Chapter 2: First Day Jitters
"Who's she?" "Some Country Bumpkin?" "Pfft Nice one, Reno. Really." "Aww, you know I mean right!" "What's with that gaudy ribbon? And those leggings! YUCK! Girl has a thing for pink. Her name must be Barbie." "Oh that's cruel, Elena." "Don't give me that,
Rude! I wouldn't be caught dead wearing pink! It's too flamboyant for me. Reno might look good in it though."
Laughter erupted down the crowded hallway as I tried to make my way to the office. I had just entered the Highschool building and already I'm the center of attention. I've been getting multiple stares and whistles from all around. I had to cover my face from behind my book bag. How embarassing. Was my ribbon really gaudy looking? And what's wrong with my leggings? That girl over there has her blouse buttoned way too low! Why can't they complain about her...woah. There's no WAY those are real.
"Are you Gainsboro?" A deep voice broken me out of my trance. "Huh?" I looked up to see a tall man with the longest silver hair pulled into a pony tail. He wore the typical garb for a teacher: Black suit, white shirt and, well, he lacked the tie. In fact, he lacked a few buttons too. What's that red stain on his collar? Is that a scar on his neck? "Ah! Y-Yes. I'm sorry! I'm Aerith Gainsboro." I bowed respectfully at my superior. What am I doing analyzing him for? He's an instructor! Or maybe the student body President? He looked too young to be a teacher. I wonder how old he is?
The silver haired man smirked at my reaction and held a hand out to me. I shook it reluctantly, not even noticing how much I was shaking.
"Ah, I see. I was told about you coming today, Miss Gainsboro. I am Sephiroth. I teach multiple study courses as well as basic math and science courses. Many students prefer to call me Professor S. No matter, I assume you must be looking for the office?" I couldn't help the soft heat bouncing from my cheeks. Woah! Such manners! I didn't expect that! I mimicked his smile and nodded.
"I'd appreciate that, sir."
"Pffft! You stupid ass! You can't ram your motorcycle into four trash bins and assume they'd bounce off the walls of a chocobo ranch!"
"Tch, not like you can't bounce them off of your breasts, Tifa." "What was that, Zack?!" "Alright, class. That's enough. Everyone take your seats." Multiple students lazily roamed to their seats by their instructor's orders. The teacher, Mrs. Scarlet, had made her way to the desk and grabbed her attendance sheet. She looked up and around the room, marking little notes on her sheet before speaking to a group of people in the back seats. "Zack, shouldn't you be in detention with your brother?" The spiky black haired teen shrugged as he played with his pencil on the back of a girl's chair. The girl in front of him, who wore her blouse with most of her top buttons undone, had the largest set of breasts any innocent mind had never seen. Well, that's what I thought at least from my angle of the door way.
I was told to stay outside until my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Scarlet, had found a seat for me. Was it really that hard? There were many seats available. It looks like not many students like coming to homeroom. Glancing from the front door, I frowned silently as I saw the same group of people who were mocking my attire. Great... Juuuust great. "I assume that if you had skipped detention, yet again,
then Cloud should be arriving shortly? Where is he?" The teacher barked, tapping her pen against her desk impatiently. Another shrug from the black haired male and another mark upon the tablet made by the teacher before she sighed and slammed the tablet onto her desk.
Yikes... This is my homeroom?
"Fine then. Get in here girl!" My teacher barked at me, startling me in my spot. Nervously, I entered the room, trying hard not to break my 'smile' from my face. "We have a new student today. She's not from Midgar, so she may say a few strange things." I looked at my instructor in shock. How rude! I don't say strange things! Ah.. right, I have to make a good impression. Remember, Aerith: you need friends!
Echoing my 'smile' from before, I bowed slightly toward the ground. "Um nice to meet you all. I'm Aerith Gainsboro." Little snickers bounced off the walls at my introduction. Then silence.
"Aerith, we have a color-coated dress code." My teacher warned me, earning another snicker. "I- wait really? But I don't have anything else that's gray." I frowned. "Not my problem. You're going to have to buy yourself something. Since this is your first day, I'll leave you with a warning. Now, take a seat...over there." She pointed to a seat next to the busty girl. I gulped lightly, earning another snicker from the group in front.
Trying very hard to ignore the laughter, I slowly made my way to my new seat. Unfortunately, that didn't stop a red-haired male from extending his leg through my path, causing me to fall face first to the floor. At least my bag saved my face from bruising. But man,
those books inside jammed against my cheek! Ouch!
"Pfft! Hahaha flowers for undies, babe?" Laughter erupted and echoed down the hall as I tried desperately to hide my undergarments from the peering is horrible! I Forgot! These pink leggings are almost see through! Ohhh Now I REALLY wish they had longer skirts... But...I have to focus! Don't let something like this bring me down. I won't let them break me. I stood up once more and continued to my new seat. Finally sliding into my seat, my eyes glued themselves to the wooden desk. Various doodles and scrapes were carved into the seat. Who sat here?
I tried to ignore the stares and laughter. I don't even remember hearing my teachers voice until something caught my attention. "Cloud,
you're late." Cloud? Wait, that's a name? I looked up to see a spiky haired blonde male enter the room. He had a frown and glare plastered on his face. His glare was aimed at the group in front, though. And as if it were magic, the laughter vanished and the class began as he made his way toward me. "Psst hey." A voice next to me broke my concentration. "Sorry, just ignore them. They are all stuck up bitches anyway." The girl next to me smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Tifa." "Busty for short." "Shut up, Zack. Can't you see she's scared? Ignore him. Cloud's best friend can be an ass sometimes. Just let him know he's an ass and he'll back down." "No I won't. Ouch!" "Will you shut up back there?!"
A little smile crept up on my face as I watched Tifa and Zack bicker. Maybe I will make friends. They don't seem that bad. "Ah." I looked up and grabbed my bag, taking it out of the walkway for the blonde guy. He's so quiet. He's related to the other guy? They're so different. I tried to keep my eyes away from him but it was unavoidable when he muttered a soft 'Nice bow...' before taking his seat behind me. I gulped once more as I burried my face into my bag. Okay...He's cute...like reeeealy cute when he's closer. And now I feel like my neck is on fire! I-Is he watching me? W-Why? Was he joking about my ribbon or did he mean it? Wait, wait wait! Too many things are happening... Ugggh I can't wait until my last class. Professor Sephiroth teaches my math class as my final class of the day. I can't wait.
At least he was nice.