~Malissa~

After mom had dropped off Nathen and was driving Maddy, Jake, Ally, and me to school, we were all talking amongst each other. We had already received our schedules in the mail, and we were all comparing them again to make sure that we knew for sure what classes we would have with each other for the day.

Luckily, I have all of my classes with at least one of my friends. And I am very glad about that. I am still pretty sure that some of my old friends from middle school are definitely going to be in some of my classes, or at least at the school. But at least I have my new group of friends. "The golden group of four," as we like to say.

But the name is still in working progress.

As mom parked in the parking lot, we all said goodbye and walked into the school building. Maddy, Jake, and Ally were all talking, but I just walked next to them with a bad feeling in my stomach. I tried to not think that much of it, but I just know that something is not going to go right today.

I just know it.

As I was putting some of my extra school supplies, and the things that I Would not need for the day in my locker, I heard some familiar voices behind me. I was about to turn around to look at who it was when the morning bell rang.

And the voices died down, as I suspected that the people that the voices belonged to went off to their classes.

I finished putting the things that I would not need for the day in my locker, and locked it, and headed off to homeroom.

~Jake~

I am really glad that I have homeroom class with Maddy, Ally, and Malissa. I know that I don't have any guy friends, and that is okay. I bet that I am going to be able to make some this year though. And it is fine if I don't.

As I walked into the classroom, I saw Maddy, Ally, and Malissa already sitting down in the second front row. I took the empty seat next to Maddy and took out my sketchbook to work on a drawing that I started the night before while I waited for class to start.

As I wrapped up my drawing, I heard the door open with gusto. I looked up from my sketchbook and saw that some girls (and boys) walked "sassily" into the classroom.

I looked down at my sketchbook and rolled my eyes. I never really understood why people have to walk into a classroom that way. The school that I went to before seventh grade was a really small school that was focused on homeschooling, and I only met up with my classmates three times a week. And there weren’t really any popular kids there.

I miss that. But at least I have friends here.

~Maddy~

As I looked up from the schedule that I was decorating, I looked to the doorway and saw a whole group of people standing there. I noticed that there were some familiar-looking people there. I guessed that those people were just some of my old classmates.

But then it hit me. Some of those people (most of them actually) were some of Malissa's old friends.

I looked at her and saw that the expression on her face was one of misery. I came to the conclusion that she already saw who was standing in the doorway. I did not want to ask her about it at this moment, here and now, so I just turned back to the schedule that I was decorating.

'I guess that it would be foolish of me to think that Malissa's old friends would be at this high school. Most of their parents are rich, I guess,”

“Okay, class!” Said our homeroom teacher as she clapped her hands. “This is not a catwalk, sit down!”

I silently sighed in relief. I really don't like those kids.

As I put my schedule back into my folder, and back into my schoolbag, the teacher said,

“My name is Ms. Hanashi. For homeroom class today, I am going to have you go clockwise around the room saying your names, and three short things about yourself. Starting with the front.”

As we went through the first half of the front row, swiftly coming to where I sat, I said,

“Hello!” I said. “My name is Maddy, and I like to read, write, and hang out with my friends.”

I could tell that the people that I guessed were some of Malissa’s old friends rolled their eyes at me. And I could tell that they knew that I was the same Maddy that they would have fun teasing.

And I eventually came to dread what they would do when class is dismissed.

As I walked out of the classroom with Malissa, Ally, and Jake, I had this small pit in my stomach. I tried to not think that much of it. But as I walked to my locker with Malissa, I heard someone say,

"Well I'll be darned." one of Malissa's old friends said.