Chapter 3: The First Week of High School

I couldn't believe the anticipation of going to "High" school I was feeling; I was scared but somehow was intrigued and I really wanted to go. Many questions and fears ran through my head. All these new faces, I'm going to be the new kids at the school, how will the other students treat me? My parents insisted on me on going to school, I had to go, to fulfil my wish, of going to school. As usual the school bus arrived to school 8:30 AM.

Sadly Claire wasn't there today she was still sick after the weekend of rest. Today's lessons was really an introduction about the history of the school, which we already knew about but they still liked shoving it down our throats, the lists of all our subjects and a brief overview, some subjects included; Simlish, Maths, PE, Geography and History, not just SimNation but the World and Science (I already knew about mixing chemical concoction from the chemistry set I played with as a child), a map of the school and showing us all the classrooms and then telling us about how this school is better than the boarding schools such as: LeFromage Art School, Smuggsworth Prep School, Dribbledine Sport Academy, School of Art & Peace and the Fort Starch Military School. Did I really care that this school is supposedly better than the other boarding schools? No! The funny thing was that it is all a gimmick, you don't pay a dime to go this school but for the other schools, up to ยง1,500 Simoleons!

During lunch time, Bella, Claire's friend, asked me where Claire was, I told her that she was sick. Mortimer then came up to me and asked me, "So how are you finding high school?"

I replied with, "Well it is different, the teachers are a lot stricter, they're not letting us off the hook anymore and they aren't as happy before too, their faces are much more grimmer than before, maybe it's the other students who give them grief but they are working in the Education career, not the first preference of most Sims who are looking for work."

Today I also made a new friend, Parker Prudence, his father Phoenix Prudence is a teacher here, they are originally from Twinbrook (and was a teacher there) but moved here for a more peaceful life after Mr Prudence realised he might be too old for a career in the Military.

He gets teased a lot, the typical, "Teacher's son", they think he gets special privileges but they are wrong and I think they do as well because they are jealous, well that's just in my eyes. But it soon ended after a day, when our differences were revealed.

. . .

At 2:30 PM, "High" school had finished, which unusual for us as school normally finishes at 3:00 PM, well who doesn't like an extra half hour in their day?

Mother was already there to pick me up in her maroon VFN Kompensator.

"Hi Mother." I told her as soon as I entered.

"Malcolm, how was your first day?" She asked.

"It was okay." I replied, trying to avoid the question.

"Okay?" She shouted, I hate when my mother asks this question, I just don't feel like telling her everything that happened in my day.

I gave up, I just answered the best way I could, "Well we were shown around the school, had an introduction on our classes, had recess, had lunch and now I'm in the car with you."

"The Details?" she asked curious, this was the reason specifically why I hated the previous question.

"There aren't really many details; it was actually quite boring but interesting learning about our new classes."

"Never mind we'll have this discussion at home." Mother dismissed in an annoyed tone. I instantly knew where this was going.

I eventually spilled the details; but it didn't seem to affect her mood with me. Only until I came home she cared because she gave me a stern lecture with the annoyed look still on her face.

. . .

The day after arrived Monday, hopefully Claire will be at school today! I was right; she had recovered from her sickness. I asked Claire about the message in the card.

I tell her, "Claire. You said you wanted to see me ASAP?"

"Um, well I did but this is not the greatest time," Claire explains.

I ask in an angered tone, "How isn't the start of school the best time?"

She didn't answer the question so I waited until lunchtime. If it was this important, she should have written that it would be told in private but I was still curious nevertheless.

"What about now?" I annoyingly ask.

"Not here, I want somewhere private." Claire stated again.

"How isn't the cafeteria private enough?" I say sarcastically

"Ha, Ha, Ha!" She counters back by laugh that sounded sarcastic.

"So where then?" I ask in a serious tone.

"Maybe your house?"

"Fine, my parents don't really care too much," I agreed, she can come over.

"We hope," she whispers under her breath, there was no point attacking her for that, my parents can be strict at times.

. . .

When school finished at 2:30 PM, Claire and I went to the maroon car waiting for me.

"Mum, can Claire come to our house so I can help her with some of the homework?"

"Sure, just teach her well," Mother replies.

I knew that meant yes but teach her well? A bad accidental line I guess.

"Nice car, Ms Landgraab," remarked Claire.

My mother (who is a snob) couldn't resist to a compliment.

"Why thank you, Claire!"

We quickly arrived home thanks to the speedy V-16 engine of the car and mentally insane handling, taking corners at full speed!

Claire guided me to my bedroom; she had been here too many times!

"Malcolm, you need to know that I got to tell you something, so I will say it," she states as she is closing the bedroom door.

"So what is it?" I ask.

"I want to tell you that I..." Claire started to smile and then blush. What did this mean?

"I..." She stutters again.

"I like, no, love you." This was the secret she finally revealed. This was a shock to me, after all these years. What does love even mean? I don't really know but just will have to find out...

"Do you really mean it?" I ask.

"Yes."

"From the bottom of your heart?" I ask, making sure she's saying the truth.

"Yes. This must be overwhelming for you."

"How would it not be, my best friend, has just told me that she loves me. I feel overwhelmed but I don't know really what to say or do next."

"Well it's overwhelming to me too; it's kind of hard to say that I have feelings for you or anyone in that matter."

"Well that smile of yours sort of hinted something."

"So you could tell by the looks on my face?"

"Well I've known you for years."

Claire sighed. "Well let's do the homework that you were supposed to teach me "well" about," she then started laughing and then I joined in too.

We got our blue homework books and started working on our first homework from "high" school, it wasn't too challenge, some of the questions required some thought but we got it done.

The rest of the week just flew by. I just could stop thinking about what Claire had said to me, I had really no-one to talk to about it; it was kind of weird now hanging with Claire though we're still classified as friends, well sort of?