“Emily, hurry up. You’re going to be late on your first day of high school!”

My mom called to me from downstairs. It was my first day of school and I was dreading it. The summer sucked. My parents got divorced, my dad moved to Miami and my mom moved from Arizona and is now holding me captive in our 2 bedroom, half bath apartment in a state where it snows until April, New Hampshire.

I had two choices, or so I was told. Dad said I could move to Miami with him, to go to school and all. They’ve got really good high schools down there. I was all set and ready to move with him, I had a suitcase packed and everything. Then my mom walked into the room and said she was taking me to New Hampshire to meet my GrandDad I had never heard of before.

My friends back home in Arizon say I am too depressing and that they don’t want to be friends with me anymore and I am about to step foot into a new school that happens to be the largest public school in New England, with no friends, nothing to wear and a paper bag lunch.

“Have fun Sweetie, I love you!” my mom called from the car as I began my walk on the highway to hell.

Science class was okay, I guess. It was first period and I was still exhausted from summer time. The class was pretty interesting and I like my new teacher a lot more than my old, creepy, eighth grade teacher. Mrs. Hadley was 27 and newly married. She was fun, sweet and she told us to call her Lindsey. She told us everything like we were her friends and not her students. This gave me high hopes.

I only had three minutes to change in to my gym clothes after Science.  For the first unit of the fall we were playing soccer. Soccer is kinda my thing. I used to go outside in my front yard in Arizona and juggle my soccer ball whenever my parents would start fighting again. Soccer tryouts had been on August 3rd and I think I played pretty well. The coaches said they needed a strong center midfielder. Coach Riker said “I definitely showed potential.”  What the hell does that even mean!?

When Miss Hansen said to partner up and start some two touch passing the girl who was standing next to me turned and asked if I wanted to be partners with her. I mean ME! My first friend! I thought. I smiled as the girl came closer. Just as I replied with a simple “Sure” trying to play it cool and not like I was throwing a party in my head- I realized she was talking over my shoulder to some girl named Yasmeen or something. I mean who- in what world would- name their child Yasmeen? It sounds like a hairy animal threw up on a mean girl. Everyone partnered up and I was stuck with Amanda, The geeky girl in the corner who picks her nose and gets her top lip stuck between her braces.

Next on my list for the first day in hell was Math. I couldn’t wait for 3rd period. I was on the “Fighting Phoenix's Mathletes”  back home in Arizona. In fact I wasn’t just on the team I was the team. I was the captain, the one who had the spot people fought for. You wouldn’t think it by looking at me, the girl in the pretty sun dress and nice flats, I had my girly side but I was also the girl you would call if anyone needed a grade A a** kicking. But I was smart! the smartest, top of my class, the one people wanted to be like- well, in my hometown at least.

3rd period. Its a new class, new people, new me. Come on Em you can do this! Well I thought I could until the cutest guy in school ran in to me and spilled his freezing cold iced coffee all over me. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. I walked into the classroom stumbling over my own two feet and doing the best I could to dry off my now soaked clothing. This day honestly could not get any worse. But then it did. I heard the laughter and giggles of my classmates. It was the one thing that drew them from their sleep deprived, sweaty bodies and then it hit me. -Well it was actually the muffled “LOSER!” and following chuckles that gave it away.- I was wearing the exact same thing as the 56 year old math teacher who was standing at the front of the room. She was the only one not laughing.

When class ended and the bell rang everyone bolted from the room like there had been a fire. I stayed behind and thanked Mrs. Landrey for not making fun of me and for taking it easy. She realized it was my first day at a new school and I was the only freshman in a class with all juniors and seniors. Turns out Mrs. Landrey is pretty sweet. She gets me. She wrote me a pass to go to the office and call my mom for a change of clothes. No one liked her, but I sure did. She was no Mrs. Hadley but definitely a close second.