Page 12 of Darkened Wings
Not exactly the kind of things you wanted to deal with on the first day of a new school. At least, I didn’t. Why had I ever thought that this was the solution to put my life on an even keel. Since I arrived at the front gates, that had not at all been the case. Smoothing the pleats of my skirt, I reflected on the fact I’d never worn a uniform before, not even in elementary school.
Students were rushing past me, heading in all directions, but they were already thinning out, which meant it must be nearly class time. And I wasn’t sure what direction to go.
I had not managed to walk the whole path the night before, and unfortunately one of the classes I had not located was my first one of the day. I pulled out the map and tried to orient myself. Okay, left. I had to go left.
Shouldering my bag, I started out, the map held in front of my face. I was buffeted by my fellow students who all seemed to know precisely where they were going. Many traveled in twos and threes, chatting and laughing and utterly at home in these hallways. I’d been down this one the night before, I was sure, but my homeroom wasn’t on it. Shoot, the map was upside down. Turning around, I tried to fight my way back to where I started, to go in the other direction, but it was like trying to move against salmon swimming upstream. Or going the wrong way on the freeway. Everyone was headed away from the dining hall and administrative areas. Nobody but me, apparently, was trying to get back there.
I was going to be so late. On my very first day in a school that barely even let me in to start with. After a few minutes, I did manage to return to the bench where we ate breakfast, but now I wasn’t sure if I had been wrong at all, and in a total geek move—for lack of a better solution—I asked a passing student for help.
Apparently, I was invisible because they didn’t even seem to notice me or slow their racing pace, so I tried another. This one wasn’t rushing like the first, but they were focused on the inside of their book bag as if it held the secrets to the universe or something.
Or maybe a forbidden cell phone.
I didn’t think we even had reception here, but maybe they had satellite connection or something. Either way, they were so locked in their own world, they didn’t reply, just shrugged me aside and continued on, bumping into a few things along the way. Yet, they’d probably get to class on time anyway.
My third attempt was with a pair of giggling blondes who would have been cheerleaders at any other school. Did they have those here? Or any kind of sports? My lack of knowledge about what to expect was worrisome.
“Excuse me?” I chased them for a few yards. “I’m lost?”
One of them turned and then whispered something to her friend, sending their giggles into the stratosphere. But then they did at least stop.
And stare at me.
“Directions?” I shrugged. “I don’t want to be late, can you show me how to get here?” I poked at a spot on the map. “I’d really appreciate it.”
“Oh, you’re the new girl. The legacy,” the other girl said.
They didn’t introduce themselves and I felt awkward doing it, so I just said, “Yes, that’s me. Do you know where this room is?”
She glanced at her friend and they gave me a look that was pure pity, but then she shrugged. “We have to go right past it. Come on, but don’t act like you’re walking with us, okay?”
“Oh sure.” Because who would want to be seen with me? Astra really must have a big heart. “But thank you.”
They started out, and I trotted along at their heels like a friendly dog. Turned out, I had been going the right way because a few minutes later, one of them glanced over her shoulder and pointed at a doorway before they continued on their way, heads close together and no doubt talking about me. Maybe about my giant lump on my forehead.
Chapter Eight
“You are late, Ms. Bellamina.” The professor, dressed in plaid pants, a billowy cream shirt, and a matching plaid vest rapped her fingernails on the desk, one of her eyebrows raised.
“I apologize,” I quickly replied, but it only seemed to enflame the already miffed woman.
Her hair was in a lazy bun on top of her head, but one curl had escaped from the hairdo. She had one hip cocked out. All the pairs of eyes in the classroom were focused on me, the opposite of what I’d wanted when I went on my journey the night before.
And here I thought I could spend my time here gliding under the radar.
Fat chance in hell.
The professor squared off her shoulders and nailed me with an intimidating stare. “Don’t think that just because you are a legacy or because of who your parents were that you are going to get some kind of special treatment around here. I expect you to be on time every day. I’m writing down this tardy in your record. Let this be your last warning. You’re wasting all of our time.”
There were some snickers from the students, but even though the woman had reamed me for being late, I still didn’t know where to sit. I spotted a seat in the back and made my way to it before she could go on another tirade about me wasting her time.
I’d become a professional at looking down when I walked. It was necessary for those of us who spent our lives trying not to be noticed.
The classroom was stadium style where the seats in the back were actually the most visible to the teacher and no one could get away with hiding behind the student in front of them. As I made my way up the shallow stairs, I heard the same tired whispers as I had in the cafeteria.
“I can’t believe she’s in this class.”
“I wonder if it’s too late to switch my schedule.”
