Chapter 1: Time of Change
The spring air was cold and sent shivers down Regina's spine as she walked on the slightly uneven sidewalk. It was 7:30 in the morning and her feet took her to the place where she would be spending her last few months of high school. She and her mother had been moving here a couple of days ago, due to her job in the trading business. This was the fourth time they had been moving, and Regina hated it.
Regina looked into the display windows of the stores that she passed. Yesterday, she and her mother had been given a tour around the city center, learning about some of the town's history and also where Regina would be going to school.
Regina saw how the red brick building came into view. The busy morning traffic and yellow buses passed it on their way to their final destinations.
Regina swallowed and tried to calm down the nervousness she felt. It was never easy to transfer to a new school, to have everyone's eyes on you, judging you.
After the first two moves, Regina simply stopped trying to make friends with anyone, knowing very well how much it hurt to say goodbye.
Regina spotted the red glass door where she would be meeting one of her new teachers. She breathed in deeply before she grabbed the handle and swung the door open. A small entrance greeted her, with white walls and another red door. Other students pushed their way past her and made their way to their lockers. Regina's eyes scanned her surroundings and soon faced a young woman who seemed to be looking for something.
"You must be Regina Mills, my new student." the woman said and stepped up to Regina and held out her hand.
"My name is Belle and I will be your teacher in civics and history."
Regina smiled politely and shook the woman's hand, feeling how her heart became lighter at the warm welcoming.
"I will show you the classroom where your first lesson will be held. Luckily for you, this lesson will be held by me." Belle said and smiled brightly.
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After finding her locker, and putting her purse and coat inside, Regina sat on one of the worn-down benches and waited for the door to open up to the classroom. In the corner of her eye, she saw how some of the other students shoot glances at her, and exchanged hushed whispers between each other.
Regina sat with her back straight and chin held high. She would simply ignore these people during the four months she had left of high school. Regina was used to being on her own anyway.
The door swung open and Regina came face to face with Belle, who gave her the same genuine smile she had been given her when she first greeted her.
Regina rose from the bench stepped over the threshold. The room was small, with mustard colored walls, and with a map of the town hanging in the back. Regina took a seat at the front of the room, to the right of the teacher's desk. She saw how the other students walked in with slumped shoulders, obviously tired. Regina never had a problem with the 8 o'clock lessons; she was a morning person and never had any problems getting up.
When everyone had entered, Belle closed the door and put her books and laptop on the desk.
"Today, we will start on a new project that you will be working on during the coming three weeks. As everybody knows, the election is coming up and I will give you the chance to dig a little deeper in the world of politics."
Heavy sighs and noises of annoyance erupted in the room, but Regina simply smiled. Politics was something that she was familiar with. Her mother wanted her to become a politician one day, but Regina did not have any desire in becoming one. She wanted to decide over her own future, choosing her own path.
"And before I forget…" Belle said and looked at Regina.
"This is your new classmate, Regina Mills."
Regina turned around and raised the corners of her mouth slightly. The faces of the other students were both curious and emotionless.
Regina was just about to say something when the door swung open. Her mouth suddenly became dry, while her heart started beating faster when her eyes landed on the person who came in through the door.
From the mind of a metalhead and a Swan Queen shipper! This story takes place in my own hometown here in Sweden, since all the best metal comes from Scandinavia ;)