With a rucksack slung over one shoulder, the girl looked through the gates, and into the school. This was another new start for her, one which would hopefully prove to be longer lasting than the others. With a deep breath, she opened the gates and walked towards the buildings, following the signs saying 'Office' with an arrow. When she entered, she was confronted with the sight of a happy, bumbling person behind the desk, who greeted her with a huge smile.
'You must be Jacqueline Naylor! Welcome to Holby High School; here's your timetable, and your form tutor is Mr Jenkins. First period is form time, do there'll be plenty of time to meet your new classmates. There's twenty minutes before registration, so I'll just ring for Mr Jenkins to come and meet you. Is that okay Jacqueline?'
'It's Jac...' The redhead muttered venomously under her breath. 'Uh, yeah, that's fine. I'll just take a seat then.'
'No problem honey – he'll only be a minute.'
Jac glanced at her timetable, but quickly gave up – she had no idea of knowing what the teachers were like, and whether she'd been lucky in her assignment or not. There was the usual wanderings of the teachers through the office, some looking at work to mark, some smiling at her, others simply took a swig from their coffee and looked as though they were trying to build up their courage for the day. It was not until a tall suited man stood before her that she felt a bit out of place.
'Jacqueline Naylor?' She nodded, not sure how to act. 'You will follow me to the interview room.'
Trying not to make any form of eye contact with the people around her, she walked behind him, gripping onto her rucksack and ignoring the comments and giggles that followed her. They turned a couple of corners, and then entered a room, purely designed to have that 'homey' feel. They each took a seat, and Jac put her bag next to her feet before looking stoically at the table between them – she was not going to make the first move to talk, that was the teacher's job. Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, it worked.
'Well, I'm Mr Jenkins, and you must be Jacqueline Naylor. As today is the first of the academic year, first period is class time, and I'll assign one of the other students to see that you make every class. Hopefully your time here will be fruitful Jacqueline, as–'
'Jac, Sir. Please will you call me Jac?'
'I'm not so sure about that, it doesn't seem–'
'Well, if you don't then I won't answer you. I hate my full name, and I see no reason as to why I can't be known by my preferred one.'
'I know you have been through some tough times Jacqueline, but there's no need for that.'
Jac gave up all pretences of civility, not caring how much trouble she got in.
'You know nothing of me or my life, nothing that wasn't included in your silly file anyway. Have you lived in a care home? Have you felt the gut-wrenching emotions that come with being shipped between homes, schools, and lives as though you were little more that a package? No, I did not think so. I was hoping this one would be easier than my last and the one before that; I tried being the quiet schoolgirl, thinking that might have more effect. I'm sorry Mr. Jenkins, if you think me rude, but you must try to understand, I am who I make myself to be. And, who I make myself, is Jac.'
He only had time to narrow his eyes at her before the sound of a bell resounded through the room, and there was a rush of feet, talking and laughter. Without a word, the teacher stood up and opened the door, calling to one of the students he had spotted.
'Madeleine Young, come here. I want you to escort the new girl up to the form room, and maybe introduce her to some students in her classes before I get there with the register. Don't pull that face, I know how much you hate to be separated from your friends, but now it is time for school; you can meet up with Miss's Jackson and Kendall in your own time.' Jenkins turned to Jac and motioned to the door. 'Out; follow Madeleine.' With that sorted, he stalked off, up a nearby staircase, a look of thunder plastered on his face.
The girl in front of her was a bit shorter, with brown hair that curled around her face, and a smile playing on her lips. She wore a black pleated skirted, teamed with a red shirt and black heels.
'Come on then, I guess you're Jacqueline?'
'Jac, please. Does everyone know about me?'
'Only people in our form, but they'll have talked to people, who might have talked... Yeah, I guess.' She grinned. 'I'm Maddy; he seems to like the whole full-naming thing, but only when he really has it in for someone. We're just over here, Room 14B.'
She opened the door, and ushered Jac in. The roomful of pupils turned to look at her, almost giving her the once over, and then they turned back to their own conversations. To be frankly honest, it was the calmest introduction to a class Jac had ever experienced.
'Come and sit on the table with me and I'll introduce you to everyone. And don't look so worried, it's gonna be fine.'
Hmm... I thought I'd try my hand at a school fic – let me know what you think – if it isn't to great/people don' t really like it, let me know an I'll stop =)
Review please!
Woody2792x
