I walked through the empty hallway with the 9th grade dean by my side. His hand was placed on the small of my back. I could ell by the look in his terrible mud colored eyes that he’d been informed of my situation and was convinced I was another troubled freak. The only though in his balding little head was when I’d finally leave.

“I think you’ll like our school very much” he smiled as he stopped in front of a classroom door.

“Mr. Steperd I assure you I won’t be here long enough” I attempted to soothe his thoughts.

“Oh I was under the impression that you’d be staying for the rest of the year and next year.” He allowed his grin to fade.

“This year yes next year we’ll see” I shrugged and he opened the door. Inside were at least 30 desks 20 of them filled. A slightly plump older man with graying hair stood in front of the desks at a white board.

“Hello sorry to interrupt this is Annabelle she’ll be joining us for the rest of the year” Mr. Steperd told the class.

“Oh excellent” the older man grinned. “Well I’m Mr. Fox. Would you like to tell the class a little about yourself?”

“No I don’t want to interrupt” I shook my head. I liked him instantly. He’s the first teacher I’ve met who doesn’t assume I’m deranged just because I’m not wearing pink and purple and waving pompoms in his face.

“Nonsense” he shook his head. Sometime during this exchange Mr. Steperd snaked out of the class.

“Good band” Mr. Fox added referring to my Ramones shirt. He hit my soft spot with that one. I’ll do anything for a guy with good taste in music. Well to a degree.

“Fine” I gave in.

“Splendid” he clapped. “Full name nickname if any and 2 facts about yourself.”

“Annabelle Marie Ruiz Lee” I knocked down the first requirement.

“Annie” I paused. “My parents died when I was 10 and I’m shuffled around from family member to family member every year.”

The class was silent. They were waiting for me to laugh and say I was just joking. I wish I was. A rich but kind looking brunette girl raised her hand. I was convinced the friendly smile was just a façade and she was going to say something that would get the class into a heated frenzy.

“Yes Molly” Mr Fox nodded his head in her direction.

“I’m confused” the girl’s small smile widened. “Why did the author write about a girl who tried to kill herself then well do just what the character tried to do.”

The girl pointed to the desk next to her as Mr. Fox began explaining the twisted mind of Sylvia Plath. Surprisingly I actually agreed with his theory. I walked to the desk next to Molly’s and sat down. She held the book in the space between her desk and mine. I took out my own copy. She laughed and put the book back on her desk. Mr. Fox was reading a part of the book to the class. I opened to the page and followed along. I loved being in the “smart” classes we read the best books. Unfortunately the class was almost over and since this was 3rd period for everyone else lunch was next.

“Sit with me.” Molly said as we walked out of the class.

The cafeteria was bigger than the one at my old school. They had several different lines from local fast food places. It was a closed campus so they brought the food to them. I stood at the Starbucks line and got a latte. Then I found Molly’s table. There were 3 other girls sitting there already.

“Hey Annie” Molly said as I sat down across from her. “These are my friend Paige, Kay, and Jenny.”

“Hi” I smiled.

“Paige is a cheerleader, Kay is an anime freak, and Jenny is Jamie Sullivan without leukemia.” Molly laughed.

“I resent that” a girl with almost white blond hair looked up from her book entitled Life Strategies for Teens.

“Oh come on you so are” a tall girl with light brown hair that fell right below her collar bone and angled down obviously to accentuate her chestiness smirked and rolled her eyes.

“Hey you’re the orphan girl” a previously oblivious girl put down her manga and ate a dry noodle. I cringed and nodded.

“Be nice” Jenny scolded.

“I am” Kay defended herself.

“It’s fine really” I tried to laugh but nothing came out.

“So where did you live before here” Paige asked.

“Boca with my grandmother” I got out a laugh so did the others. Paige thought it was hysterical.

“Where else have you lived?” She abruptly stopped laughing.

“Paige” the other three girls warned.

“No it’s ok” I waved my hand to show disinterest. “When my parents first died I lived with my grandmother in my house in Miami, then I moved in with my aunt and her 3 kids in North Carolina, then to my Gran’s in Boca, now here with my dad’s sister.”

“So does everyone want you or no one” Paige asked.

“Ok that’s enough Annie is that all you’re having” Molly asked.

I nodded.

Kay became uninterested and went back to reading her manga. I never understood the fascination with those things. What’s wrong with the good old fashioned regular books? She seemed absolutely bizarre. Her blonde hair was an absolute frizzy mess. Now I’m not really in to fixing up my hair all nicely as demonstrated by my ever present pig tails but I don’t think she’s ever even seen a brush. Her diet which consisted of dry noodles, potato sticks, shredded cheddar, and fruit snacks seemed to keep her overly energized and extremely skinny. She was definitely the weirdo in the bunch.

Molly was the sane one. She was perfectly normal. I mean really. She could be straight out of a sit-com. Jenny was the conscience of the group. Paige looked like she didn’t belong. It was obvious that these girls had known each other since they were tiny before they could develop into who they are. It’s nice that they all still stayed friend s though.

“I hate those things” Jenny shuddered looking at Kay’s book. “You’re not infected are you Annie?”

“Nope” I shook my head.

“Kay you’re such a loser” Paige rolled her eyes. I was right Paige was the bitch in the group.

“I know” Kay said with a chewed up piece of cheese in her mouth.

“Molly your parents are out of town this weekend right” Paige asked even though she obviously knew the answer.

“Yep unfortunately now I have to watch Lizzie” Molly rolled her eyes.

“We should have a girl’s night” Paige suggested.

“Yeah totally” Kay put away her book.

“I can’t I have a church thing” Jenny sighed.

“You should come too Annie” Molly offered.

“I’m sure she’s busy” Paige rolled her eyes once again.

“I don’t know” I ignored her comment. “I’d feel like I was crashing.”

“Oh come on you have to come” Kay squealed.

“Ok” I gave in.