Trapped in the Afterlife

Chapter 12- First Routine, Last Terror

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Sorry about the wait, the chapter has been typed for a while now but I was struggling with the title. However, thanks to the support and help from a friend, I was able to bring to you: First Routine, Last Terror.

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I spent the first hour of the day in the administration's office listening to the head of the school lecture me on the rules and etiquette to follow. After his never ending 'bla-bla' we proceeded to signing my official entry forms with my newly selected name, he gave me my class schedual, handed me a yellow slip to explain my late arrival and sent me on my way.

During the last few weeks, Alexanne and I had spent a little time bonding over movies. In the movies with new students, they were given a guide for their first day. Thanks to those movies, I was sort of expecting that. Instead, I ended up standing alone in an empty hallway. I checked my time-table to see what class I was supposed to be in, checked its' door number, looked around me at the numbered doors and headed in the direction I thought was right.

When I finally made it to my first class, the teacher interrupted the lesson to present me. I was surprised and happy when she introduced me as 'Emma Thorne', omitting the unknown aspect of who I was. Somehow, it made me feel like I was really 'Emma Thorne' rather than Jane-Doe34054 with a fake name. I took the first empty seat I spotted and the day went on.

At the begining of every class, I was introduced by the teacher to a new group of students. During the break, I sat by my locker and read the book we'd been assigned in English. No one spoke to me and I was too unsure and shy to speak with anyone either. Lunch was spent similarly, sitting alone at a table, eating and reading. The last hour and a half of classes was spent with a tutor who helped me review everything that had been looked over during the day. Finally the final bell rang and I was released into the wilderness of the hallway with all the other students eager to leave the building.

I tried to hurry up as much as I could to get to my locker, gather my things and catch my ride so that I did not make whoever it was wait too long. I had only made it to the hallway in which my locker was located in when I realized that I wouldn't have to make anyone wait; Jay was already waiting for me, leaning casually against my locker. I smiled and made my way to him.

''Hi!'' I greeted him.

''Hey.'' he greeted back, moving aside so that I could open my locker. ''How did it go?''

I took my time to gather my things, thinking my answer through. How had my day gone? I stood up straight again, throwing my bag over my shoulder and looked at him, unsure. ''Good... I think?'' I tried.

He laughed, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and lead me towards the exit. ''Alright, lets try and make this a little more clear. Did you like your first day?'' he asked keeping his eyes in front so as not to run into anyone.

''Hum, I think so?'' I answered in a nervous laughter. How did I know if I had liked it? ''It was rather simple. Go to classes and learn, thats it.''

''Made any friends?'' he asked, glancing at me with a wild grin on his face. Why was he grinning?

''No, I didn't speak to anyone today other than the teachers and my tutor.'' We came out of the doors, out into the crisp fall air. The sun was still shinning brightly, affording some warmth.

Jay slipped his arm off my shoulder, removing my bag at the same time and swung it over his own. ''You should talk to people. You'll need to make some friends other than us.''