Learning:
We walked to our lunch table.
“So how was bludge session?” Gemma asked me.
“Huh, oh social studies? Umm good” I said.
“Oh my god! Bella who’s your pen pal? I don’t even know!” Gemma smiled with intrigue.
“Well his name is Edward Cullen...” I began
“Edward, that’s a strange name” Gemma interrupted. Caitlyn stared straight at us, her gorgeous eyes beaming.
“He lives in a small town, he has lots of siblings and they’re all really close in age” I continued. Caitlyn was still staring. I looked at Gemma.
“Oh his dad is a doctor and his handwriting is so beautiful” I let out a small sigh.
“Ooo you’ll have to tell me more every time you get a letter, okay?” She said. I nodded, chewing.
“Ah I so wish I did social studies” Gemma complained.
“So where are you from?” I asked Caitlyn, curiously.
“Oh my parents move around a lot I’ve never really had a permanent home” she sighed.
“That must suck” Gemma said bitting into her apple.
“Yeah you get to go a lot of places though” She smiled.
“But you never get any long term friends” She added.
“You got any siblings?” I asked, I had a strange feeling she was not telling us something.
“An older sister, but I never see her anymore, you know since she kind of moved out. Well got away from the moving” She giggled to herself.
“I got an older sister too” Gemma realised still eating.
The bell rang. We stood up.
“What you got now?” Gemma asked Caitlyn.
“Uhh English?” Caitlyn said like she was asking what subject Gemma had.
“Hey same as us” Gemma said.
“You can come with us if you like” I offered.
“Thanks” Caitlyn smiled.
Gemma and I started walking in the direction of our lockers, Caitlyn followed, but I noticed she was kind of leaning more into the shade of the passing trees.
We each got our books out of our lockers. Gemma and I waited a couple of minutes until Caitlyn found her English books.
“You ready?” I asked Caitlyn.
“Yes” She said getting up.
“Lets go” Gemma took the lead.
“You any good at English” I asked in Caitlyn’s direction.
“Well she’s speaking it right now” Gemma said laughing. I giggled and Caitlyn joined in quietly.
“I meant the subject, Gemma!” I said in a mocking tone.
“Umm I’m okay” Caitlyn smiled sweetly.
“I’m not, it’s too boring to be good at” Gemma laughed. We each laughed once again.
“And here’s good old room 7H” I said sarcastically. Gemma sighed and opened the door.
“Girls” Mr Quince nodded. We nodded and walked to our seats.
“I see you befriended Caitlyn” He smiled. Everyone turned to look at Caitlyn and then returned to their quiet chatting. Caitlyn moved to sit with us.
“Okay, okay turn your text books to page 168” Mr Quince controlled the class. Books came out and pages turned. Mr Quince started explaining what to do, the class groaned and the session began.
After English we went back to our lunch table. I noticed once again that Caitlyn sat deep under the shade provided by the large tree that towered over the table.
I saw that Gemma was wearing a new bracelet.
“Oh I like your bracelet, Gemma, where’d you get it?” I asked moving across to examine it closer.
“Umm I’ve had it for ages” Gemma undid it and placed it on the table. I reached for it and played with the tiny beads in between my fingers.
“I found it when I was cleaning my room the other day, so I put it on” Gemma explained.
I almost purposely dropped the bracelet on the ground right in front of Caitlyn’s feet.
“Oh I’m sorry, Caitlyn can you please pass the bracelet?” I asked. Caitlyn looked at me and then down to the bracelet in front of her.
“Umm sure” Caitlyn looked a bit inconvenienced as she reached down for the ground. As her arm went into the sunlight it kind of looked a tad brighter than the rest of her body. She passed it to me.
“Thanks” I smiled.
“No worries” She smiled back.
For the rest of lunch we made small chit chat, Caitlyn joined in when necessary. When the bell rang, we each got up and walked to get ready for our next class, Caitlyn staggered behind a little.
“Come on Caitlyn” I half joked.
“Yeah, don’t worry about me” She smiled.
We all got out our books.
“Does everyone have Maths now?” Caitlyn asked standing up.
“Nah, three classes now, three some other time, I’m not quite sure” I answered truthfully.
“Where do you have it?” Gemma asked Caitlyn.
“Umm 9G?” She said like she wasn’t sure where that was.
“Oh we have it in 4F, but that’s where Gemma, Nicole and Cara have it” Gemma replied.
“Except Gemma and Nicole are away today” I pointed out.
“Oh” Caitlyn sighed.
“Oh Cara?” I tapped her on the shoulder as she walked past.
“Yes Bella?” Cara smiled.
“Um would you mind taking Caitlyn to Maths with you? It’s her first day and she doesn’t really know anyone yet” I asked, sweetly.
“Oh sure of course, come on Caitlyn” Cara guided her out of the crowd.
Someone wolf whistled and a group of boys laughed as the girls walked past.
“Oh I hate new girls, especially the pretty ones” A girl behind me said to her friend. Hmm I guess Caitlyn was pretty.
“Coming Belle?” Gemma called, gesturing towards herself.
I nodded and ran towards the open door.
Maths went as fast as Maths ever goes.
“Finally home time!” Gemma smiled as the bell rang.
“Yep, home” I smiled back.
