Chapter 3
The two days of the weekend went fast it seemed. Through the whole weekend I spent it in my room. By Sunday evening I was finally done putting everything away. Clothes hung in my closet, books and movies were stacked, CDs stacked, and the bed was finally put all together. It was a pretty shabby room
My mother and I had dinner at Max's every night. I knew she was trying to help me into being here. I had to admit I liked Max's it had that good feeling sense to it. My father's and my favorite coffee shop had that same feeling. In fact, I found out Danesville actually had a coffee shop. My mother was against drinking coffee, so I all I did was watch as it passed my car window. I planned on looking at it after school. Perhaps it had a good atmosphere to do homework rather than at home.
It felt weird at my new home. You know when you walk into someone else's house you know it's not yours? By some kind of smell, sense, look, or noise? That's how it felt being at home. I felt suffocated in there. My room even felt like a prison. Then again, it might have been all in my mind. Most likely was.
On Monday morning I had my bag and other necessities ready for school. It felt like kindergarten again. A new school where you knew nobody and the only thing your mother has to say is, "You're going have lots of fun. And I bet you'll make friends fast."
"Mother its high school. It is never fun." I responded finishing my whole-wheat cereal.
"The teenagers are great here, Lillian. Beside you've said before you make friends fast."
"That was back in New York. You know back in my own element and territory." I drank the rest of my orange juice.
I was hoping to make friends fast though. At least that way I wouldn't be alone in this small town. It was that plan of attack or make friends with the bears and horses here.
"Well you have to get to school somehow today. Why don't you go start up the truck?" She asked tossing me the keys. Amazingly I was one of the few New Yorkers who could drive.
Placing my dishes at the sink, I grabbed the keys and headed out the door. Next I froze on the steps outside. Beside my mother's blue truck awaited an old Ford truck painted in dark blue. The paint looked chipped and the fender was a little rusted. I could see the dark leather seating inside the cab. I glanced down in my hand and saw she had given the keys that did not belong to her truck. The woman had given me my own car.
I walked up beside it to look at. The side didn't fell smooth and it most definitely wasn't shiny. It was a perfect getaway car, well truck.
"How do you like it?' My mother's voice came from the doorway.
"You got me a truck?" I asked staring at her in disbelief.
"Well you have to get to school somehow. Its September, winter is going to be coming fast. And I don't want you walking there. Even five miles seems ridiculous just for school."
"Well then I choose the walking." I stated opening the cab door. It squeaked a bit, but I didn't really care. I actually had a car. I even stifled a smile.
"Glad you like it." Damn she saw the smile. "I bought it off from our local dealer, Robert Hatchers. His oldest son works on all the old ones. He's a fantastic mechanic. They say if there's anything you need just ask." She stood beside the car's door. I was already inside.
"Well this is pretty awesome mom."
"I know it's not new, painted well, a mustang…"
"Mom, really it's great. It's car that's all that matters." She smiled and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek through the open window.
"Well Miss Sixteen, I will be at the shop all day today. You can come home early and do homework or cruise around the town in your new ride today. Your choice, just be home by six." She patted my arm and went inside the house to grab her own stuff.
I started the truck and listened to the actually quiet engine of the old Ford. It grunted a bit as I backed it up, but it felt good. Found-On-Road-Dead it was not.
I drove the five miles to school in no time, but halfway wished I had taken my time more. I arrived early, like an hour early. The only cars in the parking lot were most likely the teacher's cars. Parking the truck on the other side of the lot, I cautiously stepped out of the cab. It was quiet, like eerily quiet. I guess I was used to the sounds of passing cars, honking horns, blaring sirens, people screaming, and construction noise. Here? Just the small noises from inside the school.
I briskly walked across the parking wanting to get inside. It would be wonderfully great if I could find the school office before people poured in. The walls of the school weren't one color. Some of them were a light green, light yellow, pale violet, and pale blue. I had a colorful school, wonderful. I couldn't even figure out the school's colors.
I wondered the halls a little more until I finally saw some signs. I headed in the direction of the office, which was right around the corner. Peering through the pixie glass door I could see a thin woman sitting behind a counter. She wore a blue jacket over some kind of violet blouse. Opening the door and stepping in, she looked up from papers she was writing on and smiled, of course.
"Might be a little early for school this morning?" She asked keeping that sweet smile on her face.
"I'm new here. Apparently I'm early today. My name is Lily—Lillian Quaker." I replied trying to smile back, with no prevail.
"Ah, Marilyn's daughter. I buy my rose seeds from your mother." Everybody knew everybody? That's new.
"Let me go through my books and I'll find you your schedule. Can I get you a directory of the school?" She asked standing up on 4-inch heels.
"Yeah, thanks." I replied watching her step graciously to some cabinets.
She rummaged through the cabinets and some shelving that had some kind of paperwork in it. She picked through the folders and placed them everywhere. The woman was beginning to remind me of the secretary from 'Grease', but with no peanut butter. She finally gave a directory. I looked it over expecting only five classrooms. To my amazement they had a lot more. In fact the school was bigger than I thought it was. Perhaps the sign into Danesville hadn't been updated.
After a few more minutes passed she finally came up with paperwork. She placed some up front of me. Though I had no idea what they were for. Thankfully she went through all of them for me and gave me my schedule. History was my first class.
"If there is anything you need just ask your teachers or you can find me. By the way my name is Dorothy Weathers. I'm the principal of the school."
I was stunned.
"Wait you're the principal?" I asked.
"Yes, our secretary is out sick today. So let me tell you first hand that there is no fooling around here. I do not tolerate misbehavior. Do you understand me?" She talked with dignity and power, but was…. sweet as well.
"Yes Ms. Weathers." I replied. Well that would explain the 4-inch heels and not knowing where the papers were. I was scared for a minute there.
I left the quiet office into the loud hallway. She had taken so long trying to find my papers the students had almost all arrived. Looking at a clock down the hallway I hurried to try to find my first classroom and homeroom.
People laughed and talked in groups as I passed them. I kept my head down away from them. My mother might want me to make friends, but I was going to take the process slow. A few people stared at me as I passed them. They probably already knew who I was. I wasn't going to bother proving their theory. After some wrong turns and wrong hallways I finally came to the right classroom.
One of the many problems about being the new kid is that everyone knows it when you walk in. Everyone in the room was talking to each other in their own groups. Already I could tell which ones were the preppies, jocks, geeks and nerds, and other miscellaneous students. They all seemed to stop talking as soon as I walked into the room. A quiet whisper went through the room. The teacher hadn't arrived yet. Oh, crap.
"You must be the new girl." A tall brunette sat near the doorway on, what I presumed, her desk. She was almost a replica of Megan Fox. Long brown hair, full-lipped, and had dark brown eyes. Instantly I knew she was the pop star of the school.
"No newer than you are." I replied shifting my weight.
"Sense of humor, how original." Her comments needed work. She stood up from the desk and popped her hip out. She wore a short pink skirt and a light gray sweater. Oh, and she wore high heels, of course.
"The name is Megan Mullen. You must be Lillian Quaker."
"The name hasn't changed, but I like to be called Lily." I replied glancing out the door for a glimpse of the teacher.
"Anything you say Lillian." Oh, damn. "This is Felicia and Darleen." She pointed to two blondes. Both of them were tall and slender like Miss Megan. I just met the cheerleading squad.
"Let me guess," I started to say looking at them, "You're the new mean girl cast am I right?" My sarcasm didn't fit well with Megan, but the rest of the class cracked up.
One look from an angry 'Mean Girl' they all shut their mouths and stifled their smiles and laughs. And almost when it looked she was going to strangle me the teacher walked in.
"Alright class let's settle into our seats. I don't want any commotion today." Mrs. Heather Kirkley spoke as she entered the classroom. She surpassed, but soon noticed me when I didn't move.
"You must be Lillian Quaker." She stated smiling to me. Apparently only the teachers here were nice. I handed her my slip that Ms. Weathers had given me. She looked it over and smiled again.
"Class this is Lillian Quaker." She stated loudly to the classroom. Shit.
"We already know that now." A boy's voice came from one of the window seats. The classroom became filled with stifled laughter. And again shut up from her Highness's glare and the teacher's.
"Miss Quaker you can take the seat in the back there next to Amelia." She spoke quietly to me so the rest wouldn't hear. Before I could move for my seat she grabbed my shoulder and said, "I'm sorry for your loss Lillian."
Not looking at her I walked slowly to my seat. How did they know about my father? I guess my mother had told people about it. I wouldn't blame her for it, especially if they asked why her child was staying permanently this time. Unfortunately Ms. Kirkley started a wave flow of emotions I had last left on my ride from the airport. Keeping my head down I sat in my seat. Ms. Kirkley began attendance and started her lesson of the first period. They were doing history on the Civil War I just finished it back in New York. Great.
Sitting and watching the teacher unimpressed I didn't notice the girl sitting beside me named Amelia. In a way, I didn't want to. I already met enough girls for one day, perhaps for a whole week. Halfway through she tapped my shoulder as Ms. Kirkley was explaining about General Lee's army.
"I'm Amelia." She whispered to me. I looked over to her and finally noticed what she looked like. She had bright red hair, some freckles on her face and pleasant dark green eyes. She smiled with a hello.
"I'm Lily." I responded glancing back to the teacher.
"Yeah I know. Look don't worry about Megan and her gang of 'Mean Girls." She quoted mean girls with her fingers. She had a light voice even while she whispered softly.
"She's, as you can guess, the pop queen of Danesville High. Including being the head cheerleader."
" I thought she was on the quiz bowel, guess I was wrong." I joked. Amazingly she giggled a bit holding her hand to her mouth. I was beginning to like her.
She settled back into her seat with a giant smile. While watching the teacher point to some towns on a map I smiled a bit, too.