First Impressions

    I shivered as I sat down on the cold plastic chair. My navy blue clothing matched the color, making me appear invisible. The other students moved into the room slowly, each regretting their decisions of choosing this course. Their superficial chatter and nervous tapping of fingers and pens seemed to echo about the room, filling it with nothing more than excess air.

    I was new here so the idea of being invisible was very appealing the more I thought about it. No awkward questions or introductions—maybe the teacher wouldn't even notice the scraggly looking girl who was an alien to her torture chamber. However, I was sadly mistaken. A boy—I think his name was Nate—asked me my name but I stumbled over my words so much that he focused his attention on someone else. To make matters worse, the teacher decided that the whole class should introduce themselves to one another. I flushed and talked with my head facing the floor. Snickers filled the class as I mumbled about my pathetic life. I felt relieved when my turn had finished, but I knew that this would only be the start. I was so grateful I decided not to take speech. 

    When class finished, I tripped out the door and nearly fell flat on my face, so much for first impressions!

    For the rest of the day, I tried to blend in but it is a difficult thing to do in such a small school. This school had only 360 students K – 12, making it the size of my old high school. I hated this idea of a new start because things never tend to go right for me, anywhere.
   
    In math, I gave the wrong answer, I misinterpreted the question in ethics, and bumped into a girl at lunch, making her spill all her food. This new year was turning out horrible! Everything possible that could go wrong did. I felt as if I was being punished for something I didn’t do. It wasn’t my fault that we got kicked out of the city. If only my brother hadn’t been such a troublemaker?
   
    When the bell rang to end the day, I raced out of the door and literally flew down the stairs. Me being my clumsy self, I should have known to take it slow but alas I am stupid. I tripped and fell head over heels—in a skirt. That was it; I’d had it. My emotions crumbled like a broken cookie and I lost control, surrendering to my tears. I pushed myself up and ran to a deserted place outside. I found a tree perched upon a tiny hill and there I just fell on my knees and poured my eyes out, shouting aloud up to the tree.
   
    Why did my parents have to drag me here? Why couldn't they just leave me where I was? They told me I would make new friends and that it was a new start for our family. It was Sam’s fault not mine! They don’t know how I feel!
My voice cracked and my throat ached. I felt so much pain and emptiness; I felt lonely. There was no one here I knew and my parents wouldn’t listen to me. They were to busy with Sam to notice. The “good kids” never get any attention.
At that time, I believed my parents were wrong in their choice, but as you know, I’ve been proven wrong before. As I sat there contemplating my awful life, I didn't notice the gorgeous guy standing in front of me. He was tall--the same age as me probably—and wore the same navy-blue colored clothing as me. His hair was shaggy and deep brown; it looked as if it had never been combed out but it made him look even more attractive. His  had well defined cheekbones and pale ivory skin, making him appear to be a vampire. It made me think of a book I read but alas that was only a book.

    In his hands he held my bag with my books stuffed in it. Quietly he sat next to me and we just sat there in an awkward silence until my sobs quieted and my tears dried. He sat there so quietly that I jumped when he handed me a tissue.

  "Thanks."

    "No prob. You're new here right?" His voice was soft and warm, forcing everything to fade away. I wanted to hear him speak again, to feel his warm voice flood my ears.

    As I focused on his few simple words, he sat up, awaiting me answer. It took me a minute to realize and I turned red.

    "Um, yeah.” My voice was awkward and cracking.

    "Everybody has bad days; some people just have them more than others. I have to admit, I am one of those." He laughed and threw his head back, gazing up at the sky above us.

    "Every day is a new beginning, but remember to live today as if it’s your last. Fix today while it is still here because tomorrow may never come. Just don’t give up." My eyes drifted to the sky as I soaked in his words. Maybe first impressions weren't so bad. This may actually turn out to be an interesting year.