Music of Choice: My Panties - Magicwandos,

Chapter 3 - Courtesy of Names

There were people. Lots of people. Anica wandered the hallways, trying to avoid the rowdy teenagers and their shenanigans. The teenager was currently on her way to see the principal, Mr. Reed, to get her school schedule and locker combination. She was wearing a tattered red and white skirt with a tattered white Emilie Autumn shirt over a black tank top. She had pulled her dark hair into two low pigtails, lacing black ribbons through her hair.

Girls were chattering animatedly about purses and clothes and makeup whilst the boys were speaking of sports and cars. Once in a while, people would stop their conversations to stare at her and then would speak amonst themselves snide comments regarding her.

Looking for the main office, she barely had time to notice a soccer ball flying towards her. It smashed against the set of green lockers with a loud BANG! Gasping, she staggered away from the noise, dropping several books and papers, watching them scatter across the floor. The hallway became silent all of a sudden as the other students stared at her in curiousity, seeing how she would react.

"Watch where you're going, Monster Girl!" Anica heard someone yell at her snidely, as though they had intended to hit her with the sporty object in the first place. Turning, she could see a blonde boy walking over to her confidentally, as though he owned the school and everyone in it. He had piercing green eyes, a jersey for the school mascot, and a pair of jeans.

Anica felt herself wanting to shrink and run away. Her mind told her to ignore him and gather her belongings, but she remained rooted in the spot.

"So, Monster Girl, deciding to try a different look today?" he started to say, leaning up against the lockers. She moved backwards a few steps, trying to keep distance in between the two. "Hey, you're not Raven," he stated bluntly, looking surprised. Anica shook her head slowly, not daring to open her mouth. "Who're you, then?"

"I-I'm new here," she mumbled quietly, pulling her bangs down over her eyes.

"Well, uh, sorry about scaring you," she heard him apologize. A rustling of papers, and Anica looked to see him attempting to pick up her papers and books. She couldn't tell if he truly meant his apology or not, but it was nice to see him try to help.

Handing the items to her, she gratefully clutched them to her chest. "Thank you," she spoke, still keeping her eyes averted.

"So, you're a new girl," he stated smoothly. "What's your name?" Anica didn't like the way he spoke to her, as though he were trying to hook up with her. She didn't like that at all. Wanting to test him, she thought carefully.

"Quesh."

"That's a weird first name."

"It's my last name."

"Well then, what's your first name?"

"Not your business," she spoke bluntly. "Sorry." The boy laughed, as though trying to mock her.

"If I don't know your first name, what am I supposed to call you?" he asked, trying to get the word from her.

"We are not on a first-name basis, therefore you can call me Quesh," she replied coolly. "The use of Miss or Ms is not required. As we are not friends and I do not know your name, you do not have the right to know my own. It's a common courtesy to introduce yourself before you ask for the name of another. You should be grateful that I even told you anything."

He stared at her, speechless. Anica blinked a couple times, wondering how he was going to reply to her comment. Sure, he was in his sort of way handsome, but seemingly rude in his manner. "I have to leave now. I need to meet Mr. Smith before the first class. I thank you for picking up my belongings, but I have to be on my way now." Skirting her way around him, she continued down the hallway.

"Trevor Mitchell."

"Hm?" she asked, turning her head slightly to look back at him.

"My name is Trevor Mitchell," he said, smirking at her. "Now can I know your name?"

"Nope," she replied, giving him a playful grin. Anica quickly scampered off to the office. Feeling a tad more confident than before, the teenager wove herself in and out of people, trying once more to find her destination.

"Now, I see that you are our new transfer student from Europe, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir," Anica sat quietly and patiently in the small wooden armchair. She, luckily, had found her way to the office( with the courtesy of a few people who helped her along the way) and had met up with Principal Reed. Receiving her schedule and locker with combination, she waited for him to finish speaking about how it was an "honor to have a new student at the school".

When she had first entered his office, she received an instant disdained look, as though the man was inwardly groaning. However, he had seemed a bit surprised when she spoke, trying to keep her tone polite and her manners intact.

"I hope you'll enjoy this school as much as everyone else," he said, shaking her hand politely.

"Thank you. Have a good day." After neatly organizing her papers and books, the teenage girl gathered them in her arms and left the room. The first bell had already rung, anf the hallways were void of student life. She quietly meandered through the empty hallways, her black Mary Jane flats tapping the linoleum flooring.

She looked hesitantly at her schedule, searching to find her first class. It was an English course with a woman named Mrs. Naper. "Nai-per? Like paper?" she mumbled to herself, despite having the void hallway with no one to hear her.

Upon finding the door, she tried to enter the classroom. The door was locked. Knocking three times, Anica stood and waited for the teacher. Instead, she was met with the blonde haired and green eyed jock she had met earlier.

"It's you!" he said, as though he was accusing her of something. Anica stood silently, contemplating on whether to run away from the situation or stand her ground.

"Yes, me."

"What is it, Trevor?" she heard a shrill voice speak out, and a thin woman appeared at the door. "What is this?" she spoke, pushing her thin glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"My name is Anica," the girl spoke quietly. "I'm new here."

"Well, come in come in," the woman ushered her into the classroom. "Class, it seems as though we have a new student joining us today. Please introduce yourself so that we may be able to get back to the lesson." The thin woman, who could only be Mrs. Naper, had Anica stand in the front of the room, facing the students. She could see the different colored pairs of eyes starting at her, some in curiosity while others held the good amount of the disgust she had seen from others beforehand.

"Hello," Anica spoke meekly. "My name is Anica Quesh. It is very nice to meet you all." Giving a slight bob of her head, she retreated to an empty desk in the back of the classroom, feeling the glaring gaze of the student body as she moved.

Please review. I'm sorry if it seems crappy.