Chapter 3; The intrigued girl, and the shy boy

Picture is Caleb

*I don't own the photos that will be put in the story, all the rights belong to their owners!*

*

The bus station was empty when I got there. It might have been for the fact that most of the people in my neighborhood were too rich to let themselves ride such a vehicle.

I didn't care about riding it, not at all. Usually, I preferred taking it.

In the ride, I tried my best not to think too much so I wouldn't give myself a headache. Instead, I looked at the people on the bus and the sidewalk, thinking about each and every one of their stories.

The guy with the dog had to wake up early to walk his pet outside, but he didn't seem to mind. He must really love the dog.

Another woman walked in a hurry with a plastic bag; I thought the food in her house ran out, so she went to buy more so her kids wouldn't leave home without food in their stomach.

On the bus there were two guys sitting next to each other. One of them looked a bit angry at the other, and the second guy tried to talk to him.

By the time they got out of the bus, they were already holding hands.

My heart warmed at the sight and I mentally cheered for them.

When the bus finally got to my stop, I was finishing the ninth story.

The station was located in front of the emergency exit, so I had to go around the school to get to the main gate. Even from where I was standing, I could hear all the students' chatters. They certainly didn't know how to keep their damn voices down.

I think I'm starting to understand why Uncle Bart was so troubled.

I didn't even walk in yet and I'm already getting the picture.

Walking in the pavement near the entrance was a pain. Every one pushed the person besides them. The fact that I wasn't as tall as they were didn't help, because I think no one noticed me beside their big figures. I wonder how long until they do.

At least I knew how to throw a punch, and they were all boys. The more places to hit them, the safer I was in this jungle.

The school did not look like jungle, though, like I expected it to be. Uncle did like wild animals a lot.

It looked modern and classy, reminds me a bit of the private schools I went to. Well, except for the sea of teenage boys walking through the gate. The entrance wasn't even that big, so I almost got pushed into one of the Iron poles on the side of the metal gate.

Finally inside in the big open space of the front yard, I was open to all eyes. Some of the boys in the groups caught the sight of me and gaped. Others were smiling. Some looked like they were about to take a bite of me. I would probably kick them before they could. Moving a hand through my long hair and fixing my sunglasses, I headed towards the main building. Or, in this case, the only one. The sun was too much for me to handle today, so I didn't take my light relief glasses in the hallways. Hopefully, it'll be okay in the classrooms. No teacher will allow my glasses in class without a full explanation (perhaps the stupid ones will), and I wasn't going to tell every problem I have on my first day.

Maybe on the second day I will. Yeah, probably never.

I think it was said that it will get cloudy later today.

Walking down towards the principal's office wasn't as hard as I have expected it to be; I thought that some boys will try talking to me, but all I got was stares. They must have been shocked, and I wondered if Uncle actually considered telling them before I came. It seems like he didn't.

What a hopeless man he is.

*

I thought I knew where to go, but at some point I managed to get lost.

And there was no one to ask for directions. The bell rang fifteen minutes ago, so I ran out of options.

Eventually, I gave up and sat in the corridors against the lockers.

So much for being the 'cool Rhi'.

I tried playing by myself hopscotch, though when I got tired and my eyes started to hurt because I moved my glasses, I stopped.

It made me look like a weirdo, anyway.

The clouds finally covered the sun. I sighed in relief then.

"Pick up the goddamn phone, Uncle Bart," I glared at the cell phone in my hand, as if it was its fault I was in this mess.

"Excuse me," I lifted my head to see where the voice came from. "are you lost?" My green eyes met with a pair of brown eyes. The guy looked about my age, with a sandy-brown hair that got almost entirely covered by a grey beanie. A big, relieved and happy smile appeared on my face, and I stood up.

He was only a bit taller than me, though he wasn't short.

"Yes! Can you help me get to the principal office please?" He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "S-sure." The boy didn't look at me as he showed me the way to my destination.

When we reached the secretary's desk in the center of a small room, he stopped. "The last door to the left is the headmaster's office." I nodded, looking over. I moved in front of him and reached out my hand to him, "Thank you. My name is Rhiannon, but you can call me Rhi." His cheeks colored in light pink.

Was it a bold move to offer him calling me by my shorten name? Some are might used to do it only with their friends.

Crap, I hope he doesn't think I'm a freak with no friends. I mean, it is true, but it's too early for him to know.

Fortunately, he put his slightly cold hand in mine and shook it. "I-I'm Caleb. And you're welcome, I-I guess." Caleb said, scratching his head over the beanie. I gave him one more smile and headed to the office's door.

Inside, the room was empty of people. No sign of Uncle Bart or anyone. Where the hell was he?

I sighed and sat down in one of the chairs, looking around the office.

Now that I think about it, I never came to visit Uncle in his work place. Maybe he didn't want me to hang around in a place full of delinquents, even though I'm sure not all of them are that bad or bad at all.

It might not be that awful being here.

Just as that thought went over my head, the door opened. At first, I thought it was Uncle Bart, but before I could say anything a voice cut me off.

"-and you will stay here and talk to the headmaster, is that clear Mr. Ross?" I lifted a brow and stared at man who entered. He looked like he was in his late thirties, almost entirely bold. Not someone I'm going to like, that's for sure. He lightly pushed a student inside the room, and it was only then they noticed me and my uncle absent. "Who the hell are you? What are you doing here, ah?" The man asked, fixing his tie and buttoned shirt. "I'm Rhiannon Martins. I'm new here, so I'm supposed to talk with the headmaster." He scowled at me, disapproval and annoyance appeared on his face. "A girl?! Since when did we start accepting girls, for god's sake? And where is Principal Cole?" I sighed, a little annoyed myself. Did Uncle Bart really forget to tell everyone I'm coming?

I took the sunglasses that were on top of my head, putting them on the table and fixing my hair that got slightly messy from the remove of the glasses.

I shrugged, "Dunno, I came inside and he wasn't here, so I sat down and now I'm waiting for him."

The man shook his head, mentioning the boy he still had in his hold to sit in the chair next to mine.

I looked over his black clothes, dark hair and grey eyes as he sat down with a blank face. It must not have been his first time in the principal's office.

"You stay right there, I'll go looking for him. Do not move. Clear?" I rolled my eyes, feeling sorry for the students that they had to deal with this guy. Apparently, every school had to have someone like Mrs. Crone. Looks like I'm going to have fun in Woodblock high.

"Do you like black?" I asked the boy bluntly when the man left.

He didn't say anything. I moved my stare towards wall, the direction his eyes went. "Nice wall, ah? Interesting to watch and see if he would move." He glared at me in return.

"Shut up." I hummed, propping my elbow on the chair's armrest and my chin on my hand. "Well, aren't you cute. To you tell every stranger you meet to shut up?" He grunted, passing a hand through his hair. Was I annoying him? I grinned.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Nice-boy, I'm Rhiannon, though you can call me Rhi if you want. But I bet you don't." I don't think he'll open his mouth to say anything, other than to curse me.

"So who was that? I don't like him." He sneered.

"You haven't seen nothing yet. That guy is the worst in this goddamn school."

Well he sure doesn't like this school. "Who is he?" I asked him again. The boy doesn't reply.

Just when I'm about to try once more, the door opened for the second time and Uncle Bart came.

I could see on his face he was about to call me with my shortened name, but when Uncle noticed the student he cleared his throat and sat down. "Oh, you must be Rihannon Martins. It's a pleaser to meet you." At first I gave him a look, asking silently with my stare what was he doing, but then I give him a polite smile.

"Yes I am, it's nice to meet you." He nodded, then his eyes moved to the boy. "Mr. Ross, We keep meeting like that. Why don't you go back to class, I let it slide just this once." He looked at my uncle with a raised brow. "You don't even know what I did," Uncle Bart dismissed him with his hand. "Go to class." He gave me a quick look and exited the room.

I gave my uncle a look, "Is this how you handle your students? No wonder you needed my help." Uncle gave me a look, but otherwise ignored my question.

"So, I have your time table right here in my drawer, I picked almost the same classes you had in your former school." I frowned and looked at the paper he pulled out. "Almost? Nothing is the same, except English, math and biology. And what does 'PE' means?" He chuckled at my reactions.

"It means gym class, Rhi. And as for the other classes, I can't do anything about it. Woodblock is a public school, that's just how it is." I sighed and kept looking over it.

"'Lunch time'... does the cafeteria here has good food?" He cocked his head at me. "Why don't you go and find out, Rhi?" I let out a sigh. "You're not going to tell me anything, are you? You want me to have the 'full experience', or whatever." He nodded.

Great.

"So what do I tell people who ask me about how I'm here? And do I mention you're my uncle?" I asked him, folding the paper and putting it inside my bag. "You are going to say you came so we can see if we can accept girls to the school yet. Don't mention you're living with a wealthy aunt, or that you are my niece and the most important thing; don't say anything about the deal and the real reason you came here. Understood?" I nodded, trying to let all the information sink.

Uncle Bart nodded in approval. "Good," He pointed to the door "Now go." I stood up, putting the glasses in one of the bag's pockets and went to the door.

"Oh, and Rhi," I stopped, my hand on the handle. "I know how much intrigued you are right now, but be careful when you talk to some of them, okay?" I nodded again. I'll try, I suppose. "Good luck, Curiosity." I smiled at the nostalgic nickname.

I've got this, Uncle Bart. I will succeed for your sake.

And my high school life.

~*~

Thank you for reading :)

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StellarK25