Violet Parr hated the first day of school. This year she was starting eighth grade at a new school. She didn't know any kids there, and she felt miserable. Violet just knew she would have a horrible year.

She walked to the office and picked up her class schedule for the first semester. Her locker was #14. My age, thought Violet, smiling. Maybe that's a good omen. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

Violet went to locker #14 and opened it, working the combination: 5-10-27. Her first cla ss was Homeroom, in Room 120. She grabbed a notebook and pencil and walked down the hall toward Room 120, trying to avoid being noticed by the hoards of students in the halls.

She slid into the seat closest to the door and looked around at the other kids. Several clusters of students sat together and chatted quietly. There was another girl, a brunette, who sat alone too. She was reading a book, but when she caught Violet staring at her she put it down and waved. The girl motioned for Violet to come sit next to her.

Violet gathered her things and moved over to sit next to the girl. She smiled and said, "Hi. I'm Violet Parr. Who are you?"

"My name's Mia. Mia Willis. Are you new here too?"

"Yes."

Ju st then a teacher came in and sat down at his desk. His voice boomed through the room. "Welcome to Metroville Middle School. I'm your Homeroom teacher, Mr. Douglass. When I call your name, please raise your hand and answer 'Here' or 'Present'.

The door opened and a tall boy wearing jeans and a red tshirt came in. He looked around the room and grinned.

"Mr. Rydinger," said the teacher sternly. "I'd appreciate your not coming into my class late in the future."

&quo t;Sure thing, Mr. D." said the boy, sitting down with a group of boys who looked equally cool and had identical grins on their faces.

But across the room, Violet was staring at him with starry eyes. She couldn't have talked or moved if her life depended on it. Right then, she'd met the boy of her dreams.

Violet was so busy staring that she would have missed it when Mr. Douglass called out "Violet Parr" if Mia had not elbowed her sharply. "Violet!" she hissed in her ear. "Say here!"

Violet blushed sheepishly. "Oh...uh, here!" she said, and quickly raised her hand.

Mr. Douglass gave her a strange look, but then continued with the roll. "Randy Porter!"

"Here!"

"Tony Rydinger!"

"Here!"

Violet impressed the name into her memory so she would never forget it. Tony Rydinger. She smiled. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.

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