Ten Years Ago
T he thought of starting a new school has haunted me all summer, like a bad smell that just refuses to vanish. The orientation St. Theresa’s held a few weeks ago only freaked me out more. I didn’t spot any familiar faces as we were briskly led around before receiving a pack with our dorm room numbers, map and timetable.
Going from being surrounded by the same group of people for seven years to this overly fancy boarding school just feels wrong.
Half the kids arrive with drivers, wheeling in their designer luggage, meanwhile, my suitcase looks like one good kick would break it. Mum made her tearful goodbyes at home because the price of a return taxi would break this month’s budget.
I’m only here because of a full scholarship; otherwise, I’d be at the local public school near our house. Part of me wonders if I should have fussed more and begged my way out of coming here. It’s clear I don’t belong.
After getting lost a dozen times, I finally found what will be my home for the next six years, only to discover from the piles of luggage on one bed that my roommate had already arrived. Dread curls in my gut at the thought of sharing a room with a virtual stranger, but before I can dwell on that, the sharp chime of the school bell reminds me I have a class to find.
Grabbing my school bag, I head to the academic buildings on the other side of campus. As I stand frozen in the courtyard, studying the map, a male voice asks, “Hey, you look as lost as me. Where are you trying to go?”
I take in the cutest guy ever. His eyes are as green as emeralds, and his shaggy black hair curls around his collar in the most adorable way. He’s a few inches taller than me, but what really has me weak at the knees and fighting the blush that wants to give me away, is his smile—so friendly and warm, I could stare at it all day and get lost in his eyes.
“That obvious, huh? I have ICT with Mr Jenkins first, and you?”
“Same! So now, we can get lost together.” Smiling softly, he takes my map, studies it for a second, then grabs my hand, sending a jolt through me. He waves us through different corridors until we stop outside a classroom just as the final bell rings.
I thought he said he was lost as well?
How was he able to find the right room so easily?
Despite my confusion, I turn to thank him, only to see he’s walking backwards. With a wink, he says, “Gotta run. My math class is down the hall.” He turns around and disappears amongst the crowd still milling about.
Lost in thought about what the heck just happened, I’m startled when a girl with lanky limbs and bright red hair rushes in five minutes late. She plonks down beside me and flashes a toothy grin, introducing herself as Abigail.
Having the same timetable, we spend the day arm in arm as she shares her radiant happiness and confidence with me. I think she might just be my new best friend. Or at least I hope she wants to be.
“I have to introduce you to Owen! Our parents are super close so we’re kinda close too. Well, as close as we can be. He’s a boy.” She shrugs as if that explains everything, just as the lunch bell rings.
Taking my hand, she weaves her way through the corridors as if she’s been here for years, leading the way to the canteen, bypassing the food line and heading straight to a table packed with boys our age.
I’ve never had much interaction with boys, considering my primary school was an all-girls school. So seeing such a large group freaks me out, but as I try to work out what to say to them, I spot the guy from this morning sitting on top of the table, tossing a rugby ball in the air as he talks with another boy.
Our eyes meet, and I can’t help smiling, but before I can speak, Abbie launches herself at him.
My smile falters, and an ugly pit forms in my stomach, before he pushes her off him, laughing. She then introduces him as Owen, “my brother from another mother.”
Instantly I feel like an idiot for my overreaction. I don’t even know the guy. But still. Seeing him push her away makes the ugly pit disappear as quickly as it appeared.
What a crazy first day already!