New Firsts

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

New Firsts — page 7 — throwing hundreds of hostile teenagers together Not so much Thanks to Monica Murray my best friend since third grade I know a few kids from Rock Creek Monica Chloe Granger and Rory Weber all ride at the same stable Still I have never cheered for Rock Creek to win a football game and I don’t have any friends from there It’s still too weird to imagine us all getting along Coral points to a printed floor plan that’s taped to the table Straight down the front hall take the first right and go up the stairs to the second floor Then just follow the signs she tells me

New Firsts — page 8 — I want to find out if Monica is in my homeroom But before I can Coral shouts Next The boy behind me moves up and I leave to find room 248 The building smells like fresh paint and everything looks new The floors aren’t scuffed and the metal lockers are shiny not scratched with graffiti The small windows in the classroom doors are clean and the black lettering on the hall signs is easy to read I pause outside the classroom door to take a deep breath I want everyone to notice how much more mature I seem but I don’t want to be too obvious or fake

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