Nico sat board at her desk tapping her pencil on her desk and starring at the clock. Fifteen minutes into Mr. Daniels AP U.S. History Class had felt like an hour, and it was also only the first day of school after summer break. It was the first day back at East Dillon High School and also the first day of Nico Collette's senior year of high school. Nico looked over at her best friend Jess who was busy trying to text on her cell phone under her desk.
"Ugh is there ever a moment when your not either texting Vince, talking about Vince, or spending time with Vince", Nico whispered to her which Jess just answered with a smile and a nauseating giggle. "Don't be jealous because your lonely and bitter", Jess playfully snapped back.
Even though Nico knew Jess was playing she could help but let the comment sting a little, it had been a three weeks since Alex, her boyfriend since she was a freshman had dumped her before he moved to Dallas to attend Rice University, the typical "We should see other people/ I don't want to be tied down/ Your three hours away/ still in high school" excuse. It had hurt like hell when he blew it off, he was her first boyfriend and her first everything and it seemed like she was never going to get over him, well, certaintly not anytime soon.
Just then Mr. Daniels interrupted her thoughts "Class we have a new student in class his name is Hastings", motioning to a tall boy in a beanie and vintage t-shirt, certaintly not a boy from Dillon where the common uniform was either a football jersey, plaid flannel, and cowboy boots.
"Hastings if you could please take the seat next to Ms. Collette in the back", as the teacher motioned towards the empty desk on the other side of Nico in the last row in the back of the class. The boy smirked and walked towards the desk with a slow saunter that suggested he was aware that every girl in class was staring at him, this caused Nico to roll her eyes and not give him look at the front of the class completely ignoring him.
Nico went back to daydreaming and doodling in her notebook when she's interrupted with a "Hey", from the new boy. Pissed at being interrupted from her wallowing in self pity over Alex, Nico turned to the new boy and muttered a tight lipped "Hey" right back. "I'm Hastings, what your name", he whispered with a soft smile giving her a not so discreet once over. "It's Nico", she replied avoiding his gaze and trying everything in her power not to grimace out loud, just her luck that she would have to sit next to the new guy who was obviously a player and total tool.
Finally, it was 11:20 and the unbearably long hour and fifteen minutes was over and Nico couldn't hurry to the front of the classroom fast enough before being stopped by Mr. Daniels right before she has her foot out the door. "Ms. Collette, may I have a word, you to Mr. Ruckles" Mr. Daniels asked just as Nico sighed loudly "Hastings Ruckle?" Nico thought to herself "what kind of name is that anyways?".
"Ms. Collette I was wondering if you could help Hastings here get settled in to East Dillon maybe give him some of your notes, and help him with a few of his first assignments for the class, since you're my best student and all" Mr. Daniels asked.
Nico didn't know what to feel angry or embarrassed or both but she definitely knew she wanted to shoot Mr. Daniels for making her seem like a teacher's pet and a loser. "Uhm I'm not sure if I have the time", Nico said starring down "Yeah that would be a great idea Mr. Daniels", Hastings replied with a smirk that made Nico want to disappear in thin air.
"Uhm okay sure I guess I can, yeah I'll help him out for a little while", Nico muttered still refusing to look at Hastings. "Thanks so much Ms. Collette you'll be helping us both out a lot, you are both free to go now" Mr. Daniels said. Nico couldn't rush out of the class fast enough and practically ran to the cafeteria to meet up with Jess and Vince and the rest of the annoyingly loud and obnoxious East Dillion Lions football team.