Verbena (First Day of High School)

I felt like I was suffocating the first day of high school.  Everyone already knew who I was.  That's what happens when you move to a small town.

I could never get over the fact that we moved because of my academic goals.  The Thomas school of Art offered me a scholarship for outstanding artistic ability.  We moved to Kent Township the summer of my orientation.  But I never made it there.  I couldn't muster the courage to go after his death, so instead I went to the Howard Casey Charter High School for the Arts.

The first day of classes, I chose a seat in the back of homeroom.  I took out my notebook and sketched caricatures of the teacher and a few of the students at the front of the room.  The morning announcements were broadcasting, but I was in my own little world.  A world that came crashing down when the guy sitting next to me waved to get my attention.

"That's an awesome drawing.  I don't think I've seen you in town before.  My name is Trent," he said quietly so no one else could hear.

He looked nice enough with brown hair that hung down over his glasses a little.  He was flashing me a friendly grin that almost made me feel like he was safe enough to get to know.  Instead I turned back to my sketch and said, "nice to meet you."

My body was on auto pilot.  If I never let anyone in, I would always be safe.

Trent didn't speak to me much for the rest of the year.