New Firsts

New Firsts — page 3 — to be the person I want to be I’m not getting plastic surgery or going on What Not to Wear or anything I’m just paying more attention and being more careful than I was before I bought a bunch of new makeup and Mom gave me money for new clothes I’ll be at the mall all day Saturday I even trimmed a few inches off my long curly hair Ugh that was so hard to do I kept my eyes closed the whole time but the split ends had to go They were starting to frizz My hair still falls halfway down my back but the new style makes me look older and shows off my eyes

New Firsts — page 4 — But looking more grown-up is only part of the new me I don’t want to seem like a baby Especially to all the older kids Word about the kids in the new freshman class will spread fast after Orientation The lobby is full of older student volunteers A cute boy with sandy blond hair and a sticker name tag that reads ANDREW is standing just inside the front doors He smiles Welcome to Pine Creek High he says Thanks I smile back and feel my face warm up I hope he can’t tell that I’m blushing The volunteers over there have the

New Firsts — page 5 — class lists Andrew says pointing toward the tables against the back wall Orientation is held in your homeroom They’ll tell you where to go I don’t see anyone I know but the line moves quickly In less than five minutes I’m standing in front of a girl named Coral I’m Claudia Cortez I tell her Coral runs her finger down an alphabetical list Here you are Your first period class is your homeroom too You have American History with Mr Harris in room 248 Where is that I ask Nobody knows the boy sitting beside

New Firsts — page 6 — Coral says Coral laughs That’s why they gave us a map she says The school campus is brand new for everyone not just the freshmen The school boards in the towns of Pine Tree and Rock Creek decided to replace Pine Tree High which was too small and Rock Creek High which was too old with one big facility It cost less and has everything high school students could want except maybe peace and harmony in the halls Pine Tree and Rock Creek have been arch rivals forever about everything Building one school was money smart but

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