McKenna Brooks was on her way to her first day at Mesa High. She was going to be a junior there. She'd transferred from Texas to Arizona thanks to her dad's new job. McKenna was still really angry with him for not even talking to her about the transfer,nor the quick deadline before they moved. The twosome packed their stuff up the week school was going to start back in Texas,and they had a week to get moved in before school started here. Her only solace was found in her car. She'd learned to drive in Texas,and got her license just before their move. 'Great,' she thought, 'another thing that has to change'.
Walking in the door,surrounded by blue and white,she turned her iPod down just a little,walking into the principal's office. A huge picture of Mr. Brenigan hung in the waiting room. A blonde secretary nodded in her direction as she paused the conversation she seemed more interested in.
"Are you lost,sugar?" McKenna's eyes narrowed. Was everyone around here really this dense?
"No,just new." The secretary nodded,pulling out a folder.
"Last name?"
"Brooks." She handed McKenna a schedule,and pointed the direction she should go. She shook her head as she turned away from the older woman. Just another reason she thought adults were overrated.
It didn't take long for her to find her first class,which was English. She was glad the door was open,she didn't have to go through the awkward motions of knocking or opening the door herself.
"Mr. Eldridge?" McKenna asked quietly.
"Ah. McKenna?" He asked warmly,asking her to come in. She was immediately the focus of everyone's attention. Her eyes scanned the room,catching the few open seats. She hoped for the one by the window,but knowing the way adults were,especially teachers,she'd be put front and center because she was new,and they'd want to keep an eye on her.
"You can take the seat next to Wendell." He told her,handing back her schedule. She looked up to see the kid she assumed was Wendell looking up and waving at her. She smiled at him,he was kinda cute. He had this mop of strawberry blonde hair and a faint spattering of freckles. Getting closer,she could see his sweet nature behind his blue green eyes. She set her backpack down beside her,pulling out a journal and a pen.
"Okay guys. First days are for introductions. I haven't gotten anything planned until after the weekend,so take this time to talk. That is what you teens do anyways,isn't it?" Everyone laughed,but liked the fact they'd get the class period off. Wendell turned to her,and she froze.
"You can call me Wen. I kinda hate Wendell." He told her,a little flustered,and that put her at ease. His red plaid shirt and gray tee paired with jeans made him seem really approachable. She smiled at him,reaching her hand out.
"I'm McKenna,but most people call me Em or Emmy." He smiled back at her,shaking her hand.
"So,you're new?"
"Yup. This cowgirl got moved west."
"From Texas?" He took a guess and she liked that.
"Actually yeah. Dallas. Lemme guess. You're one of the popular kids." She eyed him,and he blushed.
"Well,yes,and no. I wasn't popular,but my friends and I formed a band,and thanks to that,we're pretty popular. Maybe you heard of us? Lemonade Mouth?"
"I think I heard you guys on the radio a little bit. I just get stuck listening to punk and rap that stuff falls to the wayside." She was already crushing on Wen,and it'd only been five minutes. She wondered what he was thinking.
Wen Gifford was glad to have an empty seat beside him on this first day of school. The summer had been crazy for him. He and Olivia had admitted their feelings for each other,had a whirlwind romance,but realized they were much better friends than lovers. Everything felt so forced. Sure,she was still beautiful to him,and had a very special place in his heart,but she wasn't the one he thought she'd be. They were now the best of friends,and she was the one he'd run to in his hours of need.
Wen was daydreaming,waiting for the bell to ring. As it did,he saw someone ease into the door. A girl with shoulder length red hair stood next to his teacher,going over his schedule. She was looking away from him though,at the class that was staring at her. Her blue eyes sparkled in the morning sun coming through the windows. She had this blue t-shirt on with dark wash jeans and red Converse. Her hair was only slightly hidden by the blue hat with the large red T on it.
'I could get used to her' he thought to himself. And then he heard it.
"You can take the seat next to Wendell." He wanted to die right there. You can't be cool to a girl who thinks you're 'Wendell'. He smiled and waved at her,as she made her way to her seat. She put her backpack down,pulling out a journal. He heard the teacher mention something about getting the period off,and took this chance to introduce himself.
"You can call me Wen."
"I'm McKenna,but most people call me Em or Emmy." She smiled at him,putting her hand out for him to shake. She seemed nervous,but she calmed as he smiled.
"So,you're new?"
"Yup. This cowgirl got moved west." Cowgirl? West? Texas,maybe? He started to recognize the logo on the hat as the Texas Rangers.
"From Texas?" She looked impressed and nodded. He felt smart.
"Actually yeah. Dallas. Lemme guess. You're one of the popular kids." He felt a little put off that she didn't know him from the band,but secretly he liked it too. He didn't like the girls who only liked him because he was in a band.
"Well,yes,and no. I wasn't popular,but my friends and I formed a band,and thanks to that,we're pretty popular. Maybe you heard of us? Lemonade Mouth?"
"I think I heard you guys on the radio a little bit. I just get stuck listening to punk and rap that stuff falls to the wayside." Punk and rap? He was going to have to figure her out. And Wen always welcomed a challenge.