Hi! This is my first story on here, so I hope everyone likes it! I'm still trying to figure out how Fanfiction works, so please bear with me. ^.^'
Chapter One
Don't bow, don't bow, don't bow...
"Class, today we have a new student."
Don't bow, don't bow, don't bow...
"I hope you can all make her feel welcome," the teacher continued. "Her name is July Ame."
July winced. Again, her name was pronounced wrong. Her teacher had said it as July Ah-mee, but really it was pronounced Julie Ah-meh. Not seeing her wince, the teacher turned to her and continued, "Would you like to introduce yourself a little?"
July walked up to the teacher. She had an Asian look, but whether she was Japanese or Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese, people could never tell until she told them. Along with being Asian, she was smaller than average for her age. Fighting the urge to bow, she spoke loudly, a little too loudly out of nerves, "My name is actually July Ame." She pronounced it correctly. "In Japanese, Ame means rain. I'm seventeen, and I just moved here from being in Japan for a few years- I lived in California before then, and was actually born here in New York." Mentally, July winced. She was babbling again. "I also like journalism and writing." She concluded, stoping herself from saying anything else.
Ms. Walter smiled at her. "We have a newspaper group here, I'm sure you'll find something that interests you. Please take a seat." She gestured to one of the empty seats near the back. July chose one by the window and sat down, keeping to herself while quietly getting her supplies out. Ms. Walter was starting to move on with the lessons.
"Pst, hey," whispered the girl next to her. She had stringy brown blond hair and big hazel eyes behind wire framed glasses, and was wearing ripped jeans and a yellow shirt with a smiley face on it.
July glanced at the front, but Ms. Walter wasn't looking. She turned back to the girl and whispered, "Hi," back with a small wave and a smile.
Quickly, the girl scribbled a note and passed it to her. It read, My name's Kayla. July looked back up and Kayla gave her a smile. Then she wrote another note. This time it said, So you like writing? Journalism? July nodded and was given another note. Lunchtime, meet me in the library. Bring your food. July gave her a full grin before noticing Kayla's hurried dive back into her textbook. She turned in time to see their teacher slowly walking up the table rows, seeing how the students were doing. Quickly, she copied Kayla and started to read.
A few minutes had passed before Ms. Walter stopped at a desk a few tables in front of July. She couldn't see the girl's face, but she saw long red hair tied in a ponytail and a yellow shirt with white stripes on the sleeves. And she saw that the girl's head was lying on her desk.
"Miss O'Neil." Ms. Walter said strongly, standing right in front of her. She repeated the name one more time before finally shouting, "April O'Neil!"
The girl's head snapped up and she looked around as if wondering where she was. July noticed she wore a yellow headband that matched her shirt. Students laughed, though the teacher didn't see anything funny about it.
Ms. Walter pursed her lips, then asked, "Do you have trouble sleeping at night, Miss O'Neil? This is the third time this week that you've fallen asleep in my class!"
"Sorry, Ms. Walter," July heard her mumble. "I'll try going to bed earlier."
Ms. Walter sighed and spoke softly, "Meet me after class." Then she went back to the front of the room and continued the lesson.
The bell rang. Sighing, April began to put away her things, but stayed in her seat until everyone else left. What was she going to tell her teacher? She'd spent most of the night practicing a move Master Splinter had taught her that day. He let her go home early, as it was a school night, but she wanted to keep practicing because she couldn't get the hang of it. In the end, she didn't get to sleep until two in the morning. From school to homework to training with Splinter, and practicing on her own, April's day just got busier and busier; she couldn't help it if she started falling asleep in class.
Ms. Walter walked up to the desk in front of April and sat down facing her. "So, is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
When April didn't answer right away, Ms. Walter continued, "April, you're a very bright student, even getting honors in certain subjects, but you know sleeping in class is unacceptable."
"I know," April managed to get out, "I guess I'm just working a lot, and a bit stressed, honestly. There's a lot going on in my day, and it's been affecting my sleep schedule."
Ms. Walter smiled warmly. "Well, I suggest not overworking yourself. It's alright to pace and go slowly if you need to. I know you'll still do well." Ms. Walter stood up and headed back to the front of the class, where her desk was. April got up and followed her, sighing quietly.
The teacher pulled out a slip and started scribbling on it, explaining, "I'm writing you a pass in case you get to your next class late." She handed it to April, who took it and thanked her. Then she hurriedly rushed out so she could at least attempt to get to second period class on time.