CHAPTER 3
I stood adamantly still as I looked around the room. I had thought it would be a small gathering of a few of my father's co-workers and us. But I was mistaken. All around there were people… kind of.
"It's nice isn't it?" my dad said thinking that I had stopped still to look at the architecture.
"Um, yes." I said. My father guided me towards who, from my memory was Aro. He still had the soft, white, wispy black with the thin looking pale skin, his blue eyes stood out against the rest of him. But I shouldn't have been surprised; Rory had told me that vampires didn't change.
"Oh, Cassandra, my how you've changed since last I saw you." Aro said. I stuck out my hand; he took it firmly in his cool one.
"It is nice to see you again too." I said smiling warmly, and pushing myself to be as polite as possible.
"Robert, you daughter has impeccable manners, I can already tell. And let me tell you she is quite…unique." Aro said. He turned to my father and they shook hands. Aro's eye's seemed to change from kindness to confusion.
I wanted ask Aro to call me Cassie, but I didn't want to because of how Rory had spoken about him, them. Rory had told me the day that we had been down by the creek that he had wanted to tell me his secret but he couldn't.
"You don't have a heartbeat." I said. It wasn't that it was just quiet; it was that his heart wasn't pumping.
He didn't say anything, but looked down abashed.
"Would you care to elaborate to me on how you are different?"
"I can't."
"Yes you can."
"No I can't, not unless you want to end up dead, and I certainly don't want that." He said taking a stern tone.
"Would you kill me?" my voice didn't reveal the panic I felt, but my heart was far past a healthy speed.
"No, I would protect you as best I could. I just wouldn't stand a chance."
The memory sent my heart pumping faster. I saw a few people look in my direction strangely. If Rory had been so afraid I knew that I should be too.
Aro turned to Mac, they shook hands. Aro focused his attention back to me.
"Do you like it here in Volterra?" he asked
"Yes I am, it is very beautiful, and both the landscape and the architecture are magnificent."
"That is good. When did you get in?" he asked
"I think that I got in sometime early this morning. I'm not sure exactly I fell asleep in the ride home." I looked down chagrinned.
When I looked up Aro was looking away and motioning his hand for some other people to come over. I turned my head to see who it was but no one was there. I turned back around and saw two more people next to Aro.
One of them had white hair, thin pale skin that looked as if it would crumble any second, and an expression that only showed mild interest.
The other had the same black hair as Aro, pale skin and blue eyes. He looked like he was thoroughly confused.
"It is nice to meet you again Cassandra." The black haired man said. I shifted uncomfortably by being called Cassandra again and could feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. I shook hands with both the men.
"This is Marcus" Aro said motioning to the unenthused white haired man. "And this is Caius." He said now motioning to the black haired man. "They are two of my closest colleagues." Aro finished.
I nodded slowly taking in everything that had been said and trying to dredge out of my suppressed memories anything that had been said about them.
My father and the three men walked away to talk. Mac stayed with me. It was nice; it gave me a sense of comfort. I looked around, there were a few people who looked as though they waned to come up and talk to me but held themselves back.
I turned to Mac.
"So…" I said. I wanted to talk but there was nothing to say.
"Yes?" he asked
"What did you do before you worked for my dad?" I asked.
"I, err…interned for some of your dad's … work partners?" He said awkwardly, it had come out sounding like a question. I didn't push the subject; I wasn't sure what would happen if I let people know that I knew the truth.
After a few moments of silence though I had to say something.
"What am I supposed to be doing?"
"I believe you are supposed to be socializing with people." Mac said.
"What am I supposed to do, just go up to them and start to talk?" I said sarcastically.
"Well, yes." He said.
"Humph" I said crossing my arms. I normally would have gone up to them but it seemed so intimidating here.
After a few hours or so a few brave souls had come to talk, I talked graciously and tried to hide my fear. Most of them ended up walking away with confused or flustered appearances on their faces. I didn't understand it; I didn't think that I had said anything.
It was around the end of the night. I was slightly ticked off because people had kept staring at me and I would turn my head and they would pretend like they weren't. I just didn't understand it. Most of the guests had, by now, filtered out of the large room. I could see my father along with Aro, Marcus, and Caius talking in a corner. My father had a glum expression on his face. They headed toward Mac and me.
"What's wrong dad?" I asked. He instantly righted his face into a warm smile.
"What do you mean Cass? Nothing is wrong." he said
"Oh." I said feeling slightly embarrassed.
"We're going to get going now." My father said turning to the three other men.
"Well, it was nice to have you here and we hope to see you again." Aro said directing his comment to all three of us.
Mac and my father turned to leave. I quickly turned around to follow them. I was about to leave the building when I could have sworn I heard my name.
My head turned and my feet stopped. The three men stood in the exact same spot. They were conversing with each other in words that I couldn't hear but I could see their mouths moving. Caius noticed that I still stood at the entry way. He must have said something to the others because they stopped talking and looked to me too. My dad appeared at the door.
His eyes looked crazed; Mac was close at his heels. He sighed in relief.
"Cassandra Sunnel, do not linger. I thought that you might have…gotten lost." He said for the first time ever he had used the tone of a parent with me.
"I'm sorry." I said scared, I had never seen him like this.
"Good bye Cassandra." Aro said.
My father placed his hand at the top of my back and guided me out to the car.
I sat in the car not talking while my father and Mac sat opposite of me occasionally glancing at me. We were halfway through the car ride when I raised my head. This wasn't the way I wanted to start out my stay here.
"I'm sorry dad; I didn't mean to scare you."
"That's alright Cass, you're alright and that is what is important."
"Why wouldn't I be alright?" I asked. He didn't answer, maybe he hadn't heard me. I was about to ask again but bit my tongue on it.
The limo pulled up to the house. I got out and walked with my father. My heel stubbed an uneven brick on the walkway and I plummeted towards the ground. My father instantaneously caught me by my shoulders.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just tired." I muttered halfheartedly.
My dad opened the door to the house. I walked inside; a chill went through my body.
"Can we turn the heat on?" I asked.
"Yes." My dad said walking down a hall to where I guess a thermostat was. "Hey Cass," he called.
"Yes?" I said.
"I think you're starting school in two days. You can check the calendar." He said
Mac came into the house.
"Where's the calendar?"
"It's in the office." He said walking back to me.
"There's an office here?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes…" my dad said raising an eyebrow to my lack of observation.
"Err, where is it?"
"Mac can show you, are you going to bed?"
"Yes."
"Okay, goodnight sweetie." He said
"Night dad." I said following Mac up the stairs.
He led me to the door that I had been knocking on that afternoon. He opened it and low and behold there was an office. I saw the calendar and checked it. He had been right; I did start school in two days.
I turned to Mac. His eyes were their green but they had a familiar quality about them. They were glowing. I knew that I should be scared, scream or perhaps run away. But his eyes said that he was harmless. And I was mesmerized. Though they were beautiful in their own way looking at them felt like squeezing my heart. But I couldn't look away.
They reminded me to much of Rory. He broke the gaze and released me from my stare. I quietly shuffled to my room. My bags still lay in the middle of the room. I opened one and pulled out my sweats and a shirt. I slipped them on hung up my dress and went to my second night of dreamless sleep.
I woke up the next morning to rain pounding on my window. The change in weather had been drastic and sudden. I didn't bother showering or changing. I just threw my hair into a pony tail. I walked out of the room and down stairs.
I walked around the bottom floor a little, I couldn't find anyone.
"Hello?" I asked the house.
"In here." Called an indistinguishable voice.
"Where is 'in here'?" I asked the bodiless voice.
"We are in the guest room."
"Guest room?" I said. My dad appeared out of a door. I followed him to the guest room. Across the bed were paint cards and magazine pullouts. "What's this?" I asked.
"Well, we kept that room so plain so that you could decorate it, and we figured that you would want to before school starts."
"Cool." I said advancing to the bed.
It took some time to pick what colors I wanted but I did. I chose too have a gold bedspread and a bed that was metal and the head piece twisted prettily. I decided that I only wanted one wall painted and I chose a deep pinkish color. My dad said that he was going to go and get them I told him that he would have trouble getting them so soon, but he just waved my comment away.
Mac and I sat in the cluttered room.
"So, you start your new school tomorrow." He said.
"Yup."
Things were awkward between us and there were only a few moments that we fell into normality. I wondered why. I didn't want that to happen the entire year. A fly buzzed in my ear. I swatted at it, but it returned.
Mac laughed at me. I smiled.
"Can we go to another room before I kill this fly?"
"Yes of course." We got up and walked into the kitchen.
"I'm still somewhat confused why did my dad hire you?" I asked. I didn't think I was pushing any boundaries.
"To watch over you and keep you safe."
"From what? Myself?"
"Um…I'm…not sure exactly." My forehead creased in disbelief.
"Cass?" My dad called from the door. I got off the chair and walked to see my dad unbelievably with people behind him carrying boxes.
"How did you?" I started to say but my father hushed me.
"Don't ask; just consider it your birthday gift. The people behind him were hurrying to bring the boxes in and get out of the rain. When they were done I hugged my dad as tight as I could. He and Mac started to carry the boxes up to my room, I tried to help but they both laughed at my feeble attempt to lift a box.
By the end of the day my room looked gorgeous. I had finally unpacked, but things still felt surreal. I walked into the living room and sat in front of the television I flipped it on. Italian, Italian, Italian. That was all anyone on it spoke. I turned it off. I could hear a bird chirping in the distance and I closed my eyes and rested my head against the couch.
This was all really happening. I had no idea how I was going to keep my father from being suspicious about me knowing his secret if I could barely go a say without almost letting people know that I knew.
I walked to the kitchen and had a dinner of macaroni and cheese. It had taken a while for me to tell what it was because of the Italian writing on the box. I hoped that I would pick up the language soon.
The smell wafted into my brain. Mac came into the room.
"What is that putrid smell??" he asked.
"Putrid, it's delicious. It's macaroni and cheese."
"It's disgusting; do you know what it is made of?"
"No, and I probably don't want to, but it sure does taste good." I said taking a bite of the now finished cheesy pasta.
"Gross." He said. I went to sit at the table he followed and sat at it with me.
"If you think that it is so gross why are you sitting and watching me eat it?" I retorted.
"Because it is very interesting to see someone truly digest something that shouldn't even be called food." He said. I made a face at him. We both laughed. My father came down.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"We're talking about my disgusting eating habits." I said chirpy.
My father's eyebrows knitted together in worry. I rolled my own eyes. After dinner we sat down to watch a movie, in English.
I popped it in the DVD player and watched the pictures roll by. I laughed at the movie and they laughed at my hysterical laughter. And I could tell that I was going to have a good time this year. I went to bed and wished for a good last day before school.
I woke up the next morning and showered. The warm water caressing my skin and refreshing my mind. The sky had been the grayish gloomy color rather than the rain. My heart raced when I had woken up and realized that yet again I had had a night of dreamless sleep.
I dressed in black yoga pants and a light blue sweatshirt, with my trusty converse.
My dad decided to take me into town with Mac. I actually kind of liked the idea of having Mac around; things would have been lonely without him. We decided to go sight seeing.
We got home late but all with smiles and I did already feel closer to both of them. I had gotten mail. I tore open my envelope. It was from the school and it was my classes, I read down the list.
1. Language Arts
2. Math
3. English
4. Science
5. Physical Education
6. Drama
7. World History.
I laughed at the idea of taking English as my language, like I had taken Spanish last year. But maybe it would help me; I would have to match the English words to the Italian.
I decided to turn in early.
I woke the next morning with butterflies pounding against the sides of my stomach. My first day at a new school where no one knew me. No one knew who I had dated. No one knew what had happened to my best friend. No one knew. This would be my ultimate chance to start over.
I dressed in a maroon zip-down sweater with jeans and a black tee shirt. I walked down the stairs steadily. My heart was pounding loudly. I wondered how Rory was doing. This was his first day of school too. I wonder if anyone would notice that I was gone.
I ate my breakfast quietly then followed Mac to the car. My father had to leave early but he had left a note saying that he loved me and wished me a good day at school. I pulled my messenger bag over my shoulder; it contents a lame pen, pencil, pad of paper, and wallet. I would have to find out all of my needed school supplies today.
I got into the Mercedes and we drove away from the house. The school looked similar to my own and was a little farther past where I had gone shopping my first day. We pulled into the parking lot and I could see people staring at the car. It stopped.
"Good luck, I'll see you after school." Mac said.
I stepped unsteadily out of the car. And felt the stares that belonged to only new students.
I breathed deeply and smiled. I could do this.
I could start over.
---
I looked up at the school in front of me. The buildings painted a deep mahogany brown on their outsides. It wasn't an inside school like my last. But I knew that in time I would deal. After all it meant that there weren't any stairs for me to trip on. I glanced behind me to see the silver car already pulling out of the parking lot. There was no turning back whatsoever.
I looked at my schedule. I had language arts first. A car skidded at a frightening pace very close to the curb where I was standing which caused me to jump and yelp. I started my cautious steps away from the sidewalk and into the throng of people milling and socializing as people on their first days of school do.
I looked at the peoples clothing. It resembled my own. There was nothing extremely different from the Marin clothing. I was busy staring at people and didn't see the banister that was holding up the overhang. I walked into it headfirst. A resonating gong sounded through its hollow metal exterior. Some people looked at me and giggled. One boy and girl came to me very concerned.
The boy said something in Italian.
"I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian." I said self-pityingly while rubbing my forehead.
"Are you alright?" he asked again in English with a bit of an Italian accent.
"Yes, it was just an example of my klutziness." I said.
"I haven't seen you before." The girl stated. Her voice was as clear as a wind chime.
"I'm new. Today is my first day here. My father lives here and I thought that it would be nice to be with him." I said. Why was I explaining why I came here just because I was told I wasn't seen before? I should have left it at it being my firs day here. I blushed a light rose but looked away quickly to hide it.
"That sounds nice." The boy said. "My name is William and this is my sister Rachel. What is your name?"
"I can introduce myself!" Rachel said contemptuously.
I giggled self-consciously.
"My name is Cassandra, but please don't call me that. I prefer to be called Cassie."
"Right, well don't call me Will." William said.
"Okay, I can do that." I turned to Rachel. "Do you have any name preferences?" I asked her.
"Nope, just call me Rachel." I smiled as best I could before laughing at myself for the absurdity of how this conversation came about. I was about to start to walk away when Rachel said something.
"What are you doing, we want to see your schedule." She said. Was I going deaf, did she ask and I just walked away? I reached into my bag and pulled it out handing it to them.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask before, I just expected you to bring it up."
"Oh." I said.
They both stood next to each other and huddled over the paper, which gave me a chance to look at them without the embarrassment of them noticing my staring.
William was about 6'1" with brown hair that went about halfway down his ears in messy tufts. Rachel was about an inch and a half taller than I was. She also had her brown hair. She wore a dark gray sweatshirt with light colored jeans and her hair was wavy, she looked quite thin through her large sweatshirt. William was wearing dark wash jeans, a long sleeve olive shirt that fit his upper physic rather nicely, and a plain black jacket. They seemed so perfect, so gorgeous. I would have thought them to be vampires based merely on their supernatural appearance except for the fact that they were each lightly tanned and in the next moment I found that they each had intensely brown eyes.
"Guess what!" Rachel chirped.
"What?" I asked apprehensively. I had thought that her question was rhetorical but obviously it wasn't seeing as she didn't say anything when I didn't respond.
"You and William have the same Language arts class! And," she emphasized the conjunction. "We have English together! Obviously, we're also juniors."
"Are you two twins?" I asked abruptly.
"Yes." William said curtly, maybe he didn't want people to know.
I smiled. At least I would have some friends here or at least in two of my classes. The bell rang loudly overhead. I heard a multitude of groans from different people. Frankly I was excited.
"Walk with me to class?" William asked.
"Err, sure." I said. I turned around, "bye Rachel, I'll see you in English." She smiled back and waved frantically then started to run up to who I guessed were a few of her other friends.
We walked in silence; I trailed behind a step so I would know where we were going. He lead me to a door, next to the door was a small plaque. Room 104 Language Arts Mr. Cunningham, I took a deep breath and mentally braced myself for the stares.
We walked into the classroom. I definitely got stares but they weren't the type I was expecting. They were more of jealousy or glares rather than suspicion or curiosity.
Most of the students stood at the back of the room opposite the door. I looked around. It looked like most classrooms should. The teacher sat at a desk near in the far left side of the classroom. He looked like he was finishing up some last minute lesson plans. He looked up and said something in Italian.
"He said for all of us to move to the back of the room and wait till we are told where to sit." William said lowly. I headed towards the back of the room. Mr. Cunningham stood up and introduced himself. He started down the rows of seats and said people's names as he touched the chairs.
"Cassandra." He said while touching a chair near the middle of the far left row. I went quietly, sat down and looked around at the other classmates. In front of me sat a boy who looked like he had been at some tropical beach all summer. His skin was a perfect tan. To my right was a girl with short blonde pixie hair who looked like she probably day dreamed through all of her classes.
I watched as William was placed near the front of one of the middle rows. Once all of the students had seats Mr. Cunningham reached to his desk and pulled out what I guessed was a pile of syllabi (plural of syllabus, really it is I looked it up). He handed a couple to the people who sat at the front of each row and passed them back. When I t got to me I handed one to the person behind me and looked the page over. I could pick out a few words that resembled those of English ones. The class passed easily as we handed out books and wrote down the supplies that we needed. I got the boy in front of me to help me with some of the things that the teacher was saying. I could tell that he was laughing at me in his head though.
The bell rang and I got out of my seat, pushing my papers and book into it too. William waited for me at the door.
"Thanks." I said when I reached him.
"You have math next, right?" he asked.
"Umm…yes?" I said not really sure.
"Alright, go down that walkway." He said pointing. "And the room number is 243".
I did as he said and sure enough I found the room. We pretty much went through the same procedure, except at the end this time we had time to spare. A girl who I had seen in my language arts class turned to me when the teacher said that we could talk amongst ourselves.
"I saw you talking to William and Rachel earlier." She said sticking out her hand. I shook it. "My name is Eleanor." Her hair was such a dark brown that it could be mistaken for black. It was in tight curls to just below her collar bone.
"My name is Cassie." I said.
"I thought that it was Cassandra." Eleanor said.
"It is, but I like to go by Cassie."
"Oh, so like I said I saw you talking to William and Rachel today. They are so nice aren't they?" She gushed.
"Yes?"
"I know, and William is so good looking. At first some of the girls were worried that you had taken him, but then I remembered that you had walked into a pole this morning and he was just being nice. So I reassured them that there was nothing to worry." She said. It sounded like she was proud of herself like she had done me a huge favor. I wasn't sure how to take her words. I had thought that maybe I had made a friend with him and his sister but maybe they were just being nice.
"Oh." I said pathetically.
"Yeah, so where are you from, I heard you say that you didn't speak Italian."
"I'm from the United States." I said.
"That is so cool. I would have never guessed that! You totally don't seem like it. I thought that all people from the states were stuck up and fat." She laughed. I tried to also.
The bell rang.
"it's break now, do you want to come and hang out with some of my friends and I, I totally wouldn't want to be here with no friends on my first day, so just consider it a favor from me to you?" she said. I was getting the feeling that she was being very condescending and I was pretty sure she didn't even realize.
"Sure, that sounds very nice." I tried to stay polite. I collected my bag and my book and followed her out the door. We walked through the doors and she continued to jabber about people and the school.
We walked up to a gaggle of girls and boys.
"Hey guys, this is Cassie, she's from the United States. She doesn't speak Italian." She said.
People started to introduce themselves none of them seemed as rude as Eleanor, but the girls did seem to be in the same category. William and Rachel came over to the group.
"I thought that you would be with us." Rachel said.
"Oh, I'm so-"I was cut off by Eleanor.
"Wow, I am so sorry, I totally stole her from you guys, but you two can sit with us right now. Why don't you?" she said her eyes twinkling, all of Eleanor's female friends had the same look. It was almost star stuck.
I saw William look apprehensively to his sister.
"Sure we will" Rachel said. Most of the girls fought for William's attention and the boys for Rachel's. When they finished they would ask me how I liked it here and I would say that it was very nice. Finally the bell rang and Rachel linked her arm to mine and started to tow me away.
"Such nice people here don't you think?" she said. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice and I thought that she either must have been completely oblivious or very open-minded.
We walked to our English class. Finally a class I would understand. I knew that the class was for very advanced English because they were all already fluent.
We walked in.
"Hello class, and welcome to the new school year I hope that this will be an insightful and fun class. My goal is for all of you to have improved your grammar and vocabulary by the end of this." She said.
She went through the ritual of the other classes and let us talk, but there was a 'catch' we weren't supposed to use Italian, only English. That was easy and lucky for me.
"So you're going to eat lunch with William and my friends, right?" Rachel asked eagerly.
"Yup." I said happy to have an excuse not to eat with Eleanor.
I wondered how the Havens were faring. I knew that neither Triston nor Elyse was in school now; I wondered what they were doing. I hadn't seen any one besides Rory since the end of school.
My mind reeled at the thought.
"So, where do you live?" Rachel asked.
"I'm not sure exactly, I can tell you the general direction though. I live that way," I said pointing behind me. I live past the little town with the shopping area and past this big field of grass. The house is brick and it kind of sits there."
"I know where that is! Wow you live there that is so cool. For the longest time it was empty."
"Oh." I said my eyebrows furrowing. Why had my dad bought a new house?
"Yea, the bell is about to ring, thanking goodness. I hate English class."
"Really? Why? You speak it really well." I told her.
She smiled abashed.
"Thank you it's just that this is a hard language, with new words and such. I am always afraid that I'm going to use the wrong adjective."
I smiled back at her, it sounded like me with Spanish. The bell chimed and I stood pulling out my schedule with me. I had science. Science had been a strong suit for me back home I just hoped it would be here.
I started to walk towards the door. It might take me some time to find the class.
"Wait!" Rachel called. "Don't forget that you're sitting with us at lunch."
"Alright" I said before walking out the door. A mist covered me like a blanket as soon as I walked outside. It wasn't raining, just fisting. I pulled my hood up over my head. Rain was something I loved, mist was just annoying. It tantalized you as you wished that lightening would crack across the sky and downpour would begin. But no, this just soaked everything through to an uncomfortable measure.
I pushed my way to walk under the overhang. I was walking in the wrong direction, I could tell that by the time I reached the end and I had gotten to the music wing. I turned around and started to walk the other direction. The final bell rang. I was tempted to start to run towards wherever the classroom might be but I was terrified I might slip on a wet leaf.
I continued to walk down until near the end I found the classroom. I opened the door. Everyone was sitting at their tables and the teacher stopped to give me a menacing stare.
"I…I'm sorry, I got lost." I stuttered under the teachers look.
"Why are you speaking English?" the teacher asked me.
"Because I don't speak Italian. I'm really sorry I was walking the wrong direction and then the bell rang and then I couldn't find the class." I rambled trying to get the teacher take away her look.
"That is no excuse, you have a map. It came in your package."
My cheeks flushed, I was officially becoming one of those students who interrupt the class in annoying ways. I did not want to feud with the teacher.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again." I muttered pulling my hood down.
"Good, you are Cassandra, right?"
"Um, yes, but I go by Cassie." The teacher gave me a look as to not talk back to her.
"You sit there." She said pointing to the back table where a shy looking girl sat.
I walked silently to my seat and the teacher continued in Italian with what she was saying. The girl who sat next to me had her hair in a plait. She had olive skin and blue eyes that could pass for gray. Her clothes were drab but she seemed like the person who cared about knowledge more than appearance.
The class continued as I avoided looking at the teacher. When the bell rang I hopped out of my seat and started towards the door. The other students moved more slowly they didn't need to find where the cafeteria was.
"Cassie!" the teacher called. "I need to speak with you." She said. The students all looked at me and I slowly backtracked.
"Yes Ms. Remly?" I said politely.
"I just need you to understand that you will not be late again. I also think that you might have trouble inn this class because you only speak English."
"Don't worry I'm going to learn, I just haven't yet. I just got here about three days ago."
"Three days is plenty of time to learn some simple phrases." She said.
"Yes you're right." I said.
"I know, so please do try to learn soon."
"Okay." I said walking back towards the door. The girl who I had sat next to came up behind me. "Hello." I said nicely.
"Hi, my name is Jenna; I didn't get to tell you before. Wow, I am so sorry about Ms. Remly. She is so strict." Jenna said. I was a bit surprised; I hadn't expected her to be the talkative type. "I think that Rachel said that you would be sitting with us today." She said. I hadn't expected her to say that either.
"Yes." I said. She led me to the cafeteria where we got in line to buy food. I looked around at all the tables one person caught my eye. My heart was pounding, unsteady. No, no this couldn't be happening. I did a double take. No, it wasn't him. It was just some kid with dirty blonde hair. I relaxed.
I paid for my food and Jenna led me to the table where Rachel, William, and three girls and four other boys sat. I sat down next to Rachel and across from William with Jenna next to me.
"Okay everyone," Rachel started. "This is Cassie, she just moved here from the united states. She only speaks English. I wanted her to sit with us today and maybe if it is alright with her from now on."
Most of the people at the table said thinks like 'sure' or 'cool'.
"Okay," William said. "This is James," he said pointing to a boy who looked laid-back with semi-long red hair. "This is Alexis." He said pointing to a blonde with a dramatic haircut of blunt bangs and layers. "This is Eliza." He said pointing to a girl whose light brown hair reached her navel. "Allison" he said pointing to a girl who had a very reformed look with brown eyes and brown hair cut just above her shoulders. "Max" he said showing a boy with short blond hair and a smile that looked like it was created in a lab. "Rodney" he said pointing to a guy whose head looked like it had been shaved and was halfway through growing back. "and last, and definitely least Patrick " William said pointing to a boy who had black dyed hair and tan skin that made his blue eyes pop. Patrick hit his arm and they both laughed.
We talked through lunch and it was great to not have to sit alone. I caught Eleanor giving me a murderous glare and quickly averted my eyes.
"Why did you have like a freak attack while you were standing in line for food?" Alexis asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked though I knew well what she had meant.
"You stopped and it looked like you stopped breathing and your eyes went wide and all, it was weird. I thought that you were going to die before you even got to our table." Alexis finished.
"I just thought I saw someone who shouldn't be here."
"Who?" Rachel asked.
"I can't tell you, there has to be some mystery about me, the new girl." They laughed and I felt good. I had been so nervous that they would hate me. The bell rang. I got up.
"Does anyone know where the gym is?" I asked.
"Yea." Patrick said standing up. "I have gym right now also." I hadn't really been able to hear how his voice sounded before but it definitely was nice.
"Great." I said.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
I turned and said bye to everyone else. We walked to the gym.
The teacher stood in front we sat on a bleacher. The whole time the teacher talked in Italian, Patrick translated for me. I was starting to pick up little words. At the end the teacher put out a cart of basket balls and we were supposed to play with them until the period was over.
I walked to the cart and cautiously took a ball looking at it.
"You do now what a basket ball is, right?" Patrick asked.
"Of course I do! I'm just not sure if I want to embarrass myself by trying to use it."
"So come on, tell me, who did you think you saw earlier." He said. I blushed deeply and watched him make a perfect basket.
"I'm not telling."
"Oh come on, why not?"
"Because I don't want to."
"Right." He said elongating the word.
The rest of the period was filled with petty chatter and banter about why I wouldn't tell him who I thought I saw.
"Was it your boyfriend or something?" he asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." I tried to say indifferently. The bell rang, I walked towards my bag.
"Aww, come on just tell me." He said. I turned around and found him a little closer than expected. He was only a few inches from my face. My breath caught.
"Nope." I said. He groaned and reached around me for his bag.
I walked with him out of the gym.
"Where is the drama room?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow and pointed behind me where a large banner that said drama was above a door. I felt stupid. "Thanks." I said lowering my head and walking away.
After we went through the whole syllabus thing we played name games. We threw a ball between each other and said our name and what we did over the summer.
This seemed kind of hard for me. Not just the throwing and catching the ball, but what was I supposed to say. I spent my summer avoiding my vampire ex-boyfriend by sitting in my bathroom.
The ball came to me and I caught it barely.
"Umm, hi my name is Cassandra, but I go by Cassie. I just moved here to be with my dad for the year and I only speak English because I lived in the United States." Talking erupted from the other students. When the teacher quieted them I passed the ball. We continued with the games until the bell rang and I set off to find my world history class.
It was easy to find, but it was also boring. The teacher was an old lady whose voice sounded like she used to be a chain smoker. Her gray hair in a loose knot at the top of her head. It passed quietly and quickly. I walked out of the class. My note pad full of things that I would need for my classes.
I walked to the curb and saw the gaggle of people that I had eaten lunch with. They called me over. They asked me how my day was I said. Their bus pulled up and they got on after waving me goodbye. I looked to the curb and saw the silver car I walked to it and got in.
"How was your day?" Mac asked.
"My day was really great." I said in reply.