Chapter 8:

Today is Monday, September 1st which is also one of those first days for me at another new school. I roll to the right side of my bed debating with myself whether or not I actually want to get up and out there. On the one hand Rachel is gonna be there and I’m sure she can introduce me to some fun people, but on the other hand I’ll just be the new rich kid again. I’m still hoping no one will care though since Seattle isn’t exactly a town where everyone is up-to-date on everything, actually I think no one really gives a crap…

‘Hm, alright then…’ I get out of bed, grab the school uniform from where I placed it on the chair by the desk the night before and make my way to the bathroom, hop under the shower, brush my teeth. Then I put on the plaid blue knee-long skirt and white blouse, I snatch the red jacket and go back to my room where I stand in front of the full body-length mirror and give myself a once-over.

‘Not bad, Maxie.’ I grab the mascara from the nightstand and apply it, put my blonde hair in a loose ponytail and put my backpack with the school stuff in it on while I walk out the door.

Mom’s already waiting for me in the kitchen when I get there, she’s actually making scrambled eggs herself, still wearing her light blue morning gown, her hair all messy.

“You sure I can eat those? Nothing toxic in there?” I tease her while looking at the eggs.

“Ah, thank you so much for appreciating that I got up early to see you off and make sure you eat a decent breakfast!” she shoots back with wink. “You look wonderful in that uniform, hun. Oh I’m supposed to let you know that you can catch a ride with Rachel… in 15 minutes.”

“Kay, thanks.” I take out three plates, forks and knives, place them on the table with three glasses. I sit down after pouring myself some milk and mom serves breakfast while dad walks in, suit and everything in place.

”Morning beautiful” he kisses mom, “Good morning beautiful, junior” he squeezes my shoulder and sits down next to me, mom’s doing the same and we have breakfast in comfortable silence for a while. “So are you exited?” he breaks it and I shoot him a confused look. “About your first day at the new school.” he adds and I nod understandingly.

“Nah, not really. I just want to get it over with, you know?”

“I get it, but try to not bite anyone’s head off on day one, alright?” he gives me a rather firm look, probably remembering my very first day at a public school when I almost broke this kid’s hand because she admired the bracelet that I’d just gotten for my birthday.

I blush a bit due to the embarrassing memory but just smile innocently and get up to put my stuff in the dishwasher. “When will you hire a cook? We’ve lived here for 2 weeks or so and when we don’t eat at the Berrisford’s we order takeout or mom tries to cook something simple.”

Dad grins sheepishly and mom just shakes her head, then she says “That was what I had planned for today actually, hiring a cook and a maid. You remember one of the gardeners, Seth Rowland? He knows someone who used to cook at this great restaurant before the Pulse, I’m having him come in later.”

I frown when she mentions Seth but I don’t say anything to that, instead I change the subject “Well, I better get going or Rachel and I will be late! See you at 3:30!” and I’m out the door after slipping into my shoes.

Rachel’s already waiting in the driveway and I get into the black Bentley in a hurry.

“Heya, thought I had to come in to get you.” She greets me and I offer an apologetic smile.

“I know, mom cooked breakfast so I had to eat it…” I grimace.

“Anyways, I’m gonna show you around real quick before school and then you have to go to the principal’s office to get your timetable…” Rachel explains a couple of things to me and 20 minutes later we arrive in front of the school.

Seattle High isn’t exactly the kind of school I used to go to back in Cali, but it is decent. Not as seedy as the rest of town and Rachel just informed me that her dad sponsored the cafeteria so the food wasn’t half bad either. The school itself is a grey square, kind of uninviting building, but I can deal with that as long as they don’t have bunk beds inside!

We make our way inside; I am relieved to see that the walls are painted in a nice warm orange and no bunk beds in sight. Rachel greets some people and introduced me real quick before she droppd me off in front of headmaster Collins’ office.

“Good luck and I’ll see you at lunch?” She gives me a hug and we go our separate ways.

I step inside the office and I’m greeted by a secretary.

“Good Morning, I’m Maxine Parker, new student.”

“Let me see if the principal’s available, one second” The woman in her late 50s gets up and slips inside the room behind the secretary’s office where the principal’s name is printed on the tinted glass door. She comes back out a minute later and waves me inside.

The principal is pretty young, maybe 40, sitting behind his desk smiling invitingly when he sees me.

“Hello, I’m principal Collins, you must be Maxi..”

“Max is just fine!” I shake his hand when he gets up to greet me.

“Very well, sit down please.” He offers me one of the two chairs in front of his desk. “Let’s see what we got here.” He looks through some papers; one has my photo on it. The files from my old school. “Oh, I remember, of course. Maxi… Max Parker, 4.0 average, head of the cheerleading squad. Impressive.” He nods approvingly; maybe even a bit intimidated he runs his hand through his still mostly brown hair.

“Thanks. Listen, I already went through this new kid at school stuff more than once, so I’d really just like to get my timetable and get to class if you don’t mind. I don’t wanna be late and have the teacher introduce me to everyone, if that’s okay?” I come right to the point.

“I see, you have the determination that is mentioned right here. Good for you… Did someone already show you around?” he asks not at all offended by my direct ways.

“Yes, Rachel Berrisford, she’s my neighbour and we drove here together. She let me know where the important things such as the bathroom and cafeteria are.” I say slightly joking in the end.

“Let’s hope that is not where you will be spending most of your time at school!” Collins jokes too now and turns over my timetable. “Here you go Miss. Have a nice day. If you have any more questions, you know where to find me. You should also contact Miss Feller, the gym teacher, just in case you want to join the cheerleaders here or any other sports-related after-school activities.”

I stand up, shake his hand once more and say “I’ll do that, definitely. Nice meeting you, goodbye.” And I’m on my way to my first class, European History.

A/N: I finally found time to write a new chapter, but somehow I feel like it’s been so long since I last wrote something and I need to get back into it. This chapter is kinda lame, but I needed the setting for future events.

BTW I posted a poll on my profile concerning this and my other stories, which ones I should continue. Take a look and vote, I can’t make up my mind lol

Another quick question, I’ve been having problems with the tenses I this story. I feel more comfortable with writing in past tense but somehow I began it in present tense and now I’m stuck with it. Would you mind if I just continue in past tense from now on?