Chapter One

My breaths began to steadily quicken with intense emphasis as the glowing red numbers of the Emerson alarm clock ticked by even quicker. Each minute seemed as a second, speeding up the arrival of the unwanted consequence of a job transfer: East High School. What could I possibly say about my horrible fate that was certain to flip my world as I know it upside down? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

"Gabby?"

An unsure, almost nervous voice asked from the doorway, disturbing my deep train of thought. Isabella waddled into the room on her short little legs and stopped directly in front of me, gazing up at me with her huge sparkling brown eyes. My eyes. Dad's eyes. The little three-year-old did not have any response to my sudden silence.

"What w'ong, Gabby?"

I looked at her and vaguely shook my head.

"Nothing, Iz," I replied.

Isabella chose not to believe my lie, and quite frankly, I couldn't lie to a three-year-old. She continued to unblinkingly stare at me.

"Okay," I finally gave in. "You got me. I'm just nervous about going to a new school, that's all."

Isabella nodded as if she fully comprehended what I had just told her. She was more understanding than any friend I have ever known.

"Gabriella."

Another more solemn and confident voice broke the silence. My mom walked in and sat down next to me on the bed, causing the old mattress to squeak under the extra pressure forced upon it.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked quietly.

I took a deep breath and looked over at her, nodding slightly. Mom lightly touched my shoulder with a reassuring smile and led the way out the door. I paused, glancing back around my room and finally shut the door with a soft snap.

It seemed that the ten-minute car ride did not even occur, because almost instantly after Mom's black Ford Acura pulled out of the driveway, we were pulling into the crowded parking lot of East High School. Before Mom unlocked the car to let the three of us out into the fresh new world of this high school, she turned around in her seat to face little Isabella.

"Now Izzy," Mom began. "I want you to behave while we're inside Gabby's school. Okay?"

Isabella nodded like she meant it. Mom smiled at her and pressed the black 'unlock' button on the arm rest of the car's door. I slowly opened the door and stood up, glancing around at my surroundings. There were other people exiting their vehicles as well. I sighed and picked up my light blue shoulder backpack, waiting patiently for Mom to unhook Isabella from her car-seat. The two of them once again led the way up to the enormously colossal high school, I dragging heartlessly behind them.

The kids on either side of the walkway to the main front doors paid absolutely no attention to us. They were chatting, hugging, and whatever else they could do to catch up after the winter break. It seemed that if you weren't a member of someone's social group, you weren't noticed. My heartbeat quickened as I thought this through.

I snapped back into reality as Mom held one of the front doors open for me. Inside, East High was just like any other school, dark cream-colored lockers, white, black-speckled floors, and creamy white walls. There was an occasional red banner announcing the basketball championship game coming up in two weeks and many other posters of various activities going on in the school.

As my sister and I took in our surroundings, Mom suddenly headed left and turned the handle on the door that had a bronze plaque with the words Principal Matsui on it in silver letters. I followed, not wanting to be left in the hallway with no one to turn to.

"Excuse me," Mom said to a lady clad in a dressy red suit.

The lady, who was sitting behind a desk typing away at a computer, looked up and smiled at the newcomers.

"Hello," she said, "I believe I do not own the pleasure of knowing who you are. I'm Cindy Graham, the head secretary here at East High."

"I'm Melina Montez," Mom answered. "My daughter, Gabriella, is new here and needs her schedule. We were told it would already be set up and ready to go."

"Ah yes," Cindy replied. "I have it right...right..."

She began to search through a small stack of papers.

"Here."

Cindy handed the packet of paper to me.

"Now," she instructed, "you give that first paper there to your homeroom teacher once you arrive in her classroom. The second paper is your class schedule, along with what teacher and what room number. The third, fourth, and fifth paper are a map of our school. Your classrooms are highlighted in yellow and the areas highlighted in pink are the extra areas, such as the gymnasium, auditorium, and cafeteria. The last few papers are school rules and guidelines, along with a paper directed to the parents."

"Thank you," I managed to muster.

"Our head principal, Principal Matsui, will personally show you to your homeroom," Cindy went on. "Ah, there he is now."

Mom, Isabella, and I looked up to see a friendly-looking Asian man emerge from the door at the head of the room wearing a black suit and green tie.

"Ah, Mrs. Montez," he said. "I've been expecting you."

"Hi, I'm Melina," Mom answered, shaking Mr. Matsui's outstretched hand. "These are my daughters, Gabriella" — she paused as I stepped forward to shake the principal's hand— "and Isabella." Isabella waved and smiled.

"Nice to meet you," Mr. Matsui smiled. "Shall we go on?"

Mom nodded and picked Isabella up, following him out the door.

"Thanks again," I said to Cindy as I followed suit.

"No problem, Miss Montez. Enjoy your first day."

Smiling, I closed the door behind me. I laughed at my next thought: I had made my first friend at East High.

As Mr. Matsui led Mom, Isabella and I down the hall, I couldn't help but notice how close everyone at East High was with each other in their own little worlds. How on earth was I ever going to fit in here?

"Your records are very impressive," Mr. Matsui said to me as we reached the stairs that would take me to my homeroom and away from the comfort of my mom and sister. "I expect your light will shine very brightly here at East High."

"Mom," I complained. "I don't want to be the school's freaky genius girl again."

"Just be Gabriella," Mom replied, kissing my forehead.

Isabella waved and smiled. I smiled back, stepping forward to the stairs. I began the climb, looking back once more at Mom and Isabella. Mom waved. I smiled again and finished my route up the stairs, calmly speaking to myself that everything would turn out for the best. I am such a good liar.


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