Reapers -- Thirteen Brothers

2 – The New Girl

The week passed as though I was in a Pride and Prejudice scene—which was to say, unexciting. Dad spent most of the evenings driving around town to “familiarize with the area” as he put it. I think he was just making up an excuse to sneak in to Centralia so he could finally get his so-called inspiration. Without a doubt, the police must be patrolling the place. He would be in a ton of trouble if and when he got caught.

I rubbed my palms together and shoved them inside my jacket as Dad maneuvered the truck, his eyes straight on the road. An awkward silence filled the car the whole way to school. It had always been like that with Marcel. If he could help it, he would rather not say anything to me.

It was both an advantage and a disadvantage. As long as I abide by his rules, he wouldn’t bother me, meaning I could practically do everything I wanted given that I do them under his nose. But most of the time, I just felt ignored and alone.

All the while, I kept my eyes on the window. Ashland was a big comparison to Boston. Perhaps I just got so used to the busy streets and the tall city buildings that I couldn’t make myself at ease no matter how I tried.

Everywhere I looked, there were just grassy plains, some trees and more flat grass-covered lands. I felt so exposed as though a nuclear missile would just fall from the sky anytime.

As we arrived at the car park, Dad barely looked at me and mumbled “I’ll pick you up at four,” which was another way of saying “I can’t stand talking to you. Just get out of the car and fast.”

I nodded silently and got out of the truck like my life depended on it. Marcel stepped on it as though he just dropped a ticking time bomb. That was just so him.

I slung my backpack on my right shoulder, took a deep sigh and headed for the main entrance. North Schuylkill Senior High School stood before me in gray and white. You’d think I would be pretty much used to being the new girl in school by now but just thinking about it just made my stomach churn.

Before the parking lot got crowded, I headed inside. Luckily, I found the Student Affairs office easily and got my schedule. First class was Spanish which would be so very exciting if I wasn’t being sarcastic.

The teacher was already standing in front when I got to my first subject. The lady behind the desk in the Student Affairs mentioned that she was a substitute teacher.

Ms. Rosario Cruz

She wrote on the board. The teacher put the chalk down and fixed her hazel eyes at me through her rimless glasses. Miss Cruz must be in her late twenties though I couldn’t be entirely sure. She had tan skin and dark wavy hair tied up in a tight ponytail. If it weren’t for the stern look on her face, she might’ve been even beautiful.

“Well? Are you going in or not?” she asked with a hint of annoyance.

I should’ve said yes and entered inconspicuously, but instead mumbled something very intelligent like “I g-got lost.”

“You’re new.” She said it as though she found it amusing.

 Great. Just great.

“Being new and lost doesn’t excuse one for being late,” she added.

I would surely love this teacher.

I nodded, mumbled my apologies and got inside, silently hoping that my face wasn’t so red as I closed the door behind me. There was an empty chair at the back on the rightmost part of the room, just beside the window. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone as I headed to the back of the room, which was hard since everyone seemed to suddenly develop interest on either me or the empty seat.

A blond girl on the third row mouthed something at me but all I could make out was nosy lair or mossy hair so I kept my head down and placed my backpack under the table. But before I could sit down, Miss Cruz cleared her throat and called me.

“You! Yes, you there.” She seemed a little worried rather than annoyed now. “What did you say your name was? You could sit on the first row, right next to Carter.” Miss Cruz pointed to the second seat on the front row encouragingly.

“Uh… I didn’t tell you my name,” I replied hesitantly.

“Well? Tell us—and come sit here in front instead. We don’t get to have many new students in here, do we?” she said looking around forcing the rest of the class to mumble “sure” or “yeah well, whatever.”