“So, how does everything work around here?” Eva asked, feeling a need to switch the topic to something more neutral.
“What do you mean?” Bella didn’t understand.
“I mean, the school, and what are the cliques like?”
“Oh, that!” Bella laughed. “You mean, is it something different, or maybe even better than at other high schools?”
“Kinda.”
“Yeah, I wish,” Bella snorted. “It’s the same shit. You’ve got cheerleader bullies, you’ve got jocks, nerds, goths, the usual teams.”
“Which one do you belong to?”
“I hate labels, but if I have to be labeled somehow, I’m a nerd, I guess,” she shrugged her shoulders disinterestedly. “But, you’re really pretty. I’d watch out for the cheerleaders if I were you, especially Katrina. She hates competition.”
“Katrina?”
“Katrina Hampton. The head cheerleader. Head bitch, too. Thinks she owns the place and everyone in it, and acts like it.”
“Oh, I’ve seen my fair share of those.”
“Trust me, this one is unlike any you’ve seen before.”
“If she pushes me, I’ll push back. I’m not gonna be anyone’s doormat. I had enough of that back in my old school.”
“Just a friendly warning. If you can, just try to stay away from her.”
“I don’t plan on making enemies on my first day.”
“Sometimes, enemies find you,” Bella told her, but Eva could sense that there was no ill will behind it. It was just a warning.
The conversation took on a very grave tone, and Eva was reluctant to talk about it any longer. Instead, she suggested they get dressed, so they could head out together. It was best to get this show on the road, and see where it would lead.
Chapter 6
The moment Eva walked into class, she could feel the fiery, burning stare of all eyes present, resting right on her. They didn’t even try to hide it. Some whispered noiselessly to each other, still looking her way, as she walked past small, wooden desks, trying to get to the available one all the way in the back.
“Don’t pay attention,” Bella said, not realizing that she was only making it worse, while increasing Eva’s anxiety.
Eva didn’t reply. Instead, she just quietly sank down into the free desk, and tried to make herself look as little as possible; hopefully, invisible but it didn’t work.
A few minutes later, their teacher walked in. She was a surprisingly sunny person, the type which Eva didn’t expect to see in what she just found out was a vampire academy, centuries old and unknown to regular humans. She looked like she was in her early 30s, with a yellow and red striped blouse, a black pencil skirt and dark flats. She had a bright yellow sunflower brooch on her chest, which sparkled when it caught the light. It looked old, like a family heirloom. She was wearing no make up, and yet when she smiled, she illuminated the whole room.
“Good morning, everyone!” she chirped, and the whole class got quiet.
Eva was surprised to see that. She didn’t seem like the type of teacher who had much authority. She appeared to be one of those friendly, you-can-talk-to-me-about-anything types, which she saw back in her old school. Those, sometimes had authority issues, exactly because of their type of approach to teaching.
“I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend,” she looked around for approval and there were a few nods here and there, so she continued in the same tone, “I realize we have a new face here.”
She eyed Eva, bent over her desk in the back. At first, Eva didn’t react. A part of her hoped she wouldn’t have to do anything, but tough luck.
“Maybe you’d like to introduce yourself?” she asked sweetly.
Everything about Eva and her body language said that she would like to do no such thing but Eva knew that this was just part of the procedure. The new kid always had to do this, whether he or she liked it or not. Better just get it over with and try not to say anything stupid.
“Sure,” Eva got up, taking a deep breath as she did so. “My name is Eva Miles, I…” she paused a little, thinking how to word the next thought, “I just got transferred here this weekend, so I’m still adjusting to the new place. But, it looks great. I enjoy reading and swimming in my free time, and I’m a fan of Freud.”
When she said this, she could hear a few giggles from the front row, then two pairs of eyes turned around to take a better look at her. She hoped this was enough.