I arrived in Forks 3 days ago, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I have my first appointment with my new psychologist today. Before going to the appointment my dad and I stopped by the high school to make sure that my transfer was complete and they had the records that they needed from my school back in Phoenix. I was going into my sophomore year, but I was taking senior level math, science, and English classes. Math and science were the only classes I had kept up with during my breakdown, and I had always had a good grasp on the English language. I had always loved to read, and that had allowed me to test into the more advanced Literature classes when I had started high school a year late.
I am happy that Forks High is all one level, my school back in Arizona was three stories, and manic episodes and I do not do well on uneven ground. I don't even care that there are multiple buildings. At least that means I'll get more fresh air, even when I am not doing well.
At my appointment, Dr. Grant suggested that I try adding group therapy to my treatment plan, to help me learn more healthy coping skills. He also said that I could probably start learning to drive once I got settled. Dad and I agreed, so now on Wednesday nights I'll be going to the community center basement to meet with other teens with mental health issues. I really hope that it goes well.
- Time Jump -
I start school tomorrow. I am so glad that the new term starts on a Monday. Dad told me that he signed me up for a driver's education course through the high school that goes from March to the middle of May. Today went well, Charlie and I played some old board games, and watched a movie. I made stir fry for dinner.
I'm so glad that I got my schedule when dad and I came to the school a few days ago, I was able to figure out what order I have my classes on which days. Classes here are numbered periods one through eight. On Mondays, I have all eight classes, one after the other. Then on Tuesdays & Thursdays I have my odd numbered classes, and on Wednesday/Fridays, I have my even numbered classes. Luckily, Forks is small enough that there is only one lunch period, which is in the middle of the day. I even found a map of the campus online, so I mapped out the theoretical best route to each building. I have first period study hall, second period AP Spanish V, third period Government, fourth period French IV, fifth period Chemistry, Art, Physics, & Health and Fitness. I am also taking college level Italian and Greek online through a self-paced program. I am already fluent in American Sign Language. It is pretty ironic, I have trouble communicating on a day to day basis, but I seem to be able to pick up languages rather quickly.
I thought it was cool that a bunch of the kids from my government class were in my lunch period. They even invited me to eat lunch with them. Thank god, I didn't want to be the freak who ate by herself again. I had enough of being the outsider when mom moved us to a different apartment down the road in Phoenix, so I would be in a different district for high school after the disaster that was my breakdown. Spanish and French were easy as usual, but it seems that i lucked out coming here to Forks, both my foreign language teachers are native speakers!
Lunch was when I first saw them. The Cullen's.
Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper are Juniors. And Edward and Alice are Sophomores like me. Emmett and Rosalie are apparently together, and according to Jessica, Alice and Jasper are together. Apparently Edward is the standoffish single one. Angela told me that they were all adopted by Dr. & Mrs. Cullen. That Edward is Mrs. Cullen's nephew. And that Rosalie and Jasper are twins. Jessica thinks it is weird that they are all coupled up. I pointed out that it is not like they are actually related. After lunch, I have Chemistry, art, physics, and my Health & Fitness course.
When I get to Chemistry, I see that the lap tables are grouped in pairs. The only empty seat is at a pair of tables; Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie are sitting there. There is no way that this could possibly go wrong. Mr. Burke has me sit next to Jasper. In class today we were doing a pairs lab on using titration to determine molar mass. I did this lab over the summer on my own. Jasper and I finish the worksheet just before Rosalie and Emmett. At the end of class, Mr. Burke announces that the class will be doing a group project, and the people at the table next to each pair are going to be working together. I knew it. I'm the only one in our group who doesn't live at the same house, and I don't drive. At least the project is something new; measuring the heat of combustion of a marshmallow. This might actually be interesting.
Art was fun, I met Alice, and she invited me to sit at her table in class for the year. I was really amused when I walked into Physics and saw that the only empty chair was, once again, next to Jasper. I swear he could feel my amusement. Luckily Health & Fitness turned out not to be like gym classes back in Phoenix. It was more focused on eating healthy, and taking care of yourself. More of a mindfulness course than a physical education course. I guess Charlie warned them that I was not the most coordinated of people. All of my teachers had me introduce myself to my classmates. In Spanish and French I introduced myself in the language.