Broken Silence

Me: Not bad. Eating dinner with my foster mom before going upstairs to freak out about school tomorrow.

Abby: Hey, you’re already ahead of most new girls, you have a friend! I usually hang out with my best guy friends. Adam, Cole, and Trey are cool, though. Don’t worry.

Me: Good point. And I can’t wait to meet them. Hopefully the silence won’t be weird.

Abby: They won’t care.

Sophia’s phone starts ringing and she lets out an annoyed grumble before answering.

“No,

those files are for the Renaldi case!” Her lawyer voice is at full force as she gives me an apologetic smile and runs off. Knowing how long that will likely take, I finish off my food before searching for a container to save the leftovers in, because she wasn’t kidding about the amount of pasta she made. After it’s put away, I turn on music and start in on the dishes. She still doesn’t come out so I jot a note that I wrapped up her plate and put it in the fridge, before heading upstairs.

I’m so anxious I start doing everything I can to distract myself, from picking out outfits then putting them back and trying again, to taking a shower and painting my nails, to pacing for no reason. When I finally try to go to bed, I grab my phone to set an alarm and see another text from Abby. A smile spreads on my face and those butterflies come back.

Abby: Don’t worry too much, they’ll all think you’re amazing, like I do. Goodnight, Sweets.

Settling under my covers, I have every intention of reading until I get tired enough, but somehow fall asleep easily.

Monday

Morning

Charlie

“Have a good day, honey. The office is near the front entrance, so go there first,” Sophia says with a wave before driving off. My gaze follows her car as she leaves, before I take a deep breath and walk inside. As soon as I enter the building I realize how much bigger this school and student body is than my old one. Crowds of chatting students flow by, forcing me to keep moving, which is probably for the best. It cuts out any hesitation I might have had.

The campus has an odd layout. It’s one main building in the middle and off to each side is a smaller building connected by a covered walkway. The other two buildings connect to the school’s gym in the back, forming a diamond shape.

As I walk, I scan the signs over the doors until I spot the office. I enter and hand the secretary my papers, glad she does little more than take it. She looks at it for a moment before giving me a warm smile. Danielle promised me that she made sure my enrollment was finished and indicated that I use sign language to communicate. Maybe that will be easier for the teachers to understand. I’m sure they sent something out to each of them. At least I really hope they did. They’d offered me a translator, but since I can hear fine, I declined.

My old teachers weren’t as understanding since they knew I used to speak just fine and assumed it was me being stubborn. That’s the funny thing about when a tragedy hits a small town. The town and gossip move on from the tragedy when the next news hits, forgetting all about it. The family that it happened to doesn’t forget that easily, though.

Of course, those trying to help had no trouble telling me to move on. Like it’s some easy task. My past is something I relive every night, so it’s hardly something I can just forget and move on from quickly… if ever.

“Okay dear, smile so I can get your ID picture.” She holds up a webcam and snaps a photo before I can even truly smile. After clicking a few buttons, my ID comes out from the small printer next to her computer. She punches a hole and threads a school lanyard through it, working with a well practiced efficiency.

“Make sure you keep this handy, all students are required to wear it and today you’ll have to verify yourself and show it to your teachers, and every day you scan this in the cafeteria before you pay as well. Here is a campus map and your enrollment copies. I circled your locker on your map, and your combination is written at the bottom. Hand a copy of your enrollment form to each teacher today. If you have any questions, head back to me, and I will try to help. Here are all of your books. Have a good day, Miss Hendricks,” she finishes with a smile and hands me a stack of books, before turning back to her computer.

Grabbing the stack of books, I follow the map to my locker. Thankfully they put it next to my first class of the day. Of course, the map is a bit confusing and it takes a minute before I finally find my locker. My eyes flicker to the combination and I drop the books at my feet and twist the dial to unlock it. Of course, when I take the lock off, the locker itself won’t budge. I try a few more times, but it still won’t work. Growling in frustration, I pick up my books and turn to walk away.

“I had that locker last year, give it a hard tap right here and it loosens the hinges,” a guy says from behind me, pointing at the spot he wants me to tap. Hoping he isn’t just messing with me, I test it out and the locker groans but finally swings open. I swing around and give him a triumphant grin before turning back to my now open locker. Relieved to finally not have to carry the huge stack of books, I quickly put away the ones I won’t need until after lunch. Finally ready, I give the guy a quick wave and hurry off to class. I don’t want to be late on the first day, especially if I have to hand these out.

I manage to walk in just before the final bell rings. Glancing around, I spot the middle-aged teacher and hand him my form. He quickly reads it over and directs me to an empty seat in the middle of the room. I sit down, thanking god that he doesn’t try and introduce me to everyone.

“Hey,” the guy in the desk next to me says, giving a small nod. I just smile quickly and focus my attention on getting my notebook and history book out. “Do you like living here?” he asks, not so subtly trying to get my attention again. Trying to hide my frustration, I nod again.

Maybe it isn’t a good thing the professor didn’t mention me.

“Hey, new girl!” a girl says from my other side. I give her a quick smile, my nerves amping up until my pulse is pounding in my ears and making me feel lightheaded. “Where are you from?” I pull out my notebook and write down my answer and show her. She gives me an odd look but isn’t put out enough to stop talking, at least. “Do you like it here so far?” Another nod has her doing the usual annoyed huff and look, before finally turning away.

Well that was quick.

By lunch time, I’m a lot less positive about this place than I was this morning. I’ve gotten a handful of people annoyed with me already, but at least I don’t have anyone threatening to fight me. So, progress, I guess?

Trying not to get too down, I make my way to the cafeteria. At least there will be one friendly face today. As I walk up, I search for Abby. Apparently I beat her here, so I wait near the doors, getting curious looks from everyone who passes me. Apparently Arcadia Hills is a smaller town than I thought if everyone is so sure I’m new.

“Sorry!” Abby says as she jogs up to me, out of breath. I glance up, relief flooding me. “I got held up after class, and I am soooo not athletic.” She huffs, bending over with her hands on her knees for a second before she regains her composure. “Hungry?” she asks as we walk into the cafeteria.