Author's Note- I got a new computer about a week ago and I was inspired to write another chapter of this story. If you would like to see the outfits that some of the characters in this story will be wearing, click on the link in my bio. I believe that this is the longest chapter that I have written in any of stories and I am very proud of it. So I hope that you all review, view and enjoy.
7:50 AM
"Why is everyone sitting out here in the middle of the hallway?" Olivia asks, pushing the door open for her friend. Looking up at the red number clock, "It's seven-fifty so we have to sit out here until eight." "Why?" "You remember Rodney Jones?" Olivia nods, maneuvering through the huddled groups of students, "well he and his girlfriend decide to hook up in Mrs. Wright's home-ec. room and I'm talking full on whipped cream, camera, everything. So now we all have to wait out here until eight, not to mention the drug and truancy charges that other students have been getting." Taken aback, Olivia exclaims, "this school has just been going to hell in the hand-basket since I left from here! But what's with everybody wearing the school colors?" feeling the questionable stares and raised eyebrows as she finds a path though the hallway. Looking down at her own purple blouse she looks up and giggles. "That's right I forgot to tell you last night, there was a huge discovery in Libya about a connection between them and the nameless Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt". "Atem" Olivia softly says, remembering how her father, uncle and their friends had to come together and remember the ancient symbols that was his name. Nodding in agreement she continues, "So due to that and the history lesson that we have been on for the past three weeks, we get to go on a field trip to Saladin Museum after first period."
After what feels like hours the girls finding a spot underneath a digital clock with the red numbers reading seven-thirty-five. "Great! I don't have to endure the awkward welcoming in today, but I do see some necessary upgrades to the school". Taking note of the remodeled cafeteria near the entrance and the flat screen T. V's hanging on the walls with Steve Wilkos trying to throw a chair at the guests' head. "But I picked a great time to wear my 'on the eh team' Canadian t-shit eh?" giggling at Kuzumi who is shaking her head at her, "With the white pants matching Nikes as well. I guess I just have to start my first official day of sophomore year looking for poutine and smarties at this museum eh?". Kuzumi's face is now red from laughing at her best friend's Canadian impersonation, "You know for someone who got to skip the ninth grade, you act rather kooky mate". "You talk about my accent and you sound like you just got off the double decker". Noting the slightly British accent that she acquired from her father, "but that's ok because you love me" placing her head on her shoulder.
At that moment, a tall, brunette figure was approaching them clapping. The very-shapely girl had a heart-shaped face with beautiful smooth, tanned skin to match. Her grape colored crop top and matching mini skirt had every guy in the hallway stretching their necks to meet her gaze. "We'll, we'll, we'll look who's crawled back in town. It's good to see you, buy yourself nice while you're here." she slurred, throwing two twenty dollar bills on her. "I see that you're trying to step your game up since the last time I was here. But we both know that this little forty dollars isn't enough to buy a Michael Kors key chain." Olivia replies, standing up to meet her face to face making the two cronies behind her stand on their guard. "I come in peace" raising her hands in defense. "But don't think I have forgot about last time". Olivia looks around and sees that they have drawn in the attention of the other students, who have gathered around them to see the scene unfold.
"Which time? When you said my friend was a test-tube baby and literally threw test tubes and turkey basters at her? Or that time I had to let you and everyone one else know" turning her entire body so everyone can hear her, "that you're poor as hell and everything on you is fake from your front tooth that I knocked out to the knock off bag you're holding". Hearing the crowd's 'oohs' and 'ahhs' causes Forrest to flip her hair and try to regain her composure but Olivia continues. "Look! I'm letting everyone know now that I'm not trying to have any trouble this year. But if you start with me or my friends, I will end it". "Don't you mean one friend?" the blonde crony on the right mumbles under her breath but loud enough for one in the crowd to giggle, "Oohhh, she said one friend" making everyone else laugh as well. "What would you know about friends when your so called friend beside you was with your boyfriend Aaron? But judging by the little bump her tight purple shirt is showing, all three of ya'll are about to have a more permanent reminder of that".
The crowd erupts with cheers and people crowding around Olivia, putting their arms around her and laughing at the mean girls. After looking at her friends in shock Forrest replies, "Like I said Olivia, I'll get you back for what you did" before turning her black skyscraper heals away from them. "Alright! Alright! Time to go to first period everyone! Break it up, break it up!" A tall, muscular man wearing a light purple dress shirt and a black pocket protector with 'Kelvin High School' engraved in gold. "Olivia Taylor, please come to my office" he screams through the noise, directing her to come over.
A few moments after the bell rings, Olivia finds herself sitting in the uncomfortable black, plastic chair across from the man that was the reasoning behind her almost expulsion. "Olivia, I just wanted to take the time to welcome you back to the Kelvin Sharks community" the principal says, bending over to pick up several heavy files from the corner of the miniature office. "Thank you Mr. Landon" "But I have to admit that I'm not too pleased when what I'm seeing already. The school bell hadn't even rung yet and you are already causing a disturbance with Ms. Bradshaw". Olivia leans forward in her seat with her eyes widen at the teacher, "Kuzumi and I were under the clock minding our own business when she walked up to us with a smart tone in her voice and threw money on me" holding up the crumpled up bills. "I even told her and everyone else in the school that I wasn't after any trouble and she still makes a scene anyway."; raising her voice so the older man would know she was serious.
Raising his hand to silence her he continues, "It doesn't matter who started it but all I know is that every time there was a disturbance in this school, either you yourself was involved or the incident occurred to get back at you. So with this being said, I'm going to let you off with a warning because it is your first day back. But we are not going to have a repeat of the occurrences that happened three years ago either, you are fourteen years old about to start a new chapter of your life and it is time you start acting like it". Falling back limply in her chair Olivia asks, "is Forrest going to be called into the office about this" secretly already knowing the answer, "no she will not be because all I heard was you screaming in the hallway causing the scene and Ms. Watson defending herself. But this is all I will say on that subject and I would now like to talk to you about something else, your outfit. It is not appropriate school attire for today." Nodding in understanding she answers, "Zumi just told me that we were going to Saladin Museum today and because of other 'occurrences' that happened in the school while I was away, we have to wear school colors on these days." Shaking his head, Mr. Landon grabs a yellow sticky note, scribbles a few words on it and hands it to her, "here, go to Ms. Wright's home-ec. room and she will supply you with some clothes to wear for the trip today. She will also print out your school schedule and give you your locker information and other school credentials. But first go to the front desk around the corner to grab a map of the school as it has been newly remodeled last year." Doing as she is told, she grabs the map and maneuvers through the new building; looking up at some of the three-dimensional cubes the seniors created on the ceiling and the newly painted purple lockers. "At least we don't have to have school in the arctic trailers anymore" she says to herself when she finally approaches the wooden door with a blue sign the reads 'Ms. Wright' in both gold letters and braille underneath it.
"Excuse me? Ms. Wright?" Olivia says, twisting the sliver door handle to breathe in the aroma of freshly toasted cinnamon rolls filling the room. "Olivia? You have gotten so big gal!" The older, dark skinned woman says taking the rolls out of the oven, "How you been?" Going to her favorite teacher from the Caribbean, Olivia wraps her arms around her. "I have been good; you know the principal has it in on me already. Even through the girl literally walked up to me and started the whole thing." "I understand child" patting her back, "that gal, even nastier than before". "One of the perks of being stuck here in Bodhi, Maryland", Olivia says, pulling away from the teacher. "But Mr. Landon wanted me to get some clothes and the rest of my school stuff", flicking her wrist to hand her the note. "Of course he did, I swear he wan me do everything around here. Let me see what I got in here for yah.". Pivoting to the circular, wooden box placed next to a sewing machine with a sign on it that reads 'broken'. Looking at the clock, Olivia thinks to herself, "at this rate I won't have to go through that introduction. But this is what I get for wearing brighter colors so next time stick to black." "Ok, this isn't nothing fancy, but this will get you through da day yah?" The teacher says, snapping her out of her thoughts, "You already have on black but I think these kicks with dis shirt make you look sharp no?". Olivia walks over to the back of the room and sees the dark purple polo shirt spread out on the wooden table top with a pair of white high-top Nike sneakers beside it. Smiling, she nods her head in thanks and walks behind a curtain made of different scraps of ripped fabric and changes. "Looking good", Olivia says, coming from behind the curtain, fixing her collar in the mirror admiring how the top highlights her natural gifts.
"Well now that I'm 'dressed appropriately', maybe my day will start to look up now."