Chapter 2 - "Mac and Cheese..."

Clara's PoV

It was half 6 when I decided to head out and have dinner after unpacking pretty much everything in my suitcases and still hadn't seen Casey since I moved in.

There wasn't much of her stuff around so it made me wonder if she actually did have any stuff.

But I was hungry and realised that she wasn't going to want to come to dinner with me - and I had a feeling that I wasn't really going to be the kind of person to be friends with her, so went alone.

It was a confusing system that I just could not understand so waited a little to see what everyone else did.

There was different coloured trays for different meal times and different years and it was all very confusing. I thought about asking someone but unless your 11 and new to the school - then you don't really get away with that.

I picked up a red tray and instantly regretted it so placed it back down and hung out at the side of the canteen until I just couldn't take it anymore. I was so hungry I could eat a horse so picked up the red tray again and went to cue.

'You might want to consider changing that to a blue tray' someone said behind me.

I turned to see someone with really fluffy brown hair and bright green eyes staring down on me as he handed me the blue tray.

'Umm. Why?' I stuttered really genuinely grateful for his help.

'Because you don't look like your in year 7 or 8. Could be wrong - I mean you are pretty short - but I would at least put you in year 10'

'Year 11 actually' was all I managed to get out, taking the tray from his hand and taking the knife and fork.

'Here. I'll help. Red trays are for key stage 3 - so year 7 to 9. Blue trays are for key stage 4 - year 10 and 11 and Green are for the sixth formers. Confusing I know but you'll get it eventually' he chuckled, stepping in front of me.

'Okay'

'Unless you want to spend all night in the bathroom with the shits - then I would advise steering well clear of anything liquid looking - mainly the pasta sauces and Curries. Otherwise everything else is pretty safe - but I would check the sell by dates on any sandwiches because this canteen is pretty well known for putting out off food'

'Umm. This is quite complicated' I said.

'Yeah. You'll get the hang of it. I'm Matt by the way. Year 11 too. So I'll probably see you around the campus' he chuckled.

'Right' I said picking up a salad and some chips. Bit of an odd combination but you've got to test the water. I grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the till where I went to the one Matt was at seeing as he knew what he was doing then, sat down at a table.

I poked the chips with a fork deciding that I would steer clear of them in the future because they tasted like cardboard and munched on an apple instead.

'I didn't get your name. You never said?' A voice said as I lifted my head from my phone and stared at Matt, watching him sit down followed by two other guys, and a blonde.

'Umm. Clara. Clara Oswald' I smiled, analysing them all.

'I'm Matt like is said. That's Richard - he's a bit weird. Steer clear of him' he joked, earning a punch on the shoulder. 'That's Douglas and this is Lilly' he said.

I stared over at the blonde and noted that she wasn't really looking at me at all. She was far too busy looking stupidly eyed over the brunette next to Richard.

I couldn't decide who she was flirting with more - whether it was Richard or Douglas but she was batting her eyelids at them both.

'Ignore her. She's OakHills biggest flirt' he grinned.

'Oh'

'I'm joking Clara' he laughed, stuffing some chips himself, so I gave him the rest of mine. They tasted like cardboard anyway so I wasn't going to eat them. 'Try the Mac and cheese. You'll love it' he assured.

'Really? I'm not really a cheese lover' I mumbled.

'It's about the only thing that you'll be able to stomach I assure you' he said handing me a fork full, which I swallowed and realised he was right. It actually tasted really nice. 'Have it' he chuckled.

'So what are you here doing? You must have either an expressive or Sports skill, so which is you?' Richard asked.

'Art. Drawing is like my life'

'Ahh. I'm here on football, Doug is for theatre, Richard is for for arts and Lilly's dancing. We're all weird in our own way' he chuckled.

'It's been cool talking to you guys... But I could do with an early night. Sounds boring I know but the first day tomorrow and everything'

'Understandable. See you later ' he grinned, watching me walk away, where I dumped my tray, and headed back to my room.

- - -

'Do you have to always take on the charity cases?' Richard mumbled.

'Huh?'

'Look at her. She's off to bed and it's only half past 8. She seems extremely dull'

'That's not fair. She's in our year. It's got to be hard transferring schools in year 11. She needs some friends. We all had to start somewhere '

'I think what Richard is trying to say Matt is why do you have to pick the nerds to hand around with when your so popular? You could have this whole school on their knees - yet you have a habit of spending time with freaks' Lilly scoffed.

'Do what you lot like. She needs a friend, and she's quite cute in her own way'

'You two would never work out. Have you seen the height difference? Not a chance' Lilly grinned, heading back to her halls, with Richard and Douglas on her tail.

'At least I can choose decent people' Matt muttered following after them anyway.