After Elliot

5: First Day

†

School. Today. Just breathe, Ana. We got this! Its been a couple of days since the mall trip, and every time Mrs. Cindy sees Liam and I together, she makes this expression likes she's expecting us to make-out or something.

Gross.

I wear my typical outfit, consisting of a baby blue button-up, black leggings, off-white Vans, and a beanie. I balance on the sides of my shoes, rocking back and forth slightly as I stand in Abraham Lincoln High School's main office. I hold the straps of my beige, canvas rucksack, pulling it forward then dropping it boredly as Mr. Greg and Mrs. Cindy file some sort of "new-kid" paperwork, as the totally professional secretary called it. I zone out as I stare at the oddly large digital clock on the wall, counting down the seconds before I escape this place- 11:57. I don't know why they insisted on bringing me here so late, but they did, so I've already missed half of my classes.

Just as the bell for fourth period rings, Greg faces me. "Here's your schedule, Analise," He hands a yellow paper to me and I merely glance at it, "Awesome." I say sarcastically low as I see that I'm in AP Calculus, "Didn't you get my transcript?" I ask the secretary, who gives me an odd look. "I already passed AP Calculus with a five on the AP Exam of it. I'm supposed to be in the higher math class." "Our school doesn't offer any courses higher in math than AP Calculus," She explains whilst filing her nails. "Then what am I going to do? Because I'm not sitting through a class that I passed with flying colors. No way," I argue back. I will not retake the nightmare that is calculus. She huffs, rolling her eyes and sliding to her computer, "I could switch it to where you're an aide in there. Would that suit you?" "Better than nothing." I shrug, watching Cindy and Greg's expressions. They seem taken aback by my rudeness and I just shrug to myself. Something about private schools made me irritated. That's probably why I never liked my school back in WI. She's about to print a new schedule, when I add, "I've also passed AP Chemistry, I should be in AP Physics." She sighs, types something else, then prints my new schedule, basically throwing it at me. I glance over it once more-

1- ENGLISH 12 AP- ELROD- J BUILDING

2- LATIN Ⅱ ACCESS- BLACKMON- MAIN BUILDING

3- CALCULUS AP AIDE- WATTS- MAIN BUILDING

4- ECONOMICS- NICHOLAS- MAIN BUILDING

5- AP PHYSICS- BARTON- J BUILDING

6- AP PSYCHOLOGY- GADDY- UNIT G

7- AP GOVERNMENT & STATISTICS/ AP ART HISTORY- CAMPOS- MAIN BUILDING

"Better?" She snorts, curling her lip up. "Yep," I say sarcastically bright, sneering back at her. I turn and face Greg and Cindy, smiling slightly, "I got it." "Where's Liam? He promised he'd take you to your classes," Cindy glances around for her son that ditched me thirty minutes ago. "It's fine, Cindy, I can find my classes. Thank you both for the support. I'm going to go find Econ," I half smile at them both before leaving the office, checking the signs on each door. Blackmon, Watts, Campos, Hanover, Rowe, Stokes, Nicholas. I heave out a breath before shakily opening the door. The teacher's head snaps towards my direction and I clear my throat awkwardly, "Hi, I'm Analise Gates, your new student?" I say it more like a question than a statement. He glances down at his books and nods, "Yes, the one from Wisconsin. Take a seat. You're late." "I'm only late because I was enrolling," I mumble, making my way to a desk in the back by the large window.

I sit my stuff down, hurriedly sinking into my chair before I cause anymore commotion. He continues to talk about our course for the year and I tune him out as I glance around the room. I spot Liam in the very back goofing around with group of guys around him. Ian is seated at the front with most of the girls, all of them staring at him with want and the occasional sigh. He doesn't seem to notice as he watches the teacher. My phone suddenly vibrates from my backpack, and I glance around before pulling it out.