“I was running late this morning. Things have been hectic for me, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to have to make a phone call home, Rachel, but you need to prove to me that you are focused and present in class. All you reports from your old school are positive, but I’ve yet to see that girl come into my classroom. It’s as if your old teachers are writing about a different person. Now, I know you have it in you, just let me see it.”

Rachel felt awful. Mr. Allen was right; she used to be an A+ student with nothing bad on her record-- now she was a flighty, daydreaming student with a possible criminal record.

Rachel didn’t recognize the person she was becoming either. She hated being reprimanded by her teacher, and she vowed to herself that this would be the last time it happened.

“You’re right, Mr. Allen. Things have been hard since the move,” Rachel whispered to him, so the other kids couldn’t hear. “I’m trying to get my bearings and with this whole fight thing, it’s hard to focus. I will try harder, I promise.”

“OK, Rachel, I believe you. Thank you for being honest with me. I will lend you my book today. It’s the teacher’s edition, so it looks a little different than yours, but it’s all there. Chapter 11 starts on page 232,” Mr. Allen said as he handed her the book.

“Thank you.”

Mr. Allen gave Rachel a smile and then looked back down at his notebook. Rachel walked back to her seat, and saw kids’ faces looking up from their textbooks. She sat down and opened to page 232 and began to read.

When the bell rang, the loud sound of textbooks slamming shut and chair legs screeching filled the air. Rachel got up from her seat, packed up her bag and handed the borrowed book back to Mr. Allen.

“Thanks again,” she said.

“See you on Monday. Have a nice weekend, Rachel.”

As Rachel walked out of the classroom she heard Emily’s voice calling out for her.

“Rach! Wait up!”

Rachel turned around and saw Emily walking towards her.

“What’s up?” Rachel said.

“Nothing, just wanted to walk with you to your next class. These halls can be brutal!”

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. You’re going the opposite direction anyway.”

“Ok, well I’ll see you at lunch then.”

“See ya!”

Rachel walked down the hall carrying her heavy backpack. She continued to hear the whispers, and feel the stares of kids as she passed by them in the hallways. When she turned the corner she saw the football team in their red, white and blue uniforms crowding around one another. Rachel continued walking, hoping that they wouldn’t see her. As she made her way closer she saw the number 80 and got nervous.

She had been wondering what she would say to Rob when she saw him, but she never thought she’d run into him today, in the hallway. Rob was supposed to be in her homeroom class, but hadn’t been there since the fight. She figured he stayed home to heal from his bruises, but here he was, in the flesh.

Rachel put her head down as she approached the football players. She didn’t want to get in the middle of anything or start something new. She was saying silent prayers, as she passed Rob, that he wouldn’t recognize her—but just as she got close to them she heard a loud voice say, “That’s her! I would remember that face anywhere.”

All the guys turned and looked directly at her. So much for her prayers; now the entire football team was staring her down. She didn’t know how this situation could get any worse.

“Hey, New Girl,” one guy shouted. “What’s your name?”

Rachel didn’t answer and kept on walking.

“Cat got your tongue?” another guy shouted.

“Look what you did.” Another guy yelled out.

At that moment she felt a tap on her shoulder, which made her jump.

“Hi Rachel,” a familiar voice said.

Rachel turned around to see who it was, and to her surprise, it was Rob, walking alone next to her.

“Rob. Hi. How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better, but I’ll be playing in tomorrow’s game, thank God.”

Rachel and Rob began to walk down the hall together silently. Awkwardly. Rachel couldn’t help but notice the big, fat elephant in the room. She had to break the silence.

“That’s great,” Rachel said with a smile. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened the other night. If that’s any consolation.”

“Yeah, where’s you boyfriend anyway?” Rob asked in a snide voice.

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Rachel said firmly.

“What do you mean he’s not your boyfriend?” Rob looked surprised. “Isn’t that how this whole thing started?”

“I mean, he’s not my boyfriend, OK.” Rachel answered. “I haven’t spoken to him since that night.”

Rachel looked at Rob as she saw his face light up. “So, you don’t have a boyfriend?”

“Nope,” Rachel answered, leaving it at that.

“Oh,” replied Rob, looking hopeful.

Rachel couldn’t understand where this conversation was going. Was he seriously hitting on her after what had happened the other night? She couldn’t help but feel that he still felt something for her. She never thought this would happen, so didn’t give their relationship any more thought after the fight— but now, it seemed, he was back in the picture. She searched within herself to figure out how she felt about Rob now. She did still like him, but didn’t know why, after everything that happened between them.

“So, you coming out tonight?” Rob asked.

“I think so,” Rachel answered. “Going to the movies with the girls.”

“Oh yeah?” Rob said. “Us, too.”

“Us who?”

“The guys,” Rob laughed. “The team!”

Just then the bell rang, and kids began dispersing from their circles of friends, and into their classrooms.

“Gotta go,” Rachel said. “See ya later.”

“Have a good day,” Rob said.

The rest of the morning flew by for Rachel. She couldn’t help but think about Rob in the classes that followed their conversation. She replayed their conversation, over and over in her head, and was shocked each time. She couldn’t believe that he still wanted to talk to her and that he cared enough to ask her weekend plans.

For the first time in the past 36 hours, Rachel felt like everything would be OK. She’d worried about what it would be like to see Rob again after everything that had happened, but it turned out to be totally fine, and Rachel could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, all she had to do was make her parents see the light, and stop blaming her and punishing her for everything under the sun.

Rachel looked down at her watch: it was nearing lunchtime. She could feel her stomach pang with hunger, and hear its growls. She hadn’t had much of an appetite since Wednesday night, and it was finally catching up to her. She’d never felt so hungry in her entire life.

She couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so she could meet up with her friends in the cafeteria.

Chapter Ten

As Rachel entered the cafeteria, her friends were nowhere to be seen. She looked around and then looked down the hall, but it was empty. She felt like she was going to die she was so hungry. She entered the cafeteria and sat down at her usual table. She opened up her brown paper bag and pulled out her PB&J and Arizona Iced Tea. She couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into her sandwich.

She looked around the cafeteria as she sat there eating her lunch alone. She hadn’t really spent time looking at all the tables since the first day of school, but now that she was alone again, she couldn’t help but watch people.

She saw the jock table, the cheerleader table, and the nerd table. Everyone was eating and talking. She hoped that the subject of everyone’s conversation had shifted from the fight to other things.

Just then, Rachel felt her table move. She felt a jolt, as someone sat down next to her. She looked to her left and was shocked. It was Arielle— looking as mean and mad as ever.

“Well look what we have here,” Arielle’s voice rang out. “It looks like the criminal herself is all alone in the cafeteria.” Arielle paused. “What happened? You don’t have friends anymore?” she cackled.

“Leave me alone,” Rachel said.

“Keep dreaming darling. I’m on your case now. First you stole the guy I liked and now this. You really don’t know when to stop do you?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.”

“Yeah right— if by nothing you mean taking out the top players of the AHS football team.”

“It wasn’t my fault, Arielle. Now go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I own this school— which you wouldn’t know because you’re the new girl. But you better learn, because anyone who doesn’t know, messes with the wrong person. I may look nice, but deep down, I can make your life a living hell.”

Rachel stared at her in shock. She didn’t know what to say. The two sat there in silence staring at each other for a minute and then Arielle spoke. “You better watch your back. If you so much as look the wrong way, you’re dead.”

Arielle slowly got up from the table and dumped Rachel’s Arizona Iced Tea all over her sandwich. “Have a good day!” Arielle sneered.

Arielle glared at Rachel as she walked away from the table and mouthed, “watch it,” as she put her two fingers to her eyes and pointed back at Rachel.

Rachel sat there, stunned and scared. Where were her friends when she needed them? She couldn’t believe what had just happened.

She took out her cell phone and began to text Emily. It was totally unlike all of her friends to not show up for lunch. This had never happened before.

Emily: Where are you guys? Come quick. I need to tell you what just happened.

Rachel stared down at her phone, waiting for Emily to reply. But she didn’t. She couldn’t sit alone in the cafeteria any longer with her drenched PB&J sitting in front of her. She felt like a schoolboy who had been hazed; now all that needed to happen was for her to get her head flushed in the toilet. That would top this day off perfectly, she though humorously to herself.