Chapter 1: A New Beginning
My first year here, and I was buzzing with excitement—though maybe a bit of nerves too. It felt like everything I had been working towards was finally about to pay off. I had juggled countless jobs, saved every penny I could, and now, here I was, standing on the threshold of a brand new chapter in my life.
I stepped into the building, the weight of my laptop bag a comforting reminder of how far I’d come. In my other hand, I clutched the lone textbook I’d need for the day. Everything else—thankfully—was digitized and stored safely on my laptop or a small drive I carried everywhere. It was a relief, really; fewer books meant fewer things to lug around.
The classroom was mostly empty when I arrived, which was perfect. I picked a spot near the back, where I could observe without being the center of attention. Each station was equipped with two monitors—one for each student, I assumed—but I secretly hoped to have the setup to myself. I plugged in my laptop, connecting it to the secondary monitor, and began setting up for the day. The hum of technology coming to life was oddly soothing.
Outside, the weather was still chilly, the kind of cold that lingers even after you’ve stepped inside. I kept my tam snugly on my head and wrapped my scarf a little tighter around my neck. My thicker jacket was stuffed in my locker, but for now, the thinner one would do. I was in the zone, focused on organizing my files when the door creaked open, and students began trickling in.
They entered in pairs, groups, or on their own—each with their own vibe. Some were loud, already deep in conversation, while others were more subdued, quietly claiming their spaces. I kept my head down, pretending to be engrossed in my screen, but I couldn’t help but notice how everyone seemed to pair off naturally. Despite the buzzing energy, no one joined me at my station. A small victory, I thought, as I adjusted my scarf.
The door opened again, and the teacher walked in, commanding immediate attention. He had that kind of presence that made everyone sit up a little straighter. “Alright, let’s get started,” he began, his voice cutting through the room’s chatter. “To break it all down, you will have four major exams; two of which will be group-based.” He paused for effect, letting the information sink in. “I’ll be assigning you to your groups now.”
Across the room, I overheard two girls whispering excitedly.
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“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we both were in the same group?” one of them said, her voice filled with anticipation.
“As if! I would so love that, babe!” the other one giggled.
Then there was a guy—every class has one—who chimed in with, “I just wanna be paired up with Big Boob Betty.” His friends snickered, and I rolled my eyes, thankful I was sitting far enough away to avoid getting caught in their nonsense.
“Betty…” two other guys sighed dreamily in unison.
The teacher, unfazed by the chatter, pressed on. “Oh, and for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Mr. Maxwell. I’ll be your homeroom teacher as well as your Communications and IT teacher as well as your history teacher. If you have any issues, feel free to reach out to me directly or leave a note with my secretary.” He paused, making sure everyone was paying attention. “Alright, let’s get it over with.”
He pulled out a small notebook and a pen, glancing between it and the class roster. “For Group 1, we have Samantha and Smith. Group 2: Neil and Ornata B. Group 3: Mario, Noel, and Samuel. Group 4: Yen, Yanique, and Loriel. Group 5: Peter, Pamela, and Hillary. Group 6: Harry and Maverik. Group 7: Ken and Greg. Group 8: Gina, Walter, and Maxwell III. And Group 9…wait…you’re alone...Tay, right?” He looked up, searching the room until his eyes landed on me.
“Yes, sir,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
Mr. Maxwell gave a quick nod. “You’ll join Harry and Maverik in Group 6.”
“Okay, thank you,” I said, already wondering who these two were and why I hadn’t seen them yet.
As everyone shuffled around to find their groups, I scanned the room for Harry and Maverik but came up empty.
A guy nearby noticed my confusion and leaned over with a small smile. “They’re not here if you’re looking for them. They usually skip quite a bit,” he said casually, like this was common knowledge.
“Oh…thank you,” I replied, a bit thrown off.
“I’m Walter, by the way,” he added, offering a friendly nod. “If you ever need anything, let me know.”
The rest of the class passed in a blur of introductions, group assignments, and syllabus reviews. The usual first-day stuff. I made my way through the day, moving from one class to the next, each with its own set of group work. To my surprise—or maybe not so much by the end of it—I found myself paired with Maverik in three of my classes. The same Maverik who was apparently infamous for his frequent absences.
By the time the day finally wound down, I was more than ready to head back to my dorm. The halls were alive with activity—students flirting, others sneaking into rooms, groups clustered together discussing who knows what. The energy was almost overwhelming, a chaotic mix of excitement and nerves. I kept my head down, navigating through the maze of people until I reached my room.
As soon as I closed the door behind me, the noise from the hallway faded into a distant hum. I sighed, finally alone with my thoughts. It had been a long day, and I was more than ready to retire for the night. I collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
