DISCLAIMER: (And I'm only saying this once per fic) I do not own Degrassi: The Next Generation or any related characters, places, etc. I only own those that I've made up myself.
Amber got out of the car and looked at the building in front of her. The sign read, 'Degrassi Community School.' She sighed and looked back at the car with her mom and her younger brother Corey. Her mom smiled and waved cheerfully. Amber managed to give a small smile, took a deep breath, and walked in.
The 10th Grade Classroom was bustling with activity. Close-knit groups were in every corner, and the room was full of the sound of teenagers chatting about several important topics like who was going out with who.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Raditch was finishing up his tour of the school with, "Well, if you need any help, feel free to come to me. I hope you enjoy yourself here at Degrassi. Now, let's go into the classroom."
They walked in, Amber behind, and the whole classroom hushed. The sudden silence was deafening in a way, and it was a little intimidating to see all those heads turning towards Amber all at once. Amber tried to hide her small frame behind Mr. Raditch even more, but he stepped aside, revealing her to everyone.
Ms. Kwan, the teacher, cleared her throat and announced, "Well, we have a new student. Class, I hope you give a warm welcome to...umm..."
She looked toward Mr. Raditch for the unknown name. "Amber Sullivan," Amber said softly, giving the impression that she was scared to say her own name. Amber instantly regretted speaking, because it drew attention to herself. She felt that she needed to get out of this room, this room where everyone was staring at her, trying to figure her out.
"Oh. Yes, well, I hope that you will have lots of fun here and make a lot of friends. Is there anything you want to tell the class? Maybe something special about your family? Any special talents or interests?"
Amber's eyes widened, and she empathetically shook her head no in silence.
"Okay then! Umm...you can sit in between Paige and Terri," Ms. Kwan said while pointing out Amber's seat.
Amber hurriedly went to her seat, and lowered herself onto the seat. She breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't up front anymore. She was so caught up in the gladness of not being in the spotlight, she didn't notice Paige eyeing her up and down. Paige put her critical eye to use when she summed Amber up in her mind. Once Paige satisfied her curiosity, she stared blankly at the front and occupied her mind with other things.
On the other hand, Terri smiled warmly and extended her hand. She introduced herself and stated how she hoped they'd become better friends. Amber smiled a little too, though she thought that there was little chance of becoming really close friends. Amber knew that even if there could have been a good friendship between them, that it would have to be eventually broken off when Terri learned about Amber's life.
The day progressed, and Amber soon met all of the other 10th Graders. She made her own judgments of them in her head, and outwardly, she smiled and said hi even though she knew she would never be close to any of them.
Craig, however, seemed to Amber to be the one with the most potential to get close with. Amber did not usually think of guys as the most likely to be best friends with her, but this time, it seemed obvious to her. There was just something different about him. There was a difference in the quiet way he introduced himself and expressed the hope that she would enjoy it at Degrassi. However, there was no way for Amber to explain the connection without sounding weird and forward. So, she granted Craig a bigger and more genuine beam instead of the smaller smile that everyone else received.
Throughout the day, everyone was talking about Amber, even though she was oblivious to it all. They all were aware that there was something that made her different than everyone else. They were interested in her even though she wasn't physically remarkable. She had plain brown hair, plain brown eyes, no makeup, and her clothes weren't flashy or attention-getting. In fact, her clothes were mostly dull shades. There was nothing bright or intriguing about her looks, but she still captured the attention of everyone else. They all whispered how she wasn't outgoing or friendly, but she certainly didn't push others away. And yet, she still did not give the impression that she wanted friends. Amber was definitely a puzzle, and the students at Degrassi all wished they could see the whole picture.
When Amber got home, she sank into an armchair and thought. She hoped that that day would be the most stressful of the year. But she knew that everything would come crashing down if certain things were discovered.