2. In which the new girl makes a friend
Here I am, back in this terminally hateful place where all of my past failures are rubbed in my face. While I was gone I thought I was miserable, but now the prospect of returning to this place turns my stomach. Maybe if they knew what being in this place makes me feel, all those old wounds torn open all over again...
I suppose it doesn't really matter now. I'm here; ready to begin again in the place I left. Nothing has changed here, not even the season it seems. It was cold when I left and now that I'm back it's cold again.
I am so lost.
Hillary Thomas pushed her way through the busy halls of Degrassi CS. Here it was, only her first day of school, and already she was completely and totally lost. Beyond that, she was late for class and becoming desperate. She reached into her bag to pull out her map again and stepped on the frayed edge of her pant leg, which sent her flying unceremoniously to the floor. She felt her face color as someone stepped on her hand in a mad dash to make the first bell. She silently cursed the retreating figure as she gathered up the spilled contents of her bag. Ignoring the fact that she was seated in the center of the busy hallway she stopped a moment to consider.
All she would have to do would be to stand up, take her stuff, and walk out the door. Just the thought of it made her smile. A few steps and she was out of this hallway, out of the school filled with the ghosts that none of the other students could see. It would be so simple. Her thoughts were interrupted by someone appearing in her line of sight and a voice echoing in her ear. She turned her large, blue-green eyes upward to see the person who was addressing her.
The person in question was a girl, a tall and pretty girl with closely shorn hair which was even shorter than Hillary's own chin length cut. Her makeup was as dark as her clothes and she had a serious, quiet nature about her. Hillary was immediately curious as to why this girl was talking to her.
"Are you okay?" tall girl asked, offering the still sprawled Hillary a hand up. Hillary looked on a moment as though thinking exceptionally hard before finally grasping the erect girl's hand and pulling herself to her feet.
"Thanks." Hillary finally spoke, stuffing a stray pen and a set of headphones back into her bag. "I thought for a minute there I was going to get trampled by the herd."
"Yeah, the student body here can get pretty beastly. You're new?" tall girl asked, and Hillary smirked.
"Good eye. I was thinking of making up a tee shirt, but I see now that would have been pointless. You can spot me a mile away." She replied, and the other girl laughed out loud.
"Well, I'm Ashley. Maybe I can help with your schedule." She offered. Hillary immediately produced the marked up piece of paper. It was crumpled heavily on one side and it looked as though someone had spilled coffee on it. After glancing at it, Ashley laughed again. "Rough morning?"
"My god, you have NO idea..." Hillary replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder and following as Ashley turned to lead the way.
"Your first class is Crafting Poetry with Ms. Kwan. I'm in it too. If we hurry we can almost get there on time." Ashley explained as they turned down another hallway and into the first open doorway. Ms. Kwan looked at them over her new glasses, offering a silent warning not to make a habit out of being tardy. Ashley smiled in apology and led the way through the sea of desks to the back where Ellie was already sitting.
Hillary was acutely aware of the eyes that followed them to the back of the classroom, and let her messy hair fall into her eyes. It did little to guard her from their gaze, but it helped to allay her mind a little bit. When they finally arrived at their seats Ellie smiled at the newcomer amiably and Hillary felt her stomach settle a little. Maybe this wouldn't be so horrid after all.
