She was dressed and got downstairs by seven in the morning.
Her mom was still in her robe with both hands around her coffee mug and she blinked twice when she saw Mila standing at the kitchen counter in full uniform, bag already on.
"You're ready." She said.
"Couldn't sleep past six." Mila replied.
"Nervous?"
"Not really."
The lie came out smooth.
Her mom gave her a look but let it go. "Eat something." Pointing at a bowl of cereal on the table.
"I can't. My stomach is-"
"Mila. You have to- "
"Mom, I will throw it back up. I'm not joking."
She pushed a cereal bar across the counter without another word. Mila took it and put it in her pocket.
Her mother got dressed and they both got into the car.
The drive to Crestwood Academy took nine minutes. When it came into view through the windshield, Mila stopped breathing for a second.
It looked nothing like a school.
It looked like somewhere important - all stone and iron and wide steps leading up to a main entrance gate with the school crest and name carved above in letters that were
designed specifically to make you feel small.
The grounds stretched out on both sides further than she could see from the road.
Students were already moving through the gates in groups, most in the same black and gold uniform she was wearing.
Her mom reached over and squeezed her hand once. "Call me if anything okay baby?"
"I'll be fine." Mila replied.
"Alright then." She smiled. "Now go before I change my mind and homeschool you."
"Have a great day at school"
"Thanks mom" Mila smiled, shook her head then got out and did not look back.
If she looked back she would get back in.
She found the admin office on her second try - the first corridor took her somewhere
near the science labs.
She approached the woman in the office and said "Hello, good morning, my name is Mila Hendricks and I am new. I'm here for my timetable."
The woman at the front desk had her timetable ready before Mila even finished talking.
"You're in 12C," she said, sliding the paper across. "First period is Literature. Main
block, second floor, room 214. There's a map on the back."
The map was the size of a Post-it note and completely useless.
Mila smiled, said thank you, and left.
She was four minutes late to Literature.
She knocked once, walked in, and immediately twenty-something faces turned toward her all at once. The teacher - an older woman, reading glasses, corporate dress
looked up from the board.
"New student?" She asked.
"Yes. Mila Hendricks." Mila replied.
"Welcome, Mila. Find an open seat."
There were two empty desks. One near the front. One near the window in the middle
row, next to a girl who was already looking at her with careful, measuring eyes - not
hostile, just watching.
Mila went for the middle one.
The girl moved her bag off the desk before Mila even had to ask. "I'm Tessa." She introduced herself.
"Mila."
"I know, she just said." The corner of her mouth pulled up. "You can share mine if you didn't bring the book."
"I have it, but thank you." Mila smiled and pulled it from her bag and opened it to the page on the board.
She had already read three chapters ahead of where they were - she had looked up the
curriculum the week before and ordered the books online.
She started making notes before the teacher even resumed talking.
She could feel Tessa watching her from the side. Not in a weird way. In the way people
watch someone new and try to figure out where they fit.
At the end of class, Tessa turned to face her properly then asked... "Where did you transfer from?"
"Southvale High."Mila turned to her and replied.
"Never heard of it."
"Most people haven't. I guess it's not entirely popular."
"Do you have second period free or-" "History." Mila checked her timetable. "Room 309."
"I've got the same. Come on, I'll walk you so you don't end up in the science labs again." She giggled.
Mila looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "How do you know I ended up in the science labs?"
Tessa picked up her bag. "Everyone does on their first day. The map they give you is a joke." She headed for the door. "Come on let's go."