Splinters: Part One

Part One | 4

"Not boy-toy. Brayden."

The girl jumped. "Oh! Not boy-toy! Brother! Hi! I'm Bella."

"Hi." I breathed, waving to her slightly.

The girl gave me a genuine smile as Ursanne turned to me. "Let's get your schedule, Brayden."

She linked onto my arm and pulled me inside Constance. It was bustling with students, conversations happening everywhere you looked. I wasn't even paying attention when we made it to the front desk. 

"Hi, Mrs. P!"

A woman turned in her chair. Her name tag read Penelope. "Ursa, how may I help you?"

Ursanne nudged her head towards me. "You know the new family member?"

"I did hear about a brother." She smiled at me. "I'm Mrs. P."

I gave her a tight smile.

Ursanne looked at me weird and then turned back to the woman. "Anyway, Mrs. P., Brayden needs his schedule."

"Ah. I had that set out somewhere..."

The woman searched through a box full of manila folders and took one out. She looked through some pieces of paper and then handed one to us.

"Here you are. Make sure to say hello to your folks for me."

It was odd hearing someone say such a thing to me. I never thought I'd have to get used to something like that. Ursanne handed the piece of paper to me and then said she'd see me later.

"Wait! Ursanne!"

She stopped, startled at my abrupt panic.

I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice. "I-I don't know where to go."

She looked at my schedule and then told me to follow her. She and I trailed down numerous hallways, which was already giving me a headache, and then stopped at an old wooden door. She handed the paper to me again.

"You might need to look at the maps. They're on each door. And of course, ask someone for help. This is your first class. Have fun!"

She turned away.

"Wait! Ursanne!"

She must've not heard me or was in a hurry because she was gone in seconds. Slowly, I turned towards the door, but before I could enter a long line of students kept entering. Awkwardly, I waited for everyone to go through before going in myself. The room was large, desks occupied with tens of faces I'd never seen. I anxiously stood next to the door. It shut with a loud thud behind me, making me jump.

"I heard about a new student coming," an old voice exclaimed. "I'm Mr. Richmond. Welcome to American Literature. You must be Brayden Pierson."

I turned, looking at a man who seemed to be in his fifties.

"Um..." My throat was suddenly dry. "Y-yeah."

A few giggles were heard around the room. I felt my face heat in embarrassment.

"Go ahead and take any seat.."

I didn't reply. Instead, I took a seat in a spot near the back by myself. A couple girls glanced at me from the front and then began whispering to their friends.

The teacher began talking and writing a few things on the board. I wasn't sure what to do. I watched as everyone took out notebooks and began writing things down. I looked into my backpack which did have a notebook and a pencil. I silently thanked Melissa for putting it all together for me, but in the end, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to write so I just stayed still.