Suzie’s House 489 : The First Day of School for Emma

Emma paused in the front entrance of East High on the morning of the first day of school. She swallowed hard and tried to not think about barfing. This year, she was not going to run to the bathroom every few seconds. Not like all through middle school.

In middle school, up until she’d found the three Kates, she’d been a nervous wreck. Come to think of it, she’d been nearly as much of a nervous wreck afterwards too. When was it exactly that she’d gotten a grip?

She caught herself touching her face around her eyes, as though she might be able to adjust her mask. Wouldn’t that be a dead giveaway! The whole point of wearing one on stage was so people wouldn’t recognize her when she wasn’t on stage.

Some guy bumped her shoulder as he passed her. He muttered something about babies afraid to go in and being late for class. That was enough to get her moving again. She was really glad the first day was only for freshmen. If that guy had been as big as a senior, she’d have lost it right there on the entry staircase.

If only she was more like Tracy. Tracy had dyed her hair five different colors yesterday. She said it was in celebration of a new audience – meaning everyone in this school building.

If Emma was going to do something, it would be a full princess costume to go with the medieval look of the building. She could see herself in a long, gown complete with a fancy mask. She’d sweep up the steps and into the main hall with her head high. Other students would scramble to get out of her way. And she’d know exactly which classroom to go to without even having to ask anyone.

“Emma! There you are.” Tracy stood just inside the schools front doors, looking flashy and bewildered. “Do you know where room 490 is? I mean, I don’t even know which end of the building I’m supposed to be in.”

“Um… I h-have. I have a map.” Emma clawed at the front of her backpack.

“Oh thank God. I’m so glad I ran into you.”

“L-l-lisa?” She found the map of the school and handed it over.

“She went early. Said she wanted to make sure Ben got to all his classes. I was going to go with Gene, but I overslept. He left a bunch of messages on my phone saying he’d meet me in the first classroom. Oh, look. It isn’t that far. Just on the fourth floor.” Tracy pointed at a box on the map. “Where is your first class?”

“Um… here.” Emma pointed.

“Oh. Well, at least we can go up a couple of flights together.” She sauntered off toward the nearest staircase.

Emma had to jockey through the crowd to stay with her. They didn’t even say anything to each other the whole way up. But when they got to the second floor, Tracy gave Emma’s hand a squeeze.

“Hang in there. I’ll see you… Do we have lunch at the same time? Well, if not, then definitely after school. Right?”

“R-right.” Emma gave a decisive nod.

Tracy continued up the stairs and Emma started down the hall.

“Emma! This is so exciting! Isn’t it?” Kate rushed out of a classroom to bounce a few times in front of Emma. “I’m in class with both Katy and Kaitlin! Gotta go!”

She ran back into the classroom leaving Emma in the hall. It wasn’t Emma’s class. Her room was a few doors down the hall. She smiled, but it might have been a little lopsided. Leave it to Kate to do something like that.

Emma paused at the door to her classroom. She looked carefully, but there wasn’t a single soul in the room that she recognized. She picked out a spot toward the back by the windows but when she reached it, another girl set her pack there.

“Oh! Were you….?” The girl laughed nervously. “Um… you, you go ahead. I’ll just…” She looked around, her long hair swinging back and forth. “I’ll sit… here.” She took the seat right next to the one they both wanted.

“Um…” Emma started to stammer something about giving the seat to the strange girl, but something inside made her stop. The problem was already settled, wasn’t it? They didn’t both need to be like that. She dropped into the seat. “Thank y-you!”

The two of them laughed together.

“I’m so glad I found a kindred spirit right away,” the girl said. “My name is Beth. What’s yours?”

Emma relaxed. Just because she didn’t know anyone at first didn’t mean she had to be alone.

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