1There wasn't much motivation behind Aaron Robinson's steps toward the high school that towered above him. The brick building's several stories intimidated the young junior just like everything else in the city of Seattle did. He would give anything to be on his large Montana farm that he left behind; still going to the four classroom schoolhouse he had gone to for the first eleven years of his schooling.
He blocked out the other students' buzzing as he focused on the door. Its brass handle glimmered in the fall sun as he gripped it. Aaron had just tugged on it when the door swung open, shoving him aside.
Stunned, he looked up, expecting an apology. But none came. In fact the four boys who hit him didn't even look his way as they passed by. Aaron didn't dare call out to them for muscles bulged underneath their shirts.
A little dazed by the whole ordeal, he shuffled his way into the air conditioned building and searched for a sign that would direct him to the main office. No sign was revealing itself as Aaron got pushed and shoved by more students. None of them would respond to his desperate and stuttering questions.
A quick glance at his watch told him that he had ten minutes before classes started and he still hadn't located the office. Uncertain of what to do, Aaron stood off to the side, searching the crowd for a friendly face.
A girl caught his eye and his expression must have been desperate enough because she took pity on him and walked his way. Her curly black hair ran down her shoulders to her mid back swaying gently as her long lean legs took confident strides towards him. She had hard brown eyes lined with heavy makeup that were full of determination. She stood a couple inches shorter than him. She was definitely not the type of girl he expected to help him. His best guess; she was popular. Popularity may not have been a part of his old school, but he watched enough television to know what it looked like.
"Do you need something?" her pale rose lips demanded. She looked annoyed; one hand rested on her hip, another playing with a curl.
"I'm Aaron Robinson," he introduced himself, sticking out his hand. "I just moved here from Montana."
The girl hesitated, as if he had cooties, before taking his hand. She shook it briefly before pulling away. Aaron felt at a loss when her soft smooth skin pulled away from his much rougher grip. His thoughts weren't romantic, just desperate for a friendly touch.
She didn't offer a name so Aaron jumped right in. "I'm looking for the main office. Do you know where it is?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Did you even look for it?"
Shocked by her response, Aaron stuttered for an answer. "Well, yeah. I mean, yes…um, I just, there's no sign," he ended lamely.
She huffed and pointed down the hallway. "It's on the left," she snapped before turning away.
"Thanks!" Aaron called after her, truly grateful even with her rude attitude. He rushed down the now empty corridor and winced when the tardy bell rang. He was late on his first day, great.
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Aaron slipped into his first class, gripping his schedule and the office note. The room fell silent at his entrance and he could feel all the students staring at him but he forced his gaze on the teacher, willing the blush that was creeping up to disappear.
"Ah, Mr. Robinson isn't it?" the male teacher in his forties greeted him. "Late on our first day, are we?" he mocked and the class stifled a laugh.
"Uh, sorry. Couldn't find the office," he babbled, embarrassed. He handed the teacher the note and waited patiently as he read it.
The teacher frowned, crumpled the paper and threw it in the waste basket. "Welcome to our class, Aaron," he said more warmly this time and Aaron wondered what the note had said. He had been too nervous to read it. "I'm Mr. Swift. Please have a seat next to Kitty in the back row."
Aaron turned to see who Mr. Swift was pointing to. It was none other than the pretty girl who had helped him earlier. He nodded and went to the back of the classroom to sit in the empty seat.
Aaron offered the girl, Kitty, a small smile but she only pffted in return before they both turned to the front of the class.
Mr. Swift looked troubled and far off as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Talk among yourselves, class, while I make a phone call." He plopped down at his desk.
Aaron looked at Kitty, hoping to get on better terms with the girl. "Have you lived in Seattle long?" he prompted gently only to be rewarded a fierce glare that silenced him. She pushed to her feet and moved to join another table already full of students. No one else was at his table and no one moved to introduce themselves so Aaron sat quietly. He had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
AN: So this was previously called Little Farm Boy or something similiar. But I've changed the name and did some editing. Please review.