Decided to be productive and post today! Look at me being (somewhat) consistent! Also, I was looking at the view traffic graph and noticed that we have international viewers. Whaaaattt? That's so crazy! Anyway, I really really like this chapter, so hopefully you enjoy!

shygirl - thank you so much! i will dw :)))

Chapter 9

I check my schedule and see that I have chemistry first period.

"Hey Dex, do you mind walking me to the chemistry hall? I have no clue where it is."

"Of course! It's on my way to history anyway."

He leads me through a series of twists and turns as we make our way to the other side of the school. We pass a group of boys with long hair tied back in ponytails. One of them winks at me as they pass by.

"Who was that?" I wonder out loud.

"Oh them? You don't want to be seen with them. According to Marella, they're known as the Drooly Boys."

"Oh," I say, blushing. I guess I should keep that wink a secret.

After another minute of walking, we reach a hallway with multiple classrooms. After taking a look at my schedule, Dex leads me to one of them.

"Here's your classroom!"

"Thanks Dex!"

I peek inside and see a lady with brown hair slicked back into a tight bun at the back of her head. She's dressed in dress pants and a white blouse, with a long, black trench coat wrapped around her. She has a stern expression on her face, as she gets a computer set up.

"No problem! I better get going if I want to make it in time before the bell," Dex says, checking his watch.

"Good luck with Ms. Galvin!" he says, shuddering, before taking off down the hall.

I gulp. Here we go.

I step into the classroom right as the bell rings.

Ms. Galvin gives me a look, before shutting the door behind me.

I quickly head to an open seat at one of the black lab tables in the back of the room.

"Okay class. I understand you all had a week to goof off and sleep in late, but I hope you understand that I won't be taking pity on you just because it's your second day back from break. I expect all work to be turned in on time and your tests nothing short of exceptional," Ms. Galvin says.

I guess we're skipping the 'Welcome our new student Sophie' speech that I sat through in my last two classes.

Without hesitation, Ms. Galvin launches into a lesson about energy. Oh ok. I guess that's what we're doing. I quickly grab my notebook and start jotting down the types of energy. After the 30 minute lecture, she introduces a lab and then tells us to find our lab partner and start the lab.

Oh no. I don't have a lab partner. I watch as the people around me reunite with their lab partners and head to a lab table to get started.

I make my way to the front of the classroom, where Ms. Galvin is writing something on her computer.

"Um Ms. Galvin.." I start.

"What is it?" she asks, turning to me. I pause as she looks me over with her sharp eyes.

"Uh so I'm actually new to Foxfire. My first day was yesterday. So I don't really have a lab partner.." I trail off.

Ms. Galvin pauses to think. "Well we have an even number of students so you can't pair up with anyone. I guess you'll have to do it yourself. I will be over there in a few minutes to supervise you. Grab your materials and get started," she tells me, before turning back to her computer.

Ok then. I head back to the lab table I was sitting at. Looking at the paper she passed out a few minutes ago, I find the materials listed at the top. Looks like we're doing a Calorimetry lab. The good thing is that I already did this unit at my old school, so this shouldn't be too hard.

The Bunsen burner is already set up at the table, so all I need to do is grab the food items from the middle table and the rest of the equipment.

I'm not sure where to find safety goggles, so I ask someone working at the table next to me.

"Oh, they're in the cabinet over there," he says, pointing to the corner of the room.

"Thanks!"

I find a questionable looking pair of safety goggles in the cabinet. It was the best I could find since everyone else already has one on. I slip it over my head and tie my hair up. The last thing I need is to set my hair on fire.

I stop at the materials table and grab the foods from the list. Looks like we're working with a flaming hot cheeto and a marshmallow. Once I return to my table, I finish setting up the experiment.

Upon further examination, I notice that the bunsen burner they use here is a lot different from the one at my old school. I look around and see everyone using it with ease. I don't feel like asking anyone else for help- I already used up my social battery this morning.

I look to Ms. Galvin, hoping she's on her way back here to help. Unfortunately, she still seems to be hard at work on her laptop. I sigh. I guess I'll have to do this myself.

I pour water into the cup and attach it to the iron ring. After measuring how much water there is, I record it into a data table. Grabbing the lighter, I flick the switch and a tiny flame appears at the tip.

My eyes sting for a second, remembering my family's death. I let out a shaky breath and move the lighter towards the bunsen burner.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Ms. Galvin yells, appearing beside me.

"Huh?" I flinch, and quickly move the flame away from the burner. Thankfully, the burner didn't light.

A shriek is heard from beside me. I turn and find Ms. Galvin's trench coat lit on fire from my lighter.

"OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY!" I rush to pat the fire, hoping it'll go out. I wince when the flames touch my bare hands.

"STOP IT YOU FOOL!" she yells, and rushes to the sink. She allows the water to put out the flames until all that's left is a huge hole in the side of the trench coat.

She turns to me with an expression that could kill. If this was a cartoon, she would have steam coming out of her ears.

Oh dear. Everyone is looking at us. Some people are hiding their laughs behind their hands, while others just look sorry for me.

Ms. Galvin notices my red hand and sighs.

"Go to the nurse's office!" she screams, pointing at the door.

I rush to grab my stuff and sling my backpack over my shoulder, wincing when it touches my burned hand. As I open the door to leave, I turn back.

"Should I come back when I-"

"NO!"

I run into the hallway, not turning back. I try to stop the tears from coming, but one stubborn one goes down my face. I wipe it away immediately. Don't want anyone seeing the New Girl crying.

I slow down after a few minutes and notice that I don't actually know where I'm going. I walk down a few more hallways and find a bench that I recognize. I sit down on it and look out the window, noticing the flowers.

Ohh now I know this place. It's Keefe's ditching spot! I look around and appreciate the darkness. Now I see why he spends a lot of his time here.

As I'm thinking about what to do next, I hear a voice.

"Foster, is that you?"

I turn and see a boy with blonde, disheveled hair. It was almost as if I summoned him.

He gives me a smile. "What are you doing in my ditching spot?"

When I don't say anything, he jumps to his own conclusion. "Looking for me?"

I blush heavily. "No! I got a little lost."

"Where do you need to be?"

"The nurse's office."

An expression of worry takes over his signature smirk. "What's wrong?"

I hold up my hand. "It looks worse than it is."

He grimaces. "Yikes. How did that happen?"

"Lab experiment gone wrong." "Please elaborate," he says, sitting down next to me.

"Well, I was in chemistry, and we were doing a lab with the bunsen burner. I didn't have a partner since I was new, so Ms. Galvin told me to do it by myself. So I set up the experiment and measured the water and everything. Then I was about to use the lighter to light the bunsen burner when Ms. Galvin yelled at me to stop-"

"Hold up," Keefe interrupts. "You were going to light the bunsen burner?"

"Yeah…" I say. "Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

"No! Our burners are electric! You just need to plug it in."

"Oh," I say, blushing.

"So you burned yourself with the lighter?"

"Not exactly…" I trail off. "Basically I accidently lighted Ms. Galvin's trench coat on fire and then tried to put it out with my hand."

Keefe's eyes widen. He then starts to laugh. Not even light laughs- it was full on belly laughs. I cross my arms, waiting for his laughing fit to end.

He finally stops, wiping tears from his eyes. "Wait, so you're telling me you lit Ms. Galvin's TRENCH COAT on FIRE?"

"Yeah, so?"

"You don't understand. She LOVES that thing. She wears it like everyday!"

"Even in the spring?" I ask.

He nods. "Once I even saw her wearing it at the beach. AND WE LIVE IN CALIFORNIA."

"Wait you saw Ms. Galvin at the beach?"

"Yeah, that's a story for another time though. We need to get you to Elwin!"

He jumps up from the bench and holds his hand out for me to take it. I roll my eyes and use my good hand. He leads me down a few more hallways and then up a staircase. We stop outside a room with a sign that says NURSE'S OFFICE.

I hesitate at the door, reminded of my fear of doctors. Keefe sees the look on my face and comforts me. "Don't worry, Dr. Elwin is super nice!"

"Yeah.." I say. Taking a deep breath, I finally open the door.