Pulling in to the car park of this … this school – if you could even call it that – I almost regretted the decision to drive myself. Apparently, no-one here drove themselves, apart from the teachers. Strange, I thought, as I turned directly into the first space I could, eager to stop people staring.
To make it worse, my car decided to let out a roar just as I turned off the ignition, making those around me jump. I'd grown used to the sound since I'd had the truck 6 months and had insisted it come with us when we'd moved back.
I opened the door and swung myself out, hearing simultaneous gasps as I did so. I looked up in to the eyes of a brunette girl who was whispering behind her hand to her friends, who giggled sheepishly at her comment.
Hearing the word 'boots', I looked down. I stifled a grin. My feet were clad in my calf length Doc Martens, which I'd bought in a sale before we left. I wore them everywhere. Standing up I saw the same girl talking to a teacher, clearly complaining about my choice of footwear.
It wasn't my fault she'd chosen uncomfortable looking T-strapped heels. The teacher simply laughed and walked away. From the look of the girl's face, it seemed like I had made an enemy already. Unless of course I'd made enemies from simply driving to school!
Reaching back to the passenger seat, I grabbed my bag, swung it over my shoulder and closed the door. I headed to the front office to sort my lessons out. As I brought my hand up to the door, a slender looking, raven-haired girl appeared out of thin air right next to me. I sighed a small smile and slowly began to introduce myself.
"Oh", she replied. "I already know who you are. Everyone here does.
"Um, how does everyone here know me? I've hardly made a dent at this school." I asked, as suspicion clouded my face.
"Well, we heard you were coming back, plus you're the first 'new' kid here since Tanya about 3 years ago." She responded, as though it was obvious. "you're the granddaughter of the Swans, home at last.
That last bit took me by surprise. I'd known that my Dad – Charlie – had hailed from wealth. But my mother – Renee – had run away with him right out of school. Both sets of grandparents hated each other because of it, each blaming the other family's child.
They had been friends at school, who eventually got married. Two years later, I was born and 17 years later, we were back. Tonight, both sets of grandparents were coming for dinner. Talk about your family nightmare!
"Sorry, zoned out for a sec." I said, snapping back to reality.
"No sweat. I was just saying my name's Alice. I'm essentially your tour-guide. You're in the majority of my classes, but not all unfortunately." She smiled in response.
Stepping through the door, I was immediately handed a timetable. I turned and headed back out with Alice.
"This may be a stupid question", I started, "but why am I the only one who's parked here?
"No real reason, except that it's always been imprinted into people that they shouldn't be caught driving to school. I'd say it's hell courageous that you did it. Personally, I walk." Alice said, with an air of sincerity.
"I grew up being my own person, as opposed to a sheep. I've never had a butler or maid. People can say what they want but there you have it."
"Not all of us enjoy those things. Anyway, we're gonna be late. I'll take you to first hour and after we'll head to 2nd hour together." She rushed this last bit before meeting my teacher, and launching into an explanation for who I was.
The look in his eye suggested he already knew. Weird.
I walked to the back row and took a seat. I turned my eyes towards my desk to avoid the gazes of my fellow classmates. Doodling on a book cover, I heard someone stifle a giggle. Desperately wanting to dodge stupid questions, I kept my eyes locked on what I was doing, until the teacehr asked me for an answer.
Ignoring those around me, I answered quickly and slowly resumed my position. My eyes jolted as I heard a low whistle and then someone whispered 'check that out!'