CHAPTER 2:

The rest of the time Ashley kept staring at the chalk board. Even though Seth tried several times to start a conversation. She just had no idea how to respond to it and thought it'd be best to just try and focus on the writings on the board.

When finally the liberating sound of the school bell blared through the class room and reached her she began to relax a bit. Hearing the others quickly leaving she waited until everyone was gone and the teacher walked towards her. She sat up straight on her chair and looked up, waiting for what Londley was going to say.

"So", Londley started. "Your third school in one year, that must be pretty hard for you huh?" Not waiting for an answer she went on: "But you wouldn't say so by the look from your school grades; they are amazing. If you work just as hard here you'll be number one of the class in no time." Londley looked as Ashley hoping this would soften the worried look on the girl's face a bit. Usually grades were one of the two main things new kids were worried about. But she saw it made no different on the girl's face and she knew the other thing weighted much heavier here. "You'll get friends in time", she said softly. "I just takes a little time." She walked closer to the girl and looked her in the eyes. "All new kids get friends here, it's not that hard just give it a little time. It's gonna be okay, alright?"

"I don't know", Ashley suddenly said. Remembering how it always went with her.

"I saw you already were talking to Seth Cohen, he's a nice boy. He'll help you through the first hard moments", Londley responded.

Ashley started to doubt. Was the guy actually trying to be nice to her earlier? She decided that the word of Londley was enough for now and a little smile broke on her face. "Okay", she said.

"Now onto the more formal things here", Londley said as she walked to her desk and took a few papers off of it. She walked back to Ashley and began to tell her a few things she needed to know. "Now you know I am your supervisor. If you have questions or problems just come to me. My room is next to the science class and it's always open for you." She showed Ashley the papers "This are a few things you need to read so you know a bit how things work here at school." She laid them on the little space that was left on Ashley's table. "Now those books", she said "Shall I show you your locker?"

Ashley nodded "Thanks", she silently said as she stood up. She felt a little better knowing she could always go to Londley. She took the books of the table and followed the teacher to a row of lockers. Londley showed her her locker and the code. When it was open Ashley quickly put all of the books in it. She let out a sigh of relief when she took the papers from Londley. She wrote the locker code on the top one so she wouldn't forget the combination.

"So I guess you can manage from here?", Londley asked.

Ashley nodded even though she silently wished she wouldn't have to go back to a crowdie class. She felt alright now, it was the minute she would see all those kids she didn't know that she got nervous and shy.

"Good", Londley answered. She saw the doubtful look on Ashley's face and added "If there is something you want to talk about, anything, you know where to find me."

Ashley nodded again and when Londley walked away she turned back to her locker. She searched for her schedule to see what class she had next. When she had found it she looked for the map of the school so she would know where the hell class 2Z4 would be. When she looked up the books she needed in history class the school bell rang again. Break was over.

Noises immediately filled the hallways. Ashley quickly closed her locker, wanting to leave before the place would be filled with people. But before she could do so she saw a boy and girl coming towards her. A long athletic blond guy with on his side the example of the perfect Orange County girl: Great figure, pretty face and expensive outfit. They walked straight towards her Ashley wondered why. She watched the two of them and saw the guy teasing the girl with ruffling his hand through her hair. She smiled when she saw the girl playfully hitting the guy's stomach and protesting while straightening her hair with one of her hands.

"Stop that Luke", she heard the girl saying.

'Luke', Ashley thought silently. Suddenly they stood next to her and the girl opened one of the lockers next to hers. Ashley stared at Luke but when he looked back she quickly turned around hoping he wouldn't have seen that. He didn't say anything, instead the girl started to talk.

She turned around so she faced Ashley and said "Hey there. You know yesterday that locker was no-one's so I am guessing you're the new girl in town." Ashley nodded. "Great. I am Marissa", the girl said. "And this is Luke", she said while she took Luke's hand. Luke gave Ashley a smile and she tried to get her voice back.

"Ashley", was all she could bring out before she quickly looked away from Luke, back to Marissa who was talking to her again.

"Now you're lucky we crossed paths", Marissa said. "See, Luke here is captain of the waterpolo team and I am in pretty much every club in the school so who better to show you around here?"

Ashley shrugged, it sounded okay to her.

"So what class do you have next?", Marissa asked as she looked over Ashley's shoulder. "O History. We have English now, but I can show you were to go to and we meet afterwards for lunch so we can tell you all the important things about this school. You know some gossiping about the teachers, that kinda stuff."

Everything Marissa was telling her was a little overwhelming to Ashley she just listened and nodded in agreement. She followed them when they showed her the way to her classroom.

Suddenly Marissa's talking was interrupted by another voice. An overenthusiastic one that said "Coop! There you are". Before Ashley knew it another guy and girl joined them.

"Ashley this are Summer and Brian", Marissa said as she pointed to the newcomers. "Guys this is Ashley, she's new and we are going to show her around."

"Hey", Ashley said with a little smile when Summer and Brian warm-hearted welcomed her. They all seemed nice to her. And when she arrived at the History classroom she stepped inside with a much more comfortable feeling than she did only a few hours ago when Seth had dragged her to Science.