A NEW GIRL
Desi sighs as she steps outside her apartment. With her first schoolday in Ohio coming up, she's a bit nervous. She wonders about a lot of things while walking to school. How will the pupils be, will it be like it has been since kindergarten.? All stuff like that. With a troubled mind of questions she walks over the field where all pupils are. She looks up as she hears a scream of pain. Right in front of her she sees a bunch of pupils beating a guy against the flagpole. The sight of that makes her blood boil. At the moment she wants to help the poor guy, the other pupils throw him on the ground as they see a friend of theirs. She walks towards the pupil on the ground and kneels down next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so."
His voice sounds unusually high, and Desi notices his nose is bleeding. She reaches into her bag and takes out some tissues. She helps him to sit up straight and gives him the tissues.
"For your nose."
"Thanks."
His voice is starting to get back to normal. She smiles at him.
"Do you think you can stand?"
"I think so yeah."
Desi helps him up. He stands a little out of balance, but he's standing. He smiles at her thankfully.
"I'm Casey, Casey Connor."
"And I'm Desiree Mirkwood. Most people call me Desi."
He smiles.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. And I was actually looking for the principal's office before I saw you getting beaten up."
"I'll show you the principal's office. It's the least I can do after you helping me."
Desi smiles thankful.
"Thanks Casey!"
He smiles back and they start walking up the stairs. Casey gets a little support from Desi, seeing as he's still standing and walking a little out of balance. At the top of the stairs they meet a guy.
"Hey Casey."
"Hi Zeke."
Casey looks insecure at Zeke. He seems a little nervous.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend Casey?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Zeke, meet Desi. Desi, Zeke."
"Nice meeting you, Desi."
"Pleasure's all mine."
She smiles at Zeke. But seeing Casey so insecure doesn't make her a little nervous as well. Casey notices that.
"Come on Desi, we've got to get you to the principal's office."
She nods and, again supporting Casey, they walk on. They're both quiet now. Casey is thinking. All these things rushing through his head.
'If she becomes a friend with Zeke she'll drop me as a friend. But we aren't friends yet, are we? We only just met. But she helped me.'
Casey is totally confused. Desi is walking next to him, calmly supporting him. She is just wondering about Zeke and Casey. What exactly they are.
'They can't be friends, Casey was too insecure around Zeke. But they talked together. Maybe they can bare being with each other or something like that. But they're definitely not friends.'
Her thoughts are interrupted by Casey.
"Here it is. The principal's office."
An insecure smile follows.
"I hope we'll talk again soon."
"Me two. Are you sure you can handle walking down those stairs alone? You still seem a little dizzy."
"I'll be fine, thanks. Bye!"
"Bye."
And with those words, Casey turns around and walks away with one hand against the wall. When he turns around the corner she knocks on the door of the principal's office.
"Come in!"
She opens the door and sees a blond woman in the middle of the room.
"Ah, you must be Desiree Mirkwood. I am Mrs. Olson. Nice to have you here."
"Yes, I am Desiree Mirkwood. Nice to meet you Mrs. Olson. Uhm. I had to report here."
"Yes, you have to. I have a few forms here."
She gets a few forms under her nose and while filling them in, Mrs. Olson is telling her the rules of the school. When she is finished she gets her timetable and a little map from the school.
"Good luck."
With those words Mrs. Olson turns around and sits down behind her desk.
"Thank you."
Desi smiles and turns around. As she leaves the office she looks on her timetable. English. She looks on he map Mrs. Olson gave her and finds the class. When she steps into the classroom, she sees all the pupil's heads turn her direction. She feels uncomfortable, but it doesn't show. When she looks around she sees Casey. She smiles at him. Then she walks to the teacher.
"I am Desiree Mirkwood, I am new here."
She shows the teacher her timetable.
"Well, hello. I'm Ms. Burke. And I would like you to have a little talk about yourself. So the pupils and I will get to know you a little."
"All right."
She smiles nervous. Then she turns around to face the class.
"I am Desiree Mirkwood. People call me Desi. I was born August 16th 1984. My mother died giving birth. My father died a month ago in a car crash. My passion is music; I play the flute myself. I also love reading. I moved to Ohio to get away from all the memories in the house I lived in before."
She sighs. Ms. Burke smiles.
"Thank you. Are there any questions?"
Two pupils raise their hands. She recognizes one of them as Zeke. He asks the first questions.
"Did you ever have a boyfriend?"
"No, I never had one actually."
"Why not?"
"Because I never fell in love."
"Okay, thank you."
He smiles at her. She smiles back. The other pupil fires his question.
"I'm Stan. Where were you born?"
"In the Netherlands."
"What do you hate?"
"I hate violence. I detest people who act like they're someone else, while they're actually very shy or something. I don't like the habits smoking and taking drugs. I do not detest the people who smoke or take drugs, Because they are often nice, and I do not feel like loosing the chance of making friends just because they smoke or take drugs."
"Do you have a job?"
"Two actually. I bring around papers, and next Saturday I start working weekends at a coffee shop at 7th Street."
"Thank you."
Ms. Burke smiles.
"Well, if there are no further questions, you may take a seat. There is an empty chair next to Casey over there, one next to Gabe, at the other side of the room and one next to Eddie right there."
Desi looks at Gabe and Eddie. They sit behind each other; it's obvious they saved the spots for her. Then she looks at Casey. She sees he's still holding a tissue against his nose. He is reading his books. Without taking any further notice of Gabe and Eddie she sits down next to Casey. Gabe stands up from his chair the moment Desi sits down next to Casey. He walks towards them.
"Casey, beat it."
Casey immediately grabs his books. But Desi stops him. She lays her hand on his arm.
"Gabe, isn't it? Can't you see I made the choice of sitting down next to Casey?"
"Yes it is Gabe. And I see your choice, but I have to say, it's the wrong one."
"Why?"
"Because I am the star quarterback from out football team, and you want to sit with me."
"And what if I don't want to sit with you?"
Gabe doesn't answer. He turns around angry, takes his books and moves next to Eddie. Casey looks terribly insecure.
"You should have just sat down next to Gabe."
"Why?"
"Because he's the star quarterback, and he has very much influence on what people think about you."
"I'm not getting your point."
"He will make people hate you."
"Casey, listen to me. What other people think about me doesn't matter to me. The only thing that matters to me is that they stop picking on other people who have done absolutely nothing wrong."
"But they will start picking on you."
"No they won't. They'll ignore me. I know his kind."
"Not this particular specimen."
"All of them are the same Casey. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
He still looks insecure but he figures there isn't a point in trying to convince her she's wrong as long as she doesn't realize she's wrong herself. He starts reading again. When she asks her question it hits him.
"Why do they pick on you?"
"Uhm. Uhm. I'm. I uhm. I'm an easy target."
She smiles.
'Is she making fun of me?'
Casey is confused. He looks at his books.
"You hate what they do to you don't you?"
"No. Yes. Yes, I hate it. But there is nothing I can do about it."
"I guess you're right about that. But the least I can do is help you afterwards."
She smiles at him with a sympathy Casey didn't expect. He nods. His thoughts fly around his head.
'Is she flirting with me? No, she isn't. Stay focused Casey. You hardly know her, she could be like the others.'
He looks at his books, confused and lonely. Suddenly he feels a cold hand on his hand.
"Shit, you're hands are cold."
"No, yours are warm."
She smiles.
"I just want you to know I'll be there to help you if you need me. Even if it costs me a couple of bruises."
He looks at her surprised. He pulls away his hand quickly from under hers. He doesn't feel comfy with that cold hand on his. He doesn't feel comfy about what she told him either. Nobody was willing to take get bruises for him. Why did she do this? Why did she want to help him? He didn't ask for it, right? He accepted it; does that mean she will keep helping me forever? It would be nice.
"Casey, are you okay?"
There is no response. He still sits with his head down, terribly confused about what she said.
"Casey?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
His voice sounds strange, but he hopes she doesn't notice. She does though, but she doesn't let him know. She feels his insecurity in all his movements. She decides to let him think for a while. And get her own thoughts in a row as well. She also is terribly confused about his response. She shivers. Casey sees it from the corner of his eyes.
'She shivered. She doesn't feel comfortable. Is it me? Yes, it must be. It can't be anyone else.'
His confusion is visible. When the bell rings, he stands up and takes his books. He looks at his books and goes out of class. Though Desi senses something is wrong, she does not follow him. She takes her own books and looks at her timetable.
Desi sighs as she steps outside her apartment. With her first schoolday in Ohio coming up, she's a bit nervous. She wonders about a lot of things while walking to school. How will the pupils be, will it be like it has been since kindergarten.? All stuff like that. With a troubled mind of questions she walks over the field where all pupils are. She looks up as she hears a scream of pain. Right in front of her she sees a bunch of pupils beating a guy against the flagpole. The sight of that makes her blood boil. At the moment she wants to help the poor guy, the other pupils throw him on the ground as they see a friend of theirs. She walks towards the pupil on the ground and kneels down next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so."
His voice sounds unusually high, and Desi notices his nose is bleeding. She reaches into her bag and takes out some tissues. She helps him to sit up straight and gives him the tissues.
"For your nose."
"Thanks."
His voice is starting to get back to normal. She smiles at him.
"Do you think you can stand?"
"I think so yeah."
Desi helps him up. He stands a little out of balance, but he's standing. He smiles at her thankfully.
"I'm Casey, Casey Connor."
"And I'm Desiree Mirkwood. Most people call me Desi."
He smiles.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. And I was actually looking for the principal's office before I saw you getting beaten up."
"I'll show you the principal's office. It's the least I can do after you helping me."
Desi smiles thankful.
"Thanks Casey!"
He smiles back and they start walking up the stairs. Casey gets a little support from Desi, seeing as he's still standing and walking a little out of balance. At the top of the stairs they meet a guy.
"Hey Casey."
"Hi Zeke."
Casey looks insecure at Zeke. He seems a little nervous.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend Casey?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Zeke, meet Desi. Desi, Zeke."
"Nice meeting you, Desi."
"Pleasure's all mine."
She smiles at Zeke. But seeing Casey so insecure doesn't make her a little nervous as well. Casey notices that.
"Come on Desi, we've got to get you to the principal's office."
She nods and, again supporting Casey, they walk on. They're both quiet now. Casey is thinking. All these things rushing through his head.
'If she becomes a friend with Zeke she'll drop me as a friend. But we aren't friends yet, are we? We only just met. But she helped me.'
Casey is totally confused. Desi is walking next to him, calmly supporting him. She is just wondering about Zeke and Casey. What exactly they are.
'They can't be friends, Casey was too insecure around Zeke. But they talked together. Maybe they can bare being with each other or something like that. But they're definitely not friends.'
Her thoughts are interrupted by Casey.
"Here it is. The principal's office."
An insecure smile follows.
"I hope we'll talk again soon."
"Me two. Are you sure you can handle walking down those stairs alone? You still seem a little dizzy."
"I'll be fine, thanks. Bye!"
"Bye."
And with those words, Casey turns around and walks away with one hand against the wall. When he turns around the corner she knocks on the door of the principal's office.
"Come in!"
She opens the door and sees a blond woman in the middle of the room.
"Ah, you must be Desiree Mirkwood. I am Mrs. Olson. Nice to have you here."
"Yes, I am Desiree Mirkwood. Nice to meet you Mrs. Olson. Uhm. I had to report here."
"Yes, you have to. I have a few forms here."
She gets a few forms under her nose and while filling them in, Mrs. Olson is telling her the rules of the school. When she is finished she gets her timetable and a little map from the school.
"Good luck."
With those words Mrs. Olson turns around and sits down behind her desk.
"Thank you."
Desi smiles and turns around. As she leaves the office she looks on her timetable. English. She looks on he map Mrs. Olson gave her and finds the class. When she steps into the classroom, she sees all the pupil's heads turn her direction. She feels uncomfortable, but it doesn't show. When she looks around she sees Casey. She smiles at him. Then she walks to the teacher.
"I am Desiree Mirkwood, I am new here."
She shows the teacher her timetable.
"Well, hello. I'm Ms. Burke. And I would like you to have a little talk about yourself. So the pupils and I will get to know you a little."
"All right."
She smiles nervous. Then she turns around to face the class.
"I am Desiree Mirkwood. People call me Desi. I was born August 16th 1984. My mother died giving birth. My father died a month ago in a car crash. My passion is music; I play the flute myself. I also love reading. I moved to Ohio to get away from all the memories in the house I lived in before."
She sighs. Ms. Burke smiles.
"Thank you. Are there any questions?"
Two pupils raise their hands. She recognizes one of them as Zeke. He asks the first questions.
"Did you ever have a boyfriend?"
"No, I never had one actually."
"Why not?"
"Because I never fell in love."
"Okay, thank you."
He smiles at her. She smiles back. The other pupil fires his question.
"I'm Stan. Where were you born?"
"In the Netherlands."
"What do you hate?"
"I hate violence. I detest people who act like they're someone else, while they're actually very shy or something. I don't like the habits smoking and taking drugs. I do not detest the people who smoke or take drugs, Because they are often nice, and I do not feel like loosing the chance of making friends just because they smoke or take drugs."
"Do you have a job?"
"Two actually. I bring around papers, and next Saturday I start working weekends at a coffee shop at 7th Street."
"Thank you."
Ms. Burke smiles.
"Well, if there are no further questions, you may take a seat. There is an empty chair next to Casey over there, one next to Gabe, at the other side of the room and one next to Eddie right there."
Desi looks at Gabe and Eddie. They sit behind each other; it's obvious they saved the spots for her. Then she looks at Casey. She sees he's still holding a tissue against his nose. He is reading his books. Without taking any further notice of Gabe and Eddie she sits down next to Casey. Gabe stands up from his chair the moment Desi sits down next to Casey. He walks towards them.
"Casey, beat it."
Casey immediately grabs his books. But Desi stops him. She lays her hand on his arm.
"Gabe, isn't it? Can't you see I made the choice of sitting down next to Casey?"
"Yes it is Gabe. And I see your choice, but I have to say, it's the wrong one."
"Why?"
"Because I am the star quarterback from out football team, and you want to sit with me."
"And what if I don't want to sit with you?"
Gabe doesn't answer. He turns around angry, takes his books and moves next to Eddie. Casey looks terribly insecure.
"You should have just sat down next to Gabe."
"Why?"
"Because he's the star quarterback, and he has very much influence on what people think about you."
"I'm not getting your point."
"He will make people hate you."
"Casey, listen to me. What other people think about me doesn't matter to me. The only thing that matters to me is that they stop picking on other people who have done absolutely nothing wrong."
"But they will start picking on you."
"No they won't. They'll ignore me. I know his kind."
"Not this particular specimen."
"All of them are the same Casey. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
He still looks insecure but he figures there isn't a point in trying to convince her she's wrong as long as she doesn't realize she's wrong herself. He starts reading again. When she asks her question it hits him.
"Why do they pick on you?"
"Uhm. Uhm. I'm. I uhm. I'm an easy target."
She smiles.
'Is she making fun of me?'
Casey is confused. He looks at his books.
"You hate what they do to you don't you?"
"No. Yes. Yes, I hate it. But there is nothing I can do about it."
"I guess you're right about that. But the least I can do is help you afterwards."
She smiles at him with a sympathy Casey didn't expect. He nods. His thoughts fly around his head.
'Is she flirting with me? No, she isn't. Stay focused Casey. You hardly know her, she could be like the others.'
He looks at his books, confused and lonely. Suddenly he feels a cold hand on his hand.
"Shit, you're hands are cold."
"No, yours are warm."
She smiles.
"I just want you to know I'll be there to help you if you need me. Even if it costs me a couple of bruises."
He looks at her surprised. He pulls away his hand quickly from under hers. He doesn't feel comfy with that cold hand on his. He doesn't feel comfy about what she told him either. Nobody was willing to take get bruises for him. Why did she do this? Why did she want to help him? He didn't ask for it, right? He accepted it; does that mean she will keep helping me forever? It would be nice.
"Casey, are you okay?"
There is no response. He still sits with his head down, terribly confused about what she said.
"Casey?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
His voice sounds strange, but he hopes she doesn't notice. She does though, but she doesn't let him know. She feels his insecurity in all his movements. She decides to let him think for a while. And get her own thoughts in a row as well. She also is terribly confused about his response. She shivers. Casey sees it from the corner of his eyes.
'She shivered. She doesn't feel comfortable. Is it me? Yes, it must be. It can't be anyone else.'
His confusion is visible. When the bell rings, he stands up and takes his books. He looks at his books and goes out of class. Though Desi senses something is wrong, she does not follow him. She takes her own books and looks at her timetable.