4. overstimulating the senses.
The second day was different though. I was late for the 9 am assembly, so I was placed at the back with the people who had the same tardiness as me, or an “I don't want to be here” attitude. I sat next to a guy who wore a trench coat and had a white cap covering his face. Weirdo. He was probably asleep.
Just as the headmaster was explaining the general rules of the school I heard an enthusiastic “hi!” that scared my complete breakfast out of me. The previously white capped sleeping quiet guy was fondly smiling back at me. I un-clutched my thigh knife hidden under my skirt and waved in response to his hi-fi invitation with a scowl. No way in hell I'm touching an unknown hand, he shrugged it off and continued to give his input of the principal’s speech. I wanted him to stop talking, but still nodded to be polite, unfortunately he saw this as a gesture to continue just as the principal starts speaking about the importance of education, “Been in this school since 3 years and dumbledore has still not died. Stupid bald eagle looking principal”. Eyeroll. I don’t want to shut the dude down, but something about him seems very intriguing.
“These assemblies are always so boring, but I like to make them interesting. I'm Vince, by the way.” I gave him a curt nod.
“You know, I've got some wild ideas on how to make this speech more exciting. I can't help but share them.” He whispered. My hand unintentionally went back to my knife, if only violence could stop morons from talking to me. But after I’ve established dominance in this school too, I can go around cutting a few body parts.
“Maybe we should just listen for now.” I suggested, this dude is the first one to make it on the list. As the principal continues to speak, Vince can't contain himself and starts commenting on various ideas to improve the assembly. Every idea worse than the previous one, surprisingly they were making me smile.
“Valerie Patro, by the way,” this time I did something shocking, gave him my hand to shake, “I just shifted here this is my 3rd school in 3 years” I said and stared ahead and cancelled his name from the torture list, maybe he isn’t that bad. I was intrigued to see what he would say next. I was scavenging a new way of knowing the people in my school so I throw a bone at him and see if they want to bite. If a person thinks they want to know you and ask a question they would have more interest in finding out more about you and think it was their idea.
I could hear my new acquaintance think and then he finally asked, “why so many school changes.” I smirk.
After the assembly, he accompanied me back to my homeroom, which surprisingly was the same route for the both of us. Mila met me enthusiastically outside and gave Vince a hug. Okay, they knew each other somehow. By the look on my face they started explaining.
“We’re in the same group.” they said together.
“Mila usually brings in the new bees, but this time we both had a bet who brings the coolest one.” Vince added, “I think we should settle a truce with you, I can’t talk to anymore creeps”
Mila nodded her head in agreement. They were a little weird to have to recruit new members of their group at the start of senior year, were they a gang? Who was the boss of this group?
“how do you know I’m interested?” I said
“trust me, when you’ll talk to other people in school you’ll realise were the only normal ones here” Mila says.
“you’re probably right, but I like to be alone most of the time.” I replied
“in Ashtree, you’re going to need people to hang out with. It’s just how it works Val. Embrace it.” Vance said.
He was right, it was an unusual institution, here, assemblies occurred in the grand hall with the entire batch of around 400 students listening to peaceful music for the first 3 minutes, 10 mins of news, and random announcements for another 10. Then we are dispersed into the homeroom where they take our attendance and allow us to overthink about our existence for a good 30 minutes, then a day of new and fun learning beings! Note the fucking sarcasm.
At break, Vince and Mila took me to a secluded table at the centre left of the bright-coloured cafeteria, there were 2 other people sitting there.
A blonde girl with the school’s logo at the back of her t-shirt turned around with the biggest smile, within seconds a familiar looking guy mimicked this act. As we approached them there formed a pit in my stomach.
“You’re the girl who beat Railey James at the smart people quiz last year!” he spoke. I finally remembered him,
“You’re the one who punched Charles kimmerman” I said
“That douche had it coming.” Ander something said.
“Wait so you’re smart?” Vince asked in a mocking shocked manner, “maybe you’re not as cool as I thought u were, nerd.” He mummered towards me and I threw him a casual death glare.
“You’re Ander?” I asked
“Anderson.” he nodded and put an arm around the blond girl
“I'm Payton and also how do those two things relate?” she inquired,
Vince took this chance to narrate, “Oh our school quiz was before the football match and everyone had to be there, so Anderson here decides to punch a dude, who said something about one of the cheerleaders, in front of the entire crowd and ended up getting to play only after the first half was over.”
“It was worth it.” Anderson added, Vince agreed. While Mila was off to get something to eat and the guys got busy with talks about an upcoming match, I sat next to Payton opened the box I got from home, Payton took the chance to get to know me and asked, “why did you shift to our school Valerie ?”
“You guys know my name?” I asked her,
“Yeah, we texted your name and info on the group chat yesterday” Vince chimed like it was a usual thing to do and went back to his conversation with Anderson.
“The other one didn’t have everything I was looking for, plus, my ex you beat up” I pointed at Anderson and their eyes widened while I continued, “wanted me out of there and there is nothing I could do about that.”