Chapter 8 (post one)

Pre-note: This is the beginning of the next chapter in my rough novel. Please leave comments so I know people are reading this >.< This chapter... could use some improvement. I wish I had more time so I could actually go through and EDIT. That would be amazing! But I don't even have time to write anymore, let alone edit anything I've already done! Oh, damn you university, taking up all my time!

Chapter eight, post one (note to self: saved as chapter seven on laptop):

On the first day I woke in that room on a sunny November day, I knew this school was going to be different than any other I’d ever been to.

The room in its blue colour felt empty with the sparse furniture and lack-of pictures on the wall. The uniform I slipped into was a simple pleated skirt, black; a white v-neck t-shirt and a cardigan. Each item was nicely made and stitched with the initials: W.S.S.G. in the standard school colour. I learned from Jake that it stood for West-End Secondary School for Girls. Shoes must be black (to go with the black and white clothes) and could be worn with tights, leggings or high socks on cooler days. I slipped my feet into simple black flats bought just a few days ago, on that first day here.

My hair was a mess. Jake had loaded me with school supplies, but we’d only come as far as a brush for hair products. ‘Can I get mousse and leave-in conditioner?’ I wondered.

There was a knock on my door, forcing me to grab a hair elastic and flip my hair into a messy ponytail.

The girl at the door looked about my age; she had perfect chocolate hair that’d obviously been styled that morning, and wore her skirt short and her shirt low.

“New Wings?” she said.

“Yeah?” I responded, although secretly I was starting to become annoyed with the nickname.

“You’re going to be late for class.”

“Oh.” I looked at my alarm clock, glowing 8:03, and remembered classes started at 8:10.

“Oh!” I repeated running back into my room to grab my pre-packed bag and key-card.

The girl inspected me with her eyes as I did so, and then did a glance-inspection of my room before I locked the door behind me. She didn’t say a word, but I could tell that she was surprised that my room was different, as well as put-aback by my messy ponytail.

“Chantel.” She said, extending her hand to me as we walked down the hall. “I’m the vice-president of the senior student council, as well as in your homeroom class. Did you bring your schedule, New Wings?”

She sounded so business-like that I only nodded in response. When Chantel handed me a slip of paper in a colour that matched the hall, I almost expect it to come with her business card. Instead, it was a map of the school grounds on one side, and of the school building the other. With one glance, I knew I wouldn’t be getting lost in the school building. The school only one hall that ran in square shape on each floor and each room number was in order. I found my, or rather, our homeroom, English with Ms. Gayed, on the first floor in room 102.

“Have you had a tour?” Chantel held the door open for me that led outside and onto the path to the school.

“Only a quick one of this building, the residence. And it’s Nika.”

“Oh good, I’ll get to show you around the rest of the campus! We’ll meet up for lunch, ok? Then I can show you the library, the cafeteria, the gym and the field before afternoon classes start, ok, New Wings?” Her grin was huge, and as business-like as she was, I really thought it was sincere.

“Ok, sure.” I smiled back, trying to dismiss the fact that she hadn’t acknowledged my name and that this nickname was going to stay.