us?" Mike asked as I packed my things.
He was surrounded by three boys and two girls. The girls glanced at me with unreadable expressions, which immediately sent my anxiety skyrocketing. Were they mad at me because Mike had noticed me?
I hesitated. "No, thanks. I'm meeting my friends."
Walking to the cafeteria alone, I spotted Emma waving at me. I hurried over and sat beside her.
"Where's Ava?" I asked.
"She's at the principal's office," Olivia said without looking up from her book.
"Wait, Ava? In trouble already? I thought it'd be you, Emma."
"True, true," Emma said, grinning. "But nope, not me this time. So, how was your first class?"
"It was okay," I said. "I met a boy who helped me find my way. He's nice."
"Ooooh, interesting!" Emma teased.
"Don't get any ideas," I warned, just as someone called my name.
"Alisa!"
I turned to see Mike walking toward us. My heart skipped a beat.
"Mike? What are you doing here?"
"I left my friends to have lunch with you," he said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Emma's and Olivia's jaws dropped.
"That's suspicious. Why are you being so nice to me? We barely know each other," I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Because I know you, and that's all that matters, Little Nugget," he said with a grin.
"Little Nugget?" I repeated, stunned.
"That's your nickname now," he declared, sitting down beside me.
"Uh, Mike, these are my friends—Emma and Olivia," I said awkwardly.
"Hi, nice to meet you," Mike said warmly, shaking their hands.
Before we could continue, Ava stormed into the cafeteria.
"I hate this! I hate this! I hate this!" she fumed, dropping her bag onto the table.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I got assigned community service because I accidentally hit the principal's car. It's so unfair!"
"How does that even happen?"
"Well, I wanted to take my car for a spin before class, and… things went south," she admitted, groaning. "Now I'm stuck cleaning for a week."
"Ava, this is Mike," I said, introducing them.
Ava's frustration melted into an awkward smile as she shook his hand.
We spent the rest of lunch laughing and chatting. When it was time to return to class, Mike offered to walk me to my next one.
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