Aubrey Valentina

I walk into the biology classroom just as the second bell rings. I get a few awkward stares since the door slams behind me in my frenzied state.

"Hello you must be the new student. I'm Mrs. Robinson," she says turning towards me.

Then she starts to speak towards the class. "Class, this is..." she pauses to look at notepad in her desk, "Aubrey Simpson. She just transferred here. Can everyone give her a warm welcome?"

Many numbly voices fill the classroom, before returning to a pregnant silence. Mrs. Robinson tells me to sit in the empty seat next to a bit in the middle of the room.

"Aubrey you can go sit next to Tyler. His last partner isn't in this class anymore," She says with a tinge of anger. Tyler smirks at her comment— there must be a story behind all that.

I've never really been too observant of the people around me, but this feeling that makes my heart flutter as I sat next to him... it's different.

He's kind of cute.

It's not time for this Aubrey, he probably won't even spare you a second glance.

Mrs. Robinson then begins to speak. "Okay so today we will be doing the textbook work for Chapter 5: Cellular Functions. Work with your bench mate and don't be too loud."

I was only half listening, I usually get into these brain-fogs when I don't sleep well.

I snapped out of my haze by a sharp pain on my arm. He tapped my arm lightly but it still didn't change the fact that the wound was still fresh.

"Ouch," I hiss.

"I- Uh- sorry. I didn't know," Tyler says, scratching the back of his neck.

"N-No I am sorry. Don't worry, you didn't know," I reply awkwardly.

"I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Tyler Sanders. Fun fact: I am the team captain of the football team. Now it's your turn. ?"

I hesitate before replying back. "I'm Aubrey... no dip, you already know that. I... well I like to read and draw?" My answer comes out more like a question but he brushes over it.

"You should come to the football game tonight. You know, maybe meet some new people. Watch me play?"

I smile at his invitation. "Haha, maybe."

The teacher interrupts the class to let us know we will have a research paper due next Monday on this topic.

• • •

It's lunch, my least favorite part of the day. Barbara and Anderson never gave me any money and refuse to do any shopping so I have nothing to eat. It's not helping that I have no friends at the moment.

That reminds me, I still need to find out who Isabella and Kacy are.

I walk through the swinging doors that open up to the cafeteria. As I am walking someone trips me and I land face first on the tiled floor.

"What the hell?" I yell at the guy that called me the wrong name earlier.

"Sorry" he says with a smirk. I look around and everyone is staring at our encounter.

This guy looked so oddly familiar. He also sounded like he had the slightest Italian accent. Who is he? And why is he targeting me?

At the table there are mostly boys, a few girls sit on their laps. The only guys without anyone is Tyler and some other dude. What kind of school is this?

Are we extras on Mean Girls?!

"Douche," I mutter before picking up my backpack.

"Don't call me that, (some word in a language I don't know). You know, I don't see a resemblance."

I stare at him unamused, just confused about what word just fell out of his mouth. Did I time travel back to middle school in the 90's?

"You really look nothing like Kacy. I don't know how I saw it before. You are really ugly, cheese-string," he clarified as I nod and walk away. I didn't even mention her. If I remember correctly, he was the one who thought I was her in the first place. Where's the logic there?

"The name's Antonio by the way," he calls from behind.

"I never asked by the way," I bit back and leave to go somewhere else.

Maybe I should go to the library now... yup that's a good idea.

On my way to the library a girl walks beside me and smiles.

"I saw what you did in there. No one ever has the guts to speak back to Antonio like that. Only his friends and sisters do. I'm Maia," she introduces, holding out here hand.

I take it and say "I'm Aubrey."

"You know you look a lot like my sister's friend."

I sigh, "Kacy or Isabella?"

"Isabella. Wait... how'd you know?" she replies.

"Because I've been called those names way too many times today. Who are they?"

"She's the head cheerleader. Isabella's a senior and she is Antonio's twin sister. She only has to take three classes a day because she has most of her credits, it's hard to come across her after lunch."

That explains a lot.

"Kacy is a sophomore, she is their younger sister. Come to the football game tonight! You might see her and we can learn more about each other!" Maia squealed.

I really do want to go but it might not be the best idea. Especially without telling Anderson or Barbara.

But you only live once, right?

Whatever. I'm going to have fun for once in my life. They will just have to deal with it. I deserve some happiness.

"Okay," I say excitedly.

"You can come to my house after school and we can get ready together!" Maia says before asking for my number.

"Uh. I don't have a phone."

"Oh okay. Just meet me in the English hallway later and we can go to my car," she smiled before going to her next class.

Yay! Now I just have to finish the rest of the day!

Hint my sarcasm.