"Honey, everything is going to be fine."
"I'm going to disagree with you."
"Of course you are. All you've been doing is disagreeing with me for the past three months."
"That's because everything you've said and done has been very disagreeable."
"Jordan, that doesn't make any sense."
"Well it makes sense to me and right now that's all that matters."
My mother turns and looks at me seriously. "This could all be very good and productive for you," she says. "Canada is not so bad."
"Mom, it's 72 degrees outside," I tell her seriously. "And by October it'll be in the low 50s and I'll be wearing a jacket. How can that be any good? You and dad took me away from my home, my friends, everything I knew. You took me away from warm sunny Florida to this place that's like a cold hell."
"Ok so the weather will get some taking use to but at least you can get to know your cousin more."
"You mean Triple C?" I ask.
"Jordan, don't call her that."
"Oh sorry, what I meant to say was Crazy Cousin Cindy."
Mom sighs. "Jordan, that's really not any better. You shouldn't be calling your cousin crazy."
"Mom, do you remember how she came out to Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sally? They found her in her bedroom making out with both a guy and a girl at the same time and then she yelled "I'm bi!""
"Ok I will admit that Cindy might not have had the best approach when it came to coming out but besides that she's not crazy."
"Oh but let's not forget about the time she dumped a bucket of pads and tampons on her teacher's desk because he didn't let her use the restroom? She's fucking insane!"
Ow! My mom just flicked my ear. That shit hurt like a bizznitch.
"Jordan, it's bad enough you curse at home," she says. "Please try not to do it in public."
My mom's eyes become softer as she runs her hand through my hair in a loving manner. Yeah, she should feel bad about flicking my ear.
"Honey I know that this move has not been the easiest and I know that this place is a little different than what you're use to."
I scoff. "A little different?" I ask sarcastically.
"But I know you and you will adjust."
"Because I'm a Johnson," I finish. "That's what dad would say."
"That and because you're my daughter."
My mom kisses my forehead as two hot girls walk into the office. I groan. Of course as soon as my mom kisses me on the forehead two hot girls would walk in. Obviously God hates me and wants to punish me for all the sins I've committed. Although in my defense the whole making out with Santana Rivera in the janitor's closet totally wasn't my fault. She just randomly grabbed me and started making out with me. I always knew she was a little bi though.
"Jordan why are you smiling like that?" my mom ask me.
The smile quickly fades. I'd rather not let my mom know I was thinking about the hot make-out session with Santana. Let's just say that was not a happy phone call for my parents to receive from the principal that day. And speaking of principals I believe one is approaching us right now. A man wearing glasses, a grey suit, and many wrinkles on his face stops in front of us and has one of those fake adult smiles on his face. My mom stands up and practically forces me up.
"Hello, you must be Mrs. Felicia Johnson," the guy says to my mom while shaking her hand. "I'm Principal Dan Raditch."
"It is very nice to meet you Principal Raditch," Mom says. She places her hands on my shoulders. "This is my daughter Jordan."
"Hello Jordan," Principal Raditch greets me while holding out his hand for me to shake.
Ugh, I hate shaking old men's hands, I just find them disgusting. I take Principal Raditch's hand into mine and I'm trying not to gag a little.
"Hello, nice to meet you," I lie. Just because I'm upset doesn't mean I can't act civil.
"Well I'd like to welcome you two to Degrassi," Principal Raditch says. "I think you'll find Degrassi to be diverse, challenging yet rewarding, and just a great school overall. I have a feeling that Degrassi will be the perfect fit for you."
Well it was either Degrassi, some school named Lakehurst, or private school. I've never been a huge fan of private schools because of the whole uniform thing and also private school kids tend to be really snobby. Just because my family has money doesn't mean I'm a snob. Also seeing as a student at Lakehurst tried to burn it down last year Degrassi was really my only choice left.
Principal Raditch hands me a piece of paper. Oh this paper is my schedule. Let's see I have homeroom, which isn't even a class really, English, Media Immersion. Wait, what the hell is Media Immersion? Canadian History, Advance Placement Biology, and Advance Placement Calculus and Vectors. What the hell? Where the fuck is my AP History and AP English?
"I'm supposed to be in four AP classes," I tell Principal Raditch. "Why am I only signed up for AP Calculus and AP Biology? What happened to my AP history and AP English? I HAVE to be in these classes if I want to get into Miami."
"Well, unfortunately Jordan because you're a transfer student from a different country there are certain subjects we have to place you in, in order for you to graduate. Like you have to take Canadian Geography and History, which are what students usually take in grades nine and ten. Also we offer a very limited number of Advance Placement courses, which does not include English. However next year you'll be able to take our Analyzing Current Economic Issues course, which is an AP course."
I turn and look at my mother with narrowed eyes. "Did you hear that Mom?" I ask her. "Not only do they have a limited amount of AP courses, but I also have two take classes meant for freshmen and sophomores. Oh yeah this is definitely turning out to be good and productive for me."
"Jordan you didn't need to load up your schedule with AP courses anyway," Mom says. "You weren't going to have any time to study. Besides, you're still taking an AP math and science."
I'm groaning internally right now. I hate science for the life of me but I'm taking AP biology and it just so happens that both my parents are number geniuses so it just made sense to take an AP math class. But I also need as many AP classes as possible to get into my dream school, and seeing as this school has very few of those classes I'm pretty much taking whatever they have. I notice Mom looking at her watch. Now she's looking at me apologetic.
"I'm sorry honey but I have to go," she says. "But I love you and I know you will have a fantastic first day. I'll pick you up at three-thirty."
She kisses me on the forehead, like that's going to make everything all better.
"Principal Raditch, it was a pleasure meeting you," my mom says with a smile on her face and shakes his hand.
"Likewise Mrs. Johnson," he says. "First school night is in three weeks. Hopefully we will see you there."
"Of course. Good-bye."
I watch her walk out of the office and leave me behind in this weird foreign place. I turn back around and this Raditch dude is still smiling like a creeper at me.
"Written on the top of your schedule is your locker number and the combination," he says. "Because today is the first day of school you will be going to both A and B classes, tomorrow will be A classes, then B classes the next day and so forth."
I want to tell this guy so badly that I know how block scheduling works. This school isn't the only school in the world that does black scheduling. Hell I think almost every high school in the U.S. and Canada does block scheduling.
"You better hurry; homeroom starts in aboot three minutes," Principal Raditch says.
I'm suppressing a laugh right now. Even though I've been here about a month now hearing the people around here pronouncing it "aboot" still makes me laugh. I stifle the laughter and look at Principal Raditch.
"Thank you Principal Raditch," I say. "I will find my locker quickly and get to class before the bell rings. You have a good day."
"You too Jordan," he says. "You will find Degrassi a place where you can succeed."
I just smile and nod my head. I turn and walk out of the office. I will find Degrassi a place where I can succeed? It's like he was trying to sell me a used car or something. I look down at my schedule. Alright, I have locker 343. I walk by a locker that's fully decorated. Wow, must be someone's birthday. 338 , 339, I'm getting closer and closer. Aw great, two guys are standing right in front of my locker.
"Excuse me guys," I say.
The black guy moves over so I can get to my locker.
"Think Paige will be mad if I put up a picture of Mandy Moore?" I hear the white boy with curly hair ask the black boy.
"I saw her," the black boy says. "In L.A. when that scout who liked me took the whole camp to see a Lakers game. Are you listening?"
Why does this kid think he's so special? I've been to L.A. like twenty times and saw a Lakers game every single one of those times. But then again I lived in America and these kids live in Canada.
"Maybe Hilary Duff will be better," the white kid says, continuing answering what I'm assuming is a stupid question.
"Why?" his friend asks. "Why would that be better?"
"She looks more like Paige."
"I'd rather look more like Lindsay Lohan," a random girl says.
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that this random blonde is Paige. I'm also going to go ahead and guess that she likes pink because she's wearing a lot of it. I don't know why she would rather look like Lindsay Lohan though since Lindsay is a red-head. Is it creepy that I'm just listening in to their conversation?
"Aren't you at court today?" black kid asks.
Ooh did this girl commit a crime? She totally seems like someone who would rob a store or something but get away with it because she looks all cute and innocent like.
"I always wanted an assistant to handle my calendar," Paige says sarcastically and kind of bitchy. "Thanks Jim. But it was supposed to be tomorrow."
Ok so, so far after about thirty minutes of being at this place I've learned that the blonde pink girl's name is Paige and she might have committed a crime, black boy's name is Jim and might be Paige's personal assistant, and the white kid with curly hair makes weird faces. So far this Canadian school is turning out to be a bit weird.
"Wait, supposed?" white kid asks, confused.
"I'm not going," Paige says, while still looking down at the magazine. "Don't really see the point."
"I do!"
"Ok then you can go," Paige sounds a bit upset and gives the magazine back to white curly kid.
It feels like some tension is starting to build up.
"Y-you're really not going?"
Jim is looking down, biting his lip. I'm guessing he's trying not to say anything.
"Nope," Paige answers curly boy's question simply.
Curly boy shakes his head and kind of throws his magazine into his locker.
"I can't do this anymore," he says and slams his locker shut.
"Do what anymore?" Paige asks with her arms crossed and attitude in her voice.
I have a weird feeling this is about to get even more interesting. Jim is still just standing here, saying nothing.
"This," curly boy says, throwing his arms open. "Us!" And now he's walking away.
Paige is looking after him. Hmm I wonder if this is the first time that has ever happened.
"What was that?" silent Jim asks.
"Did he just dump me?" Paige asks.
"Yeah, and on the first day of school."
Oops, did I just say that out loud? Jim and Paige are both looking at me. The way Jim is looking at me he's probably wondering who the hell I am. The way Paige is looking at me, well it sort of seems like she wants to cut me right now.
"Umm…" I stammer. "I'm Jordan, and I'm new. So how about we chalk that comment up to me being the new girl?"
Paige rolls her eyes and walks away. Not only is she walking away but she's walking away angrily. I look back at Jim and he's still looking at me. He smiles and now he's holding out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Jimmy, Jimmy Brooks," he says.
I take Jimmy's hand and shake it. "I'm Jordan Johnson."
"Nice to meet you Jordan. So when you say new, do you mean grade seven or just new to Degrassi?"
"I mean new as in new to the country. I'm a junior and my parents figured now would be the perfect time to move to Canada."
"Ooh," Jimmy says. "That's harsh. Where are you originally from?"
"Florida."
"Well here's some advice, if you haven't already buy a coat."
"Because unlike Florida you guys actually get snow, like all the time?"
"Not only that but because on the first day of school you've already pissed off Paige Michalchuk so get ready for a blizzard."
"Thanks."
"No problem Jordan. Welcome to Degrassi."
Jimmy starts walking away. Great, now not only do I have to deal with the natural weather here I have to deal with Paige who apparently is like the Queen Bitch here. Ugh! Can I just go home already?
Ring!
Wow, first day of school and already I'm going to be late to class. I start power walking while looking down at my schedule and school map. Ow! Once again I find myself on the ground because once again I've run into someone. I wonder if this is some sort of record.
Ugh! There's paper and crap all over the ground. No one stops to help because they're all running to their classes. I pick myself up and look at the girl I run into. She has her back turned to me.
"I'm sorry," I tell her. "I should really start paying more attention to where I'm going."
"It's ok," the girl says. "It happens to the best of us."
The girl stands up and brushes herself up. I pick up a red notebook that I'm guessing is hers because it's not mine.
"I think this is yours," I tell her.
She turns around. Whoa! What was I just doing? This girl… I bet if I looked up 'beautiful' right now in the dictionary I'd find a picture of her. I don't know what's with me today I'm just bumping into girl after girl. But this girl…this girl with her striking green eyes and brilliantly beautiful smile.
She takes her notebook from me. "Thanks," she says and smiles. "Well better get going. First day of school and we're already late for our first class."
I shake my head, trying to get out of this trance I was just in.
"Uhh yeah," I agree, sounding like an idiot.
The girl starts walking away.
"Uh wait," I practically shout.
She turns around and raises her eyebrow. "Yeah?" she asks.
"Umm can you tell me how to get to Ms. Kwan's class?"
"Take this next left down the hallway and it should be the second door on your right."
"Thanks," I say and nervously smile.
"No problem," mystery girl says. "And good luck."
She turns around and starts walking in the direction to wherever her first class must be. Ok if I have that girl in one of my classes then moving to Canada will have totally been worth it. I continue my journey to my first class. Hmm well I can blame being five minutes late to me being brand spankin' new. Let's see Room 113 B. I open the door and immediately all eyes are me. This must be what a museum exhibit feels like.
"May I help you?" the teacher asks me.
"Hi, is this Ms. Kwan's class?" I ask. "I believe this is my homeroom."
"Yes it is. You must be our new student."
"Yep."
Ms. Kwan waves me over. Oh God I hope she's not about to do what I think she's going to do. I walk over to Ms. Kwan.
"Every this is our new student Jordan," Ms. Kwan introduces me.
The class is looking at me as if they don't care who the fuck I am. I have to say that I have the same feelings about them.
"Why don't you tell the class a little aboot yourself?"
I suppress the laughter that was trying to escape. I'm sorry but how do these people not realize that they're pronunciation of the word is hilarious?
"Umm I'm Jordan Johnson," I tell the class. "I just moved here from Florida. I play the guitar and I like to skate."
Ms. Kwan claps her hands. "Well then Jordan since you arrived to class late we only have one seat left," she says. "So you'll be sitting by Alex. Alex raise your hand please."
I see a hand lazily and reluctantly go up into the air. I start walking to where the mystery hand is. I see the person the hand belongs to. Oh crap! I stop dead in my tracks. You have got to be kidding me. It's the same girl who pushed me earlier this morning and she's sitting all the way in the back, in the back where no one will hear my screams if she kills me.
"Jordan, please take a seat so I can start class," Ms. Kwan says.
I gulp and continue my journey to death. It's not that I'm afraid of this girl, because I'm not. I'm not afraid of anyone, except my mother who is one scary woman when she is angry. It's just I still don't know this area and this girl could easily abduct me and dump me somewhere with no phone, no money, and I could just be stranded in the middle of nowhere Canada.
"Are you going to sit down or what?"
I shake my head, getting out of once again another trance. I look down at Alex who is giving me a weird look. I sigh and sit down in the seat next to her.
"So is everyone in Florida blind or just you?" Alex asks.
"Your insult would have been so much better if it hadn't been for the fact that I just obviously saw your hand to get to this seat I'm sitting in right now, and because you bumped into me," I tell her.
Alex turns her head sharply and looks at me. "No new girl, you bumped into me."
"Um are you deaf?" I ask her. "Did you not just hear me tell the whole class my name like five seconds ago? I don't remember saying that my name is New Girl. I'm pretty sure I said it's Jordan, so how about when you address me you say the correct name?"
Alex shakes her head. "Wow you are so clearly new," she says.
"Why? Because I just said that about ten seconds ago?"
Alex's face changes, she's looking at me threateningly now. "No, because the last girl who decided she was tough enough to stand up to me received a bloody nose and a black eye."
Stay strong Jordan, stay strong. You're a Johnson and Johnsons are confident and tough. But I also have to remember the Johnson family rule about violence: Johnsons never use violence to solve anything. Violence is never the answer. The only time we use our fists is to protect ourselves and others. But Alex doesn't know I can't use my fists. I muster up my best threateningly look.
"Now you listen here Alex and you listen well," I start. "I've spent my whole life in nice sunny Florida. Then next thing I know my whole world changes and I'm in this cold hell you people call Canada. Am I pissed? Oh you bet your ass I'm pissed. Have I been able to get my anger out? Nope not yet. So if you would like to solve this problem by letting me kick your ass all the way to Mars then let me go ahead and say thank you because I will very much enjoy kicking your ass. Do – not – threaten – me. Do you understand or will I need to say it more slowly for you, because to be honest you seem like someone who's a little slow."
Alex's face looks like it's debating which emotion to show. Right now it sort of looks like a cross between anger and disbelief. Has no one really stood up to this girl before?
"Miss Nuñez and Miss Johnson, is there something more interesting going on back there that I should know aboot?" Ms. Kwan asks.
I turn my head and smile innocently at her. "No ma'am," I tell her. "Everything is just fine. We were just discussing how excited we are for your class this year."
I hear a few snickers go through the class.
"Well how aboot you two stop discussing it and actually pay attention?"
"Yes ma'am."
I put the rest of my attention on Ms. Kwan, ignoring Alex. Sometimes it takes a threat to make a threat stop.
After Class:
That had to be the longest class of my life. Who knew that Ms. Kwan would go straight from homeroom into her actual English class? All she really went over was the syllabus and how important grade eleven is for university and what not. She also informed us of when lunch is,
What makes it worse is that all Ms. Kwan talked about was the syllabus and how important grade eleven is for university and what not. I find it sort of weird that they say grade eleven instead of the eleventh grade or junior year. Also they say university instead of college. I've been noticing little things like that and I can't decide if it bothers me or not.
We're all walking out of class, now that it's over, and thank God it's over. What the-! Someone grabs me by my shirt and slams me against the lockers.
"Ow!" I yell.
Alex has me against the lockers. I love that no one is stopping to help or anything, they're all just still walking, minding their own business. It's as if we're invisible or something.
"Listen, I don't know who the fuck you think you are but know that I don't take threats lightly," Alex says.
Oh my God! I am so sick of this! I push Alex off of me.
"No you listen!" I shout while pushing Alex. "Today is my first day at a new school and it already sucks that I have to start all over. But now I have some crazy chick who has decided to threaten me and bully me? What the hell is your problem? I bumped into you once, ONCE! I didn't kill your dog, or your cat, or anything like that. I accidentally bumped into you. It was a little bump and I'm the one who ended up on the floor, not you. Now leave me alone."
I push her one more time and this time it's into the other set of lockers. Now people are staring. Alex looks around, scoffs, and now she's walking away. Everyone is staring at me.
"What the hell are you staring at?!" I yell. "Go to class!"
Everyone starts scattering. I've only been at this place for about two hours and already I want to spend the rest of my life at home, in my room. I start walking, looking down at my schedule and the school map. I have Media Immersion with an Archiable Simpson. Who names their child that?
BAM!
Is there a record for the number of times one can end up on the ground for running into someone within a few hours? Once again I find myself on the ground in pain. I look up at the other poor soul I ran into this time. Whoa, it's the girl from before. Maybe this is fate? The girl sees that it's me that she ran into and she shakes her head but I think I might see a small smile on her face.
"We should really stop meeting like this," she says.
"I agree," I say.
I get up off the ground and brush myself off. I offer my hand to the girl and help her up. She standing now but I'm still holding her hand. She clears her throat. I quickly take back my hand and I'm pretty sure I'm blushing a little bit.
"Sorry," I tell her. "Sometimes I zone out."
"Would that explain you running into me twice?" she asks. "Or do you just like running into people?"
"Well running into people is fun, especially when it's a cute girl I keep running into."
Yeah that's right. I'm laying down the Johnson charm. I don't even know if this girl is into girls but it doesn't even matter to me because she's definitely smiling now and I think she may be blushing a little.
The girl raises an eyebrow and smiles. "So you're running into me on purpose?" she asks.
"If I say yes will that make me seem a little weird or charming?" I ask her, trying to sound flirty, in a non-creepy way.
"Babe!"
Babe? What? A guy runs up to the girl and throws his arm around her shoulders and kisses her on her cheek. What. The. Fuck. Dude. And now my bad day has just gotten worse.
"Hey," beautiful girl greets him.
Random dude looks at me. Brown hair, brown eyes, tall, slim built, polo shirt with a popped collar, cargo shorts, frosted tips and white. He literally looks like every guy in my old neighborhood back in Miami.
"Who's this?" Random dude asks the beautiful girl.
Now she's looking at me because she doesn't know my name.
"I'm Jordan," I tell the random dude.
"Well hi," he says. "I'm Will, Bethany's boyfriend."
So I've now learned that the random dude's name is Will, an average name for an average looking guy. And the beautiful girl's name is Bethany.
"Well I should probably get to class," I tell the couple. "Nice meeting you."
I walk away before anything else can be said. I'm starting to hate this school more and more by the second. Even though I just met them and I literally just learned their names I've already decided that this Will guy is a douche and isn't right for Bethany. I know I know, I'm being judgmental. I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. But what the hell am I suppose to do when the cover looks THAT shitty? Not read that book, that's what.
I enter room 134, the classroom that my schedule says is Media Immersion. Oh my God, this room is full of computers! I'll admit, that I'm a bit of a computer fan. One would say nerd, but I say enthusiast, mostly because I'm a fan of the internet and computer games like The Sims and Sims City. There's nothing like building your own city or playing god. My therapist says that because of my past trauma I enjoy games that allow me to be 100 percent in control. My therapist can be a bit much sometimes. Honestly I just like those games because they allow me to daydream, without actually sleeping, if that makes sense.
I look around the classroom, hoping to find the teacher. Ah-ha! Spot him! An older balding white man is sitting behind, what I presume to be, the teacher's desk. As I approach the desk he looks up and smiles at me.
"Hello there," he says and stands up. "I'm Mr. Simpson."
"Hi, I'm Jordan Johnson."
"Aw yes, the new student from Florida. Well Jordan welcome to Media Immersion."
"Um thanks. What exactly is Media Immersion though?"
Mr. Simpson's smile turns into an excited grin. "Jordan I am very happy you asked that question."
He comes from around his desk and places his arm around my shoulder while walking me through the classroom.
"Jordan in today's world media and technology is everywhere," Mr. Simpson says. "The world is on a growing trend of receiving and consuming their news from other sources besides newspapers. As the world changes we must change with it. It is my job to help and educate students on how to use technology to the fullest extent and to learn how to use the media to their advantage."
I nod my head. "Ok I think I'm getting it," I tell him.
Mr. Simpson claps his hands excitedly. "Excellent! Jordan I have a very good feeling that you will enjoy this class. Now you can choose anywhere you'd like to sit."
I decide to not be anti-social and choose a seat in the very middle of the class. I open the browser and it immediately asks for a student username and password. Shit, I don't have one of those yet. I guess that's something I'll get at SOME point today.
The classroom slowly starts to fill as students enter the room. Some of them seem excited to see each other, greeting each other, asking how their summer once. I'm once again reminded that I'm the new kid and no one here gives two shits about how my summer girl from earlier, that one i accidentally insulted, I think her name is Paige. Paige walks into the classroom with another girl in tow. They sit on the other side of the computer table, across from me. Paige finally notices me and I awkwardly smile.
"You're the girl from earlier," she says.
"Possibly? Or maybe I just look like the girl from earlier," I say. Jedi mind trick.
Paige shakes her head. "No you're definitely her."
Ok, so Jedi mind trick fail.
I nod my head. "Yeah, listen I'm really sorry about what I said earlier. I have this condition where everything I think just automatically comes out of my mouth. My parents and I have been looking for a cure for it for about ten years now but it seems that I have been cursed with this disease for the rest of my life."
"Is rambling also part of the disease?" Paige asks.
"No, the rambling comes from me being really nervous right now. And now I'll shut up."
Paige is looking at me right now as if she's scanning me, studying me. I'm not too sure how I feel about this. It seems like Paige's friend is waiting for her to make a decision about me.
"Hmm," Paige says.
And that's it. Nothing else comes out of her mouth but Paige's friend nods her head as if she agrees. Agrees with or about what? I don't know but I decide to shrug it off. I look at the door while more and more students file into the classroom. These are going to be my classmates for the next year and I don't know a single one of them. If I was back at home I'd probably know ninety-nine percent of the class. Holy crap, shit balls. Beautiful girl, what's her name. Shit, what's her name? WHAT'S HER NAME?! THINK JORDAN THINK! Oh shit she sees me! AND I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME! She's walking my way and smiling. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JORDAN REMEMBER HER NAME!
She sits down in the once empty seat that is beside me. Breathe Jordan, breathe. Think of her name you dumbass, remember to breathe and think of her name.
"Hi," the beautiful girl greets me and once again dazzles me with her smile.
"Hi," I say nervously.
She turns to Paige and Paige's friend.
"Hi Paige, hi Hazel," she greets them.
So I know Paige's name, and now I know that Paige's friend's name is Hazel, but I can't remember this beautiful angel's name. I might as well just die in a ditch right now. Don't come to my funeral. Don't send flowers to my grave site. Just let me die.
"You two look fabulous, as always," she continues.
"Thanks Beth," Paige says.
BETH! HER NAME IS BETHANY! AH-HA!
"How was your summer?" Paige asks Bethany.
"It was great. How was yours?"
Paige shrugs her shoulders. "Nothing too exciting, the fam and I went to the Ukraine to visit the motherland."
Bethany laughs. Her laugh has got to be the most beautiful laugh I have ever heard. Oh my God, I am literally becoming the biggest creeper in the world right now. I gotta snap out of this.
"Yeah we sort of did the same thing," Bethany says. "My father said since we visited the "motherland" last year that this year we'd visit the "fatherland" so he took us to Mexico."
"Man, you guys got to travel this summer," Hazel starts. "All I got was a summer job babysitting two brats."
"I moved to a completely different country where they use the metric system, so I'm confused about all measurements now," I blurt.
And now they're all just looking at me… I'm failing at life, someone please come save me.
"Yeah word vomiting is also part of that disease I was talking about earlier," I tell them.
"Where are you from?" Bethany asks me.
I look at her and smile nervously. "Originally I'm from Florida," I tell her. "I spent my whole life there, until now…"
"That must suck," Hazel says. "Why'd you move?"
"My dad's company decided to transfer him. They wanted to spread their business "internationally"."
I air quote the words "internationally" because does it really count if it's just Canada? I mean it's not like they opened an office in England, or China, or Japan. Not that ANY of those places would have been much better. Though I do have a soft spot for British accents.
"Anyway," I continue. "His company decided he was the best man for the job and they made him the president of the Toronto branch. My parents also figured that this move could "broaden" my horizons."
"Wow, that majorly blows hon," Paige says.
Does this girl call everyone hon? It's enduring yet slightly disturbing in a way.
"Yeah it kind of sucks, moving to a different place, let alone a different country," I tell them.
"Well like your parents said, maybe this will be a good move for you," Bethany says and smiles at me.
"Hello ladies!" a boy greets Paige and Hazel.
Whoa, now THIS guy is wearing one hell of an outfit. White button up shirt with a black slim tie and a black jacket over that with some jeans and those shoes… I know it's only 72 degrees outside but this kid has got to be burning up. He's also wearing sunglasses, though they look like they could be women's sunglasses. I can also tell that he straightened his hair because there is no way this kid's hair is naturally straight like that.
"I like your outfit," I tell the boy.
Don't get me wrong I honestly do like his outfit. This isn't mean pulling some Regina George Mean Girls mind trick. I'm a HUGE fan of ties especially when they're slim or skinny, they can really accent an outfit.
The boy smiles at me. "Thank you," he says excitedly. "I'm Marco."
"Jordan."
Marco sits beside Paige and Hazel. I can already tell that the three of them are really close.
RING!
There's the sound that haunts me in my dreams when I sleep at nigh. Mr. Simpson moves to close the door. As soon as the door closes it reopens. Of course, Alex would also be in my third period class.
"Aw, Miss Nuñez, late for class on the very first day of school," Mr. Simpson says. "Can we please try not to make this a habit this year?"
Alex shrugs her shoulders. "I make no promises Mr. S," she says.
Alex takes a seat in the row behind me and practically throws her book bag onto the computer table.
I hear Hazel groan. "We would have class with her this year," she mutters. "Why can't all the social rejects be in one class together and leave the rest of us alone?"
Alex turns around. "Why don't you say that louder so we can all hear you next time Hazel?" she asks sarcastically.
"Why don't you sit down Alex," Paige asks, annoyed. "Just because you were late doesn't mean the rest of our educations should have to suffer."
"Oh cause God forbid anything gets in the way of Princess Prissy's education!"
"Well at least I care aboot my education. But I guess if I were you I wouldn't care since we all know where you're going to end up after high school." Paige starts laughing. "That is IF you pass high school. You might be like the rest of your loser friends and just drop out."
"Paige," I hear Marco says softly, like he's trying to get her to stop.
"Well we all know what's going to happen to you after high school Princess," Alex says. "You'll graduate and in ten years you'll be fat and have five kids with a husband who has a drinking problem while you tell the ladies at the country club how happy you are."
Whoa, that felt like a low blow to me for some reason. Maybe because of my family's past with drinking problems. Or maybe because my parents and I actually do belong to a country club.
"Please hon, I think you're confusing your future with mine. Minus the country club part of course," Paige says and smirks.
"Ladies," Mr. Simpson calls out. "How aboot we wait till at least the second week of school before the bickering begins?"
Well he sure did take his sweet time defusing that situation. I thought he was going to wait till they started punching each other. Wait, do Canadians actually ever physically fight outside of hockey?
Paige rolls her eyes and Alex turns back around to focus on her computer. I look between them. I wonder if this is the classic battle between the rich white girl and the poor minority girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Whose side am I on? I'm not on either side because quite frankly this seems pretty stupid to me.
"Wow, that was…intense," I say.
"Hon just know that there are some people in the school who only take up space," Paige says while eyeing Alex.
I nod my head. "Duly noted."
After Class:
First class of Media Immersion is officially over. It was pretty much the same as English. Mr. Simpson read the syllabus to us and told us what to expect this year. He also told some pretty lame computer jokes, jokes that I actually laughed at. Everyone begins gathering their things and leaving the classroom.
"Hey Jordan, maybe we'll see you later?" Marco asks.
I smile. "Yeah, see you later."
I like Marco. He seems like good people.
"Bye Jordan," Bethany says and smiles at me.
"Later Bethany."
I look around and Alex and I are the only ones left in here. She doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. I walk over to her as she's typing away on the computer.
"Class is over," she says. "You can leave now."
"Listen I know that you and I aren't exactly friends," I tell her. "Mostly because even though we only met a couple of hours ago we've already threatened each other about three times, but what happened earlier was pretty ridiculous."
Ale scoffs. "Whatever," she mutters.
"What Paige said wasn't very nice, not that your come back was any better."
Alex looks up at me. "What's your point?"
I sigh. "My point is that I don't know you Alex. I know NOTHING about you and you know nothing about me. But for all you know we might be the same, in some ways."
"I highly doubt that."
I shrug. "Well maybe you're right. Because if I know one thing it's this, both you and Paige really suck at insulting each other."
I turn to walk away and look down at my schedule. I approach Mr. Simpson's desk since I have no idea where I'm going.
"Mr. Simpson, where's 202?" I ask him.
"Upstairs and down the hall just a bit," he answers. "But you are actually heading to lunch now."
"I am?"
Mr. Simpson smiles and nods his head. "Yeah, it's lunch time," he says and chuckles. "Just go down the hall and you'll find The Caf. Better hurry, I heard they're serving tater tots today!"
Hmm, I could definitely eat some tots. I leave the classroom and head down to the cafeteria. I don't know much about this school so far but what I do know is that Paige and Alex DO NOT like each other, like AT ALL, which should make for an interesting class.