Total Drama Life

Ch. 8: It's Large, White, & Branded EHS

[Monday]

Oh god. It's Monday. The day I start school here in Orlando. I suppose my first few days of school wouldn't be too hard for me, considering the fact that my cousins will be there for me. I turned my head to face the clock; it was 6:30am. School started at 7:40am, so I had enough time to get ready. I got up from bed, heading to the bathroom to check my face. I checked for pimples, dark circles, blemishes, the whole lot. Luckily, I only had slight dark circles; I guess I was still tired. I ran downstairs to see if anyone was up. Andrea and Allison were already there, eating cereal. They had uniforms on.

Gag.

"Oh shit. We have uniforms?"

"Morning to you too." Allison said, giggling a bit.

Andrea looked at Allison, smirking at my question, "Yeah. We do- but don't worry, my mom got yours already. We figured you were a bit smaller than us." She pointed to the chair across from where she sat, and there was the uniform neatly set on it.

I walked towards it, "Oh. Thanks." I grabbed it, and was about to head up the stairs again to get changed.

"Wait, don't you want breakfast?" Allison called after me.

I faced back at her, "Um, no, I'm not usually hungry in the morning." I headed to my room.

I set the uniform down on the bed, staring at it, checking out its features. It was a nice school uniform you could say. It consisted of a green blazer with white linings; Edgewater High School's crest was on the left side embedded onto the small unconventional pocket. A white, short sleeve button up dress shirt was meant to be worn beneath the blazer. The skirt was plaid; black and white with some lines of green. My aunt had clipped the black socks onto the blazer- I took them off and slipped them onto my feet.
I put the uniform on, padding it and trying to get comfortable. The skirt went right above my knee, the socks were mid calf. I felt a little stuffy in the uniform, but I had to live with it. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I powdered my face, applied a bit of dark brown eyeliner to make it seem like I was awake, and put on strawberry Chap Stick. I played with my hair a little, letting the bottom develop curls. I pushed my bangs around until it made a swerved curl at the end to the left side. I've always cared about the way I present myself to people, especially when it's the first impression. I looked at my nails to check if they were okay; I had put on a dark red polish last night.
I ran downstairs, trying to hurry up. I was hoping I didn't take too long. Andrea threw something at me. I picked it up from my chest and looked at it. It was a small black tie.

"What's this?"

She turned to me, while picking up her small backpack, "It's a tie silly. They're meant to tell what you are."

I gave her a puzzled look, "Huh?"

She came towards me, "Well, Freshmen wear white ties, Sophomores wear green ties, Juniors wear black ties, and Seniors wear a plaid black, green, and white tie."

"Oh. Cool."

She smiled, "Yeah, the school's really colour coordinated you could say."

I grabbed my black, petite messenger bag, and strapped it over me. I went to the door and become aware of that I hadn't put on shoes.

I faced Andrea and Allison, "Wait guys, I need to get my shoes."

I hurried upstairs and grabbed my black oxfords, ran back downstairs and headed out the door with Andrea and Allison. We were walking, no car, no bike, just walking. I figured the school was pretty close. I looked up; the sky was a blue musky colour.

"So, how long will it take us to walk to school?" I checked my phone; it was 7:03am.

Allison answered me, "Like, less than 10 minutes I guess."

"By the way, we usually meet up with Jack and Aaron halfway." Andrea added in.

"Oh, cool." I hesitated, "Um. What about Duncan?"

"Ooo. You want Duncan to come?"

I shook my hands in a denying gesture, "No no! I was just wondering, since, he lives pretty close to you."

"Uh huh sure," she snickered, "and, he walks with Bob I'm guessing. They're like best buds."

"Oh." I looked down at my feet while we were walking.

I had to admit, I was a little disappointed. It was stupid though, since I had been trying to deny him for such a long time, and now I actually want him near me. I sighed, looking strait ahead. I saw a large white building.

I pointed at the large white building, "Is that Edgewater?"

Andrea's head shot up, "Yeah. That's it." She turned to face me, "Scared of your first day here?"

I pursed my lips, "Yeah, a little. But I'll get over it after a while."

Allison jumped into the conversation, "Hey at least you have us to sit with at lunch! And maybe you'll have a class with one of us."

I tried to give a believable smile, "Yeah."

We were in front of the school now. I stared at it, unable to go in. Andrea tugged on me, giving me a reassuring smile. I tried to smile back, and followed her. We were walking on the steps, and I saw a running figure in the corner of my eye. I turned to see and it was Duncan. He ran up to me. His uniform was certainly flattering on him. It was the same as the girls, except with black pants.

"Hey girls."

I looked at him, "Hey, Duncan." I could have sworn I was blushing a little.

"Did you get your classes yet?" He walked up a step to be at the same level as me.

Now I had to look up, since he was taller, "Nope," I looked towards the door, "I have to go to the front office."

Duncan looked above me, staring at Andrea and Allison, "It's alright girls. You go to Jack or whatever I'll take Courtney to the front office."

Andrea and Allison giggled, I looked back at them as a sign of 'help me' but they walked away. I looked back at Duncan and gave him a slight smile. He grinned and entangled my arm with his, and walked me into the building. I was led to a large room with chairs set up against the wall. The room had a long desk in the middle. A lady, about mid 40's I guessed, sat in a rolling chair, shuffling papers and doing what you'd normally do at an office. Duncan brought me in front of her.

He pulled me closer to him, "This is Courtney. She's new."

I gave her a small smile and a wave, "Hi."

"Oh. Hello sweetie. Full name please?"

I hesitated, out of nervousness of course, "Ortega. Courtney Annette Ortega."

"Alright, one moment please." She gestured to the chairs against the wall, "Please take a seat, the headmaster will be right with you." She stood up and headed to a small hallway on the same side where the chairs were. She entered the door at the end.

Duncan tugged me to the chairs and sat me down. He sat next to me, facing me. He kept looking at me. I tried not to face him but I couldn't help it.

"W-what?"

"Nothing. So," he sat back, "like it here so far?"

I sat back also, "I… I don't know. I guess. I haven't seen much to officially tell whether or not I like it though." I looked at his tie, it was black as well, "You're a junior too?"

He looked down, touching it, "Yeah. What'd you think I was?"

"A senior I guess."

"Hah. Thanks, I guess."

The lady came in front of us and pointed down the hall, "The headmaster will see you now."

I stood up, grabbing my bag and putting it over me. I walked towards the door at the end, Duncan trailed behind me. I knocked on the door; it opened by itself, slowly.

I saw a hand signalling us to come forward, "Come in come in, take a seat."

There were three comfortable looking seats set in front of his desk. I looked at the triangular block set on his desk; it read 'Mr. Rossi'. I sat down on the seat in the middle, and set my bag beside me. I crossed my legs, trying to look as proper as I could. I folded my hands on my knees.

Mr. Rossi looked at Duncan with curiosity, "Mr. O'Reilly, what business do you have here?"

Duncan sat beside me; he didn't sit so 'proper' you could say: laying back, legs spread, arms dangling at the sides of the seat, "Well. Considering I've known Courtney for a while, I figured I could be her 'Guidance' for the first few weeks." He sat up a little, "Err, of course if that's okay with you Mr. Rossi."

I put my head in my hands for a second, sighing. I remembered to look proper so I went back to my listening position. Mr. Rossi sat forward to heighten our attention towards him.

Mr. Rossi raised an eyebrow at Duncan, "Well. I suppose that makes sense. But of course this is also Courtney's choice."

Hearing my name, I raised my head, and faced Mr. Rossi, then Duncan, then back at Mr Rossi, "Err, well. I guess so-"

He clapped once, "Well! Then it's settled! Mr. O'Reilly will be your so called guide for the next few weeks here at Edgewater."

Duncan beamed his pearly whites at me, "Cool." I opened my eyes wide in disbelief of what I just agreed to.

Mr. Rossi handed me a folder filled with a few papers, "Here you go Courtney. This folder contains your class schedule, a map which I had taken the time to highlight your classes, and some other papers that your parents, or guardians in your case, will need to sign."

I took them, smiling, "Thank you."

Duncan and I stood up, saying our goodbyes to Mr. Rossi. When we exited the front office, Duncan was reaching in his pocket. He had all of his piercings in his hand. I hadn't noticed he had them out. He was about to put them in.

"Wait." I put my hand over his hand full of piercings, "I like you better without them."

He came closer to me, "Aww. Princess cares?" He started to put one in his right eyebrow.

I pouted, "Um no! I was just… trying to help your appearance that's all."

He put another piercing in, this time in his right ear, "Well for you, I'll leave just one out." He had the last one in his hand. He took my hand and placed the earring, "Come on. Let's take a look at your classes." He took the folder from me.

"Well? What are they?"

He looked at me, smiling, "Well at this school we have four classes a day. Then the second semester we change classes." I nodded, and continued to listen, "For this semester, your first class is…" he looked at the paper gain, "JEEZ! Calculus Honours! What the hell Einstein!"

I blushed, giving him a soft hit on the shoulder, "Hey! You're just jealous I don't have the brain of a monkey."

He laughed, "Okay Princess whatever you say," he continued with the list, "your second block is Anatomy III. Same as me babe!"

"What?! Why have you been taking Anatomy?"

"Well I have dreams too Princess. I want to be a gynaecologist."

I slapped him on the arm, "Pig!"

"Oh jealous I'll be checking other girls out and not you?"

"Ugh!" I gave him a disgusted look.

"Calm down I'm kidding. I want to be a brain surgeon."

"Remind me never to have you do surgery on my brain if I ever need it." I scoffed.

"Hah. So what are you taking Anatomy?"

"I want to be a Diagnostician specializing in nephrology and infectious diseases."

"I see you've got all your words down." Duncan continued the list again, "Your third is Physical Education," he nudged me, "I have that too."

"Joy."

"Come on! Show more excitement," he grinned, "now your last class, fourth block, is…" he looked at the list again, "French IV. Ooo. Sexy."

"Anyways, why do I have physical education? I already took that."

"Oh. We have that class all year here. They don't want us to get too fat." He said this with angst towards the school.

"Right."

Duncan led me to my first class. It was two halls away from the front office. I stared at the door, not wanting to go in. Duncan looked at me; he was humoured by my nervousness.

"They're not gonna eat you." He nudged me towards the door, "I'll come in with you if you want babe." He added, "Plus, it's Calculus Honours; they're probably all nerds so they'll worship you."

I stared at him in disbelief, "Did Duncan just make… a compliment!?" I gave a wide mocking smile.

He shot a serious look at me, "Don't get so used to it Princess."

"Hmm. Right." I raised an eyebrow.

He knocked on the door for me. A fairly tall woman opened the door. She had long blonde hair and white framed glasses. She was fairly skinny with a grey sweater dress that complimented her features.

"Hello there."

Duncan noticed I was almost behind him; he pulled me in front of him, "This is Courtney, and she's new. This is her first class."

"Ah I see. Come in come in. Introduce yourself."

Out of surprise, Duncan half hugged me and started to walk down that hall, he looked back and gave me a one second wave. I gave him a 'come back' look, but it was obvious that wasn't going to happen. All he did was laugh.

A/N

Hope you liked it :) Most of us must know that 'new school' feeling. It makes you have a nervous breakdown inside, but eventually you get over it, and start making wonderful new friends and a new life is brought in. I've moved three different times within two years before, so I think it's safe to say that I know how it feels to be that new kid.

p.s. Reviews! Thanks ilu

p.s.s. Sorry if there are any mistakes :0 I was in a hurry because GOSSIP GIRL IS ON! Sure sure laugh at me, but I love that show~