This isn't Nicole's first time. But it was hopefully the last, because no matter how many times she had to change school due to moving house - it never got any easier. The previous confidence that she had gradually begun to build up around the familiar faces around the old hallways was gone, ripped out from underneath her as she was forced yet again to start on new territory.
Purgatory High School.
Nicole had laughed at the name at first, muttering under her breath as her parents just stared at her expectantly. As if she had a choice in the matter, she didn't.
So here she was, already lost and wandering aimlessly around the hallways whilst trying to find her first classroom. The receptionist had been far from helpful, too busy with a stack of paperwork to offer any more help then handing over her schedule and a old tattered - what was meant to be map of the school. As far as Nicole knew she was already five minutes later to her Biology class by now.
Of course she finds it eventually, taking a deep breath as an attempt to settle the nerves in her stomach before knocking lightly on the door. Watching through the glass panel as the teacher looks up from the desk and waves her in silently.
''Sorry I'm late-''
''You must be Miss Haught. Nicole.'' They say, looking down at a sheet of paper as Nicole's cheeks flush red with embarrassment as the giggles and muttering that fills the room after the reveal of her last name.
She should be used to it now, years of teasing. The name worked to her advantage when she needed it to but more commonly it just became something for other kids to tease her about. That along with her red hair and sudden growth spurt in the 6th Grade... Nicole wasn't doing so well at all.
''There's a spare seat next to Miss Earp at the back.'' The teacher looks at her with a small smile as Nicole turned to actually face the class room.
Her eyes scanned the room quickly, until they landed on the bench one row from the back. The window seat was free and the aisle seat was occupied by a girl who was leaned over a notebook, her long brown hair falling around her and shielding her face. She was completely absorbed, not even looking up as Nicole approached. It wasn't until she shuffled past and pulled the stool out, scraping it across the floor noisily as it went that the girl looked up.
''Oh. Hi! Sorry, didn't see you there. I'm Waverly.'' She enthusiastically introduced herself whilst Nicole just stared at her.
Waverly was gorgeous. Her smile luminous, hair now falling effortlessly in a perfect continuous wave which shaped her face. And her eyes, oh those eyes. Nicole was instantly lost in them, her stomach fluttering for a moment before it dropped. Because beautiful girls like Waverly always ended badly in some way or another, Nicole had experienced her fair share. And compared to Waverly, Nicole was, well she was Nicole. Ginger hair and long legs that she often stumbled over unless she was playing a sport. She was the outsider once again.
But then Waverly was smiling at her again, dimples faintly appearing at the corner of her mouth before she speaks.
''Are you okay?''
And then Nicole snaps out of it, realising that she hasn't yet introduced herself and Waverly is waiting patiently for some sort of introduction.
''Sorry.'' She pauses for a breath, trying to get her brain to work coherently with her mouth before she manages to splutter out. ''I'm Nicole, Nicole Haught.'' And she's smirking, although she doesn't have a clue why because of course this is a terrible idea. Seconds ago she was being teased about her name and now this. But Waverly just smiles, her cheeks tinting slightly as she looks away briefly.
''Nice to meet you, Nicole Haught.'' Waverly then shakes Nicole's hand quickly before turning back to the front of the room. Completely oblivious to the way Nicole's hand is still hanging limply in the air with her eyes glued on the spot where Waverly's hand once was. Missing the way her mouth is parted ever so slightly from the small, sharp inhale only moments ago.
No Waverly has already moved on and so Nicole gets herself together and tries to focus on the class.
It all goes smoothly for the first 10 minutes or so. But then they're asked to take out their text books and Nicole frowns, because her's hasn't been delivered yet and she has nothing to reach for as everyone else is reaching into their backpacks to pull out the hard covered blue book.
''Do you not have yours yet?'' Waverly asks quietly, her eyes flickering to Nicole who just shakes her head. ''That's okay, you can borrow mine. I don't mind sharing.'' And she smiles again and Nicole just nods. Trying not to focus on Waverly as she shuffles her stool closer to Nicole, bringing the book over with her until their arms are only a inch apart.
It goes better then expected, apart from the few cliche moments where Nicole had reached to turn the page at the same time as Waverly and their hands brushed for a second. Waverly just laughed, Nicole smiling sheepishly at her before quickly retracting her hand. It wasn't her book - after all.
But soon enough the lesson is over and Waverly is packing up her belongings in a hurry. She takes a step away from the desk before spinning around and looking at Nicole.
''Do you know where your next class is?'' She asks softly as Nicole rummages through the papers she's still packing away for her schedule and class room number before looking up and shaking her head. ''If you're quick I can take you there.'' She adds with a small smile.
Nicole doesn't waste a second in clearing up the mess on her bench and shoving the stray papers into her bag. She tries to tell herself that it's because she doesn't want to be late to her next class and to have the same introduction as before, and of course that is part of the reason. But in the back of her head there's a voice telling her to be careful, because she's already wanting to spend more time with Waverly, even if only for a minute and that - that is a dangerous way to go.