CH 2: Stereo types
I wait in line at the airport. My tickets are to be picked up at the gate, but they seem to have trouble finding my information. It just keep getting worse by the second.
"Well, I guess I can't go! Oh well!" I shrug, realizing an upside to the situation.
"There we go! Patricia Williams, age 16?"
Damn.
"It seems there's extra seats available for our next flight. If you'd like I can move you up an hour."
I let her do so. I don't know if it cost any extra, but it's not like it's coming out of my pockets anyway.
"Very well. You'll be in row C, third section down. Enjoy your flight, and thank you for flying with Airline Express!"
Whatever.
It turns out I was seated next to some old man with a coughing problem of some sort. This is going to be one hell of a trip... I just hope he's the last male I ever see.
And go figure, my head phones break, my phone dies, they handed out all the blankets... can this day get any worse? Once we land, a plow through the crowd of people, and get to the luggage claim as fast as possible.
After not sleeping at all, I was in no mood to deal with this wait. I figure by the time I get myself some breakfast and a cup of coffee, there'll be less baggage to sort though, and less people to deal with.
All seemed well, finally. Of course, it was a new day. Right, a new day, at my new school. This could actually be fun, now that I think about it! As the cab approaches the tall building, I feast my eyes on the large building I would soon call 'home'.
"Thank you!" I call, and wave at the angry cab driver as he leaves the driveway. I think he was upset that I didn't have any money to tip him with... but that's his problem.
The structure I stood before was bigger than Anubis house, and brighter in contrast. The doors were modern, unlike those huge stone walls back I had to deal with before, and it just seemed inviting in some way.
"No shoes in the house." I hear a lady snap, and look to see a women in her fifties glaring at me with razor eyes.
"Um, s-sorry! Are you, the house mother?" I ask.
"I am your new guardian and principal, you may address me as madam Silvia. Why are your shoes still on your feet, child?"
I quickly remove them.
"Very well. The students are in class, there are seven of them living here, please try to be respectful."
"I-" I begin, but the lady cuts me off.
"Put your things in your room and hurry off to class, now. You've already missed the first day, and we wouldn't want you falling any further behind."
She was strict, but I'd take 'madam Silvia' over Victor any day.
All the students rooms were located on the second floor, and mine was the first one on the right. There was one bed covered in magazines and giant stuffed animals, and one completely empty. I drop my bags on the floor surrounding it, and figure I'll unpack after school. No need to have madam 'crazy' upset with me just yet.
My roommate had a few things scattered around her side of the room, but no food wrappers or half-eaten pizza. Compared to Jerome's room back at Anubis house, her room was clean. All the things looked relevant to some extent, too. I mean, besides the fashion magazines, she had note books, text books, and clothing articles; of a very bright nature, may I add. I don't know how well we'll get along, and if I had a choice, I'd switch right now, but I guess that's that 'prejudice' thing Mara was bugging me about earlier.
Mara, Amber, Joy... I wonder how they're doing? Are they thinking about me right now? I wonder if they miss me.
I bump into someone in the school hallways, in the middle of my daydreaming.
"Um, sorry!" She blurts, then dashes off before I can respond. Wired.
I double check my schedule to make sure I'm at the right place. They're in the middle of a class right now, and I'm feeling a little hesitant. Maybe I should just wait until next class period?
"There's someone at the door!" A voice shouts, and I realize I'd been contemplating too long.
An older lady opens the door, and has a delighted look on her face. "Patricia, I presume! How nice of you to join us!"
Great. Just what I need. A big introduction to draw attention to me. Just, great.
"Class, this is Patricia Williams! She's part of the exchange program we have set up overseas! I'm sure you'll all make her feel at home here, now, am I right?"
No response. I take it everyone else was just as annoyed with this lady as I am.
"Very well, please have a seat, Patricia."
I nod, and take the only open spot in the back.
A large female was in one of the desks next to me, and kept looking over at me. I'm afraid if I make eye contact, she'll start talking to me, so I ignore her and pretend to listen to our ditzy teacher talk about math.
"Do you speak English?" The fat girl with tan colored skin comments, and I glare in her direction.
"Habla, Englis, Seniorita?" She says slowly this time.
"I'm not stupid you know. And I'm certainly not Mexican."
She seemed astonished. "What's wrong with Mexico? Do you have something against Mexicans? Huh?"
The bell rings.
"No, I don't." I answer, before standing up and making a bee line for the door.
Somehow, somehow, that thing catches up with me. "Hey! I'm sorry about that earlier stuff. My name is Frankie! What's yours?"
"Not talking to you any longer." I state, but the annoying kid kept it up.
"Is that some sort of fancy foreign name?"
See, this is exactly what happens if you make eye contact with students like her. It's best I nip this in the bud right now, before she thinks we're bff's. "Listen, I don't want to be your friend, I don't want to sit next to you in class, so just don't talk to me, and we won't have any problems."
I turn away and she doesn't follow me this time. It's harsh, but I already have a bad reputation as is. I don't need her hanging around me to add to the factor! People can be so judgmental about that sort of thing.
Classes went by faster after that. Biology seems like it's going to be an easy subject, and Literature a pain in my side. I also got to know some of the students who go here and are in my classes, so at least I'm making friends.
When the day was done, I could hardly believe it. I did come in a little late, but still, only four classes a day! I'm loving this 'block rotation' thing they have here. I won't have to go to Math and Gym every day of the week, which is a huge plus!
Things are looking up, until I enter my room to see the girl from before in my room.
"I thought I told you to stop following me, creep!" I shout, hoping someone would come and get her out.
"What's going on?" I hear, and a brunette female peaks out from one of the other rooms.
"She's in my room, she's not supposed to be here!" I complain. "Someone get Silvia!"
The two just store at me, until the brunette spoke. "Okay, um... I think you must be in the wrong dorm..."
"And the wrong country." The other mocks.
"What house are you supposed to be in?" The girl asks, ignoring the rude comment from her friend.
"Woodland." I state, handing her the paper work.
She examines it carefully. "That can't be right."
"She's one of those fancy foreign exchange students, Marissa. Misses Johnson was telling us earlier she comes from 'over seas' or whatever."
"I'm right here, you know!"
The Marissa girl confirms that I must be Destiny's new roommate, and welcomes me to the house. I can't believe this... I have to share a room with THAT. It's so unfair.
"Kids! Dinner!" Silvia calls, and Destiny stands up.
"You gonna move, or are you too cool for that too?" She says, putting her hands on her hips and snarling at me.
I step aside, still unable to comprehend the fact that I have to LIVE with it.
There were four seats at the table, which had all the food on it. The other students were putting everything on their plate, and taking it to the couches by the TV. I follow suit, although it feels a bit too casual.
There's supposed to be seven students, plus me, living at this house. I only saw five.
"So who's the new girl?" One of the blonde's ask, referring to me. There were two of them, and they looked identical.
"My name's Patricia." I respond.
"Oo! Your accent is sexy!" An older looking girl with curly brown hair notes aloud.
"Is it French?" The blond continues. Or... maybe it was the other blond...
"Sorry we're late!" I hear behind me, before I'm able to answer either of them.
From the living room entrance a punk female with short, red-orange hair comes walking in.
"Mindy where have you been? And where's that little troublemaker friend of yours? She was with you, wasn't she?" Silvia scolds.
"Yeah, you guys are totally missing out! We're meeting the new girl!" The brunette form before explains.
"Be right there. I swear, she was right behind me..."
Maybe I do have a problem with judging people before I meet them. Silvia described Mindy's friend as a 'troublemaker'. She also said she was the rebel chick's friend. But the girl who entered was the last thing I expected...
"Nina?"