Hello! I just recently had this idea of, what if Tris moved to a suburb of Chicago in modern times and was the "new girl" at this new high school that she was going to. And to make things even better, what if she met a mysterious boy named Four that she couldn't keep her mind off of? This is just a random idea so I may or may not continue depending on reviews. Let me know what you guys think! I really hope you all enjoy it! So here goes…
CHAPTER ONE
It is the dreaded first day. The last time I was the new girl at school was in first grade when I moved less than an hour away from my first home in Minnesota. And plus, in first grade, you don't get the relentless stares and questioning eyes like I am getting now. Then, I picked up a new best friend within five minutes. Now, it's not that easy.
Moving two states over to Illinois was never my first choice but in an act of selflessness, I agreed to not put up a fight as we packed up the place I had called home for 10 years of my life.
But I guess what I never really gave much thought to was how starting at a new school junior year without knowing one person would not be a very pleasant experience to start off with.
It's ten minutes before the first bell is set to ring and I still have no idea where my locker is. I scan the hallways for number 166 but can barely get a good view with all of the people lined across the many lockers stacked side-by-side on the wall. I manage to see the number 160 slightly from behind some kid's head so I know I must be close. I count six lockers down from that only to find a group of people talking and laughing to each other in a group, all crowded in front of my locker and the surrounding ones. I sigh, questioning if it is even worth it. But then I am reminded of the pile of notebooks and folders settled in my arms and I know that not getting to my locker isn't an option.
I take a deep breath and try to push through the group, muttering a string of apologies as they finally notice me and begin to clear a lane. I could feel their stares on my back as I tried my combination. Mercifully, it opened on the first try. Some of the group behind me had decided that a new girl wasn't interesting enough for them and had left but I could sense the presence of a couple of people that had stayed behind. Man, I knew I had chosen a small school but did they really never get any new students?
After I put all of my extra things into my locker I turn around to see a tall, handsome boy with dark blue eyes staring at me with pursed lips. I sit there dumbfounded for a moment before he says, "Are you new here?"
"Uh—um yes. I mean yeah I am new." I get out. Oh what a great first impression this guy must be getting of me.
"Huh, that's what I thought," he says, nodding to himself. "What's your name new girl?"
I take a moment to consider that. I never really liked Beatrice. I always felt like the name made me sound like I was from a whole different generation. But it wasn't like I was going to tell me parents that I didn't like that name that had picked out for me. This was different though. It was a new school. I could be a completely new person. The thought made me excited. Without a second guess, I say, "Tris. My name is Tris."
"Well," he says, stretching out his arm for me to shake. "It is very nice to meet you, Tris."
I smile and shake his hand, a bit awkwardly if I might add. I have never been good at handshakes. The corners of his mouth lift up into a small smile as he starts to walk away.
I sit there for a moment until I realize that I have no idea what this boy's name is. "Wait!" I yell. "I never got your name."
He turns his head around and says, "Just call me Four." And then he disappears into the crowd.
I somehow find my way to my first few classes of the day, which thankfully go by quickly and painlessly. Despite some stares from classmates, I get through my first three classes without talking to anyone. I am hoping to have the day go by in the same fashion until my fourth hour English class comes along. I sit in the back row as I did in all of my other classes when a dark-skinned girl with short hair slides into the seat next to me.
I am about to lay my head on my desk when she leans over to me and says, "Please tell me I am not the only one that notices that this woman looks like she got clawed by a bear," she says, I am assuming she is referring to the teacher sitting at the front of the classroom with a long scar stretching from her eyebrow down to her chin.
I look back at her and say, "No, I am sure everyone notices it. But nobody is going to be rude enough to ask, 'Gee, what happened to your face'".
She looks at me for a moment and the laughs.
"I'm Christina," she says, smiling. I guess that was her test to see if I qualified as normal or crazy in her book. I would say I passed.
"Tris" I say back, returning her smile.
"I haven't seen your face around here before Tris, and trust me, I know everyone. So you must be new right?"
"Yep," I say.
"Well, let me give you a few tips about this place. One, the food is surprisingly awesome. Especially the cake. Two, steer clear of all the overly happy hippies. Trust me, a girl can only handle so much peace and love. Three, some of these teachers can be downright scary, you will know who I am talking about if you have them, so don't get on their bad side. And, last but not least, if you ever need any help around here, come to me. I promise I can be a great friend," she says, smiling at me.
I laugh and ask, "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Because you seem nice. And God knows I would love to make a new friend, since that pretty much never happens around here. And you could probably use a friend too."
She is right. I have yet to make any friends today, aside from my little encounter with the boy named Four. But I wouldn't call him a friend.
I smile at Christina and say, "You're right. Thanks for that."
"No problem, Tris."
Then the sound of a bell fills the classroom, signaling the end of our conversation. Our teacher, who I find out is named Ms. Reyes, begins to go into the details about what we will be doing this trimester. I zone out and start to think that maybe this school won't be so terrible after all.