The Real Evie Chase (Part 1, ON GALATEA)

5

Surprisingly, I was ten minutes early. Looked like I'd totally overestimated the amount of time it took to get here.

Nobody was looking at me as I got out of the car. It was nothing like grade school when everyone went out of their way to be friends with the new kid. Right now, it was like I didn't even exist, same way it used to be, and I really liked it that way.

My ears felt hot and were ringing as I avoided looking in the direction of the courtyard and got to the third step in front of the giant double doors that made up the school's entrance. The laughs, shouts, whistles, and hollers of everyone inside rattled me to the core, but it was too late to turn back now.

I felt like I was going to throw up. I needed to keep reminding myself that this was for my own good. That this was a break.

As I walked the thirty feet from the door to the main office, I did my best to look out for Adam and Grace so that I could avoid them.

I pushed my way to the glass door separating the secretary and other school staff from the chaos outside their office, getting some side-stares and curious glances. Now everyone was registering the new girl. I mean, I was coming into the school a couple weeks after the year started, and as a senior, my arrival probably looked fishy.

I was greeted by silence when the office door finally shut behind me. There was a thin young woman behind the desk chomping away at her gum, listening to some music with one earpiece. Her acrylic nails clicked and clacked along her computer keys as her eyes shifted between paperwork next to her and the screen.

Clutching the strap of my messenger bag tightly, I inched my way over to her. I hoped she would notice me. Even if my accent wasn't terrible, the thought of speaking made me more nervous. Eventually, I had to clear my throat a couple times to get her attention.

"Can I help you?" Her voice was sharp and nasal, and her eyes bored into me.

"Yeah. I, uh, I just transferred here from Boston. Today's my first day. I'm pretty sure my transcripts were sent and everything."

She popped her gum and pushed her seat back. "Your name?"

"Brittany Ma'shall," I cringed at how forced I sounded when pronouncing 'Marshall'. Maybe I wasn't as great at the accent as I thought. I wondered if this lady could hear my heart pounding louder than a bass drum in my chest.

She went to the file cabinet at the back of the room and sifted through the manila folders. Within seconds, she'd fished one out. Just before she could open it, a voice boomed from behind me. "Oh, Miss Marshall, you're here!"

The stress I felt instantly faded, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Turning around, I practically ran into the arms of the one person I'd nearly forgotten about, but suddenly felt I could trust more than anyone in the world. Principal Sanders—salt and pepper hair, 70s style clothes, and all.

Mom had let her in on my secret, and if she hadn't known, I most likely would've told her anyway. Back when I was in the elementary to middle school transition, and my anxiety was at its worst, Principal Sanders (who at the time hadn't been promoted from middle to high school principal yet) had been extremely helpful and understanding. She'd let me come sit in her office to do my work whenever I couldn't handle sitting in class.

She took my folder from the secretary and gestured towards the office behind her. I followed her inside.

"I'm sorry about Rachel. I was supposed to handle everything for you and didn't expect you to get here so soon. Though, I don't know how your file got shuffled with the rest." She closed the office door.