Hey everyone! Thanks to those who actually reviewed! I was totally psyched when I got my first review! Sorry, but this is also going to be a short chapter… I promise the next chapter will be a lot longer and more interesting. I have the mighty plotline to guide me! -triumphant music-
Chapter II: Three Friendly Faces
Annabella took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Everything's going to be OK, she told herself. She opened her eyes again, shifted her only duffle bag from one shoulder to the other, re-gripped the handle on her guitar case, and she and her father headed through the rusty gates.
As they headed across the grounds to the main building, Annabella thought she saw an inquisitive face peering out from one of the windows. The face belonged to a boy about her age with brown hair, but she was too far away topick outany other details. She did a double-take, but the face was gone. Sheheaved a big sighdragged herself on.
Once Annabella and her father reached the building, her father turned and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Now Annabella, I have to leave you know because I have some important business to attend to. Be a good girl while I'm gone, promise?" Annabella's green eyes burned with hatred mixed withsadnessas she whispered, "I promise." She stared after father as he disappeared into the distance. When he was gone she turned to face the building looming in front of her. She sighed and pushed her way through the old wooden doors.
Ms. Weber, the school secretary, looked up from her paperwork as she heard footstepspattering down the hall in her direction. Not long after, a girl of about 14 peered around the doorway.
"Ah, you must be the new student! Please, come in." The girl stepped shyly around the door and up to the secretary's desk. "I'm Ms. Weber. Name, please." "Annabella Rednamalas,"the girlsaid quietly. Ms. Weber scrolled down the list until she reached her name. "Ah, there you are. Here is your room key and a map."
Boy, this school is huge! Annabella mentally exclaimed as she studied the map. Then, suddenly remembering her manners, she muttered a quick "Thanks." Annabella carefully folded her map, and stuffed it in her already-overflowing duffle bag. She headed off towards the dormitories, curious to see who her new roommate was. Annabella shoved her key into the lock and opened the door. It was a small room, yet big enough for two twin-sizedbeds, two small metalwardrobes, and two desks. Annabella dumped her bag onto the bed and took out her schedule. She studied it carefully and stuffed it into her jeans pocket. Tiredness overtook her, and she flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Why did this have to happen? Why do I have to be here? I just want to go back to the way things used to be.
Annabella groaned inwardly and stood up. She decided to unpack, figuring she would only have to do it later if she put it off. She took what little she had, since the fire had consumed most of her possessions, and placed them all neatly inside the wardrobe. The last item she took out of her bag was a picture enclosed in a silver frame. It was a picture of her and all of her friends grinning crazily. Annabella half-laughed half-sobbed as she recalled the day when they had taken that picture. It was one of the happiest days of her life.She carefully placed it on the desk that was untouched. Annabella looked fondly at it for a moment, but was startled out of her thoughts as someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Yikes!" she shrieked leaping up 10 feet in the air. Annabella whirled around, coming face-to-face with a pink-haired girl about her age.Annabella noticed that the girl had on a bright pink jumper withmatchingwinter boots."Hi! You must be my new roommate," the girl with the strange colored hair smiled, "I'm Aelita. I was just popping in for a second to get my report for Mrs. Hertz, and then I'm off to the library."
Annabella gave one of her rare half-smiles. Finally, someone my age who is friendly. "I'm Annabella."
Aelita grinned, "What classes do you have?" Annabella handed over her schedule. Aelita's eyes whizzed over the paper. "Great! We have all of the same classes! Ugh, we have Mrs. Hertz next. By the way, where are you from?" Annabella stared at her scuffed-up shoes. She really didn't like talking about her past. "Around here, I guess," was all the pink-haired girl could get out of her new roommate.
Aelita checked her watch. "Oh my! Class starts in fifteen minutes. We'd better hurry!" she said as she bolted out the door before Annabella could ask where exactly Mrs. Hertz's room was.
She sighed. Well, I guess I have to depend on the map, now… Annabella yanked the map out of her duffle bag with trembling hands. The first day in a new school is always nerve-racking. She walked out of the room humming quietly to herself. Humming always helped her calm down.
Take a left here, then a right, then down the stai-- "OOF!" Suddenly, Annabella found herself on the ground and rubbed her aching shoulder, whilewondering what she had run into. She got to her feet and found herself looking into the face of the boythat lookedlike the one shehad seen looking out the window earlier that day. "Sorry," she mumbled.
The boy chuckled, "Lemme guess… You're new here, right?" Annabella only nodded. "I'm Ulrich Stern," said the boy. "Annabella," she replied.
"Oh man!" said Ulrich smacking himself on the head, "I promised I would go meet my friends somewhere." He took off down the hallway before another word could be passed between them.
Geez, what is it with people and running off today?
By the time she had finally found her class, which was 20 minutes later, the tardy bell had rung. Ohhhh maaan… Late to my first class on my first day…
Annabella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She reached a trembling hand up to the door and gave a soft knock. No reply. She tried again, and that time she was more successful.
Muhaha! Small cliffie! Dun dun duuuun! Please review this. All it takes is one simple sentence stating whether you like it or not. I want to know whether I am doing ok, or that I should drop my pencil and abandon this story before I do any more damage. Capeesh?
