(September 5, 2017)
(8:30 A.M.)
(Morningstar High School)
1,124 students enrolled
School Colors: Grey and Yellow
Mascot: Mockingbird

Allison's first day of school has arrived, she enters the school and wanders through the hallway, curious and alone. Class is just about to begin as students socialize and make their way to their first classrooms. Allison continues to stroll down a pathway, slightly shaking. She keeps her head down low as she holds her book between her arms. Examining a map of the school layout in her hand, she seems to follow a set of directions, leading her to a brown wooden door. She breathes in and out.

This is it. Time for new beginnings.

Allison hesitates as she reaches for the doorknob. A girl with black smooth hair and cute red glasses approaches behind her, with a pencil in her left ear and books in her right arm. She smirks.

"That's the boy's bathroom by the way. Just thought I'd let you know."

Allison is surprised by the girl's remark, and also by her taking notice to Allison.

Allison: "Oh! I had no idea..."

She pulls her hand away from the door, as the girl points out the obvious men's bathroom sign above the door. Allison sighs with embarrassment. Flustered, she replies:

Allison: "Thank you..."

The girl chuckles.

"Close call there."

She chuckles and looks inquisitively at Allison.

"You new around here?"

Allison's cheeks blush a rose red. Embarrassment fills inside of her.

Allison: "That obvious?"

The girl points to the bathroom door and sign.

"Considering you were about to walk into the land of untold stories, yeah."

They both giggle.

Paige: "Paige Turner, lead journalist in the Mockingbird Message. Nice to meet you."

She smiles genuinely at Allison as she extends her arm out to greet her.

Allison: "I'm Allison."

Allison shakes her hand with delight. Paige pauses for a second, examining Allison. She scratches her chin.

Paige: "Does Ali work?"

Allison shrugs, not knowing how to respond.

Allison: "Yeah sure, no problem I guess."

Paige: "Hey, it suits you pretty well I'd say."

She fixes her ruby glasses.

Paige: "So, what brings you to Attwater? I mean, coming in during the school year? That's some bad timing."

Allison seems distraught. Words struggle to come out of her mouth as it pains her too much to speak.

Allison: "Our family... We had some... Our situation changed."

Paige seems intrigued by Allison.

Paige: "Oh, you're the mysterious kind, aren't you?Don't worry, I know how to get a good story out of someone sooner or later."

Paige chuckles and winks.

Paige: "Word of advice though?"

Paige looks around the halls, and then lowers her voice, making sure only Allison hears her words.

Paige: "This place, it's just like Vietnam. You just gotta make it out alive."

Allison looks very discouraged, slightly disturbed by her words of wisdom. She bites her lips.

Allison: "Thanks... for the reassurance."

Paige: "I'm not trying to scare you Ali. I'm just trying to state the facts. Anyways, have a good first day. You'll definitely be seeing more of me."

Allison: "Bye."

Allison smiles at Paige. Paige smiles, waving goodbye to Allison as she walks the other way down the school halls.

______________________________________________

30 Minutes Later
(Classroom 2A)

The bell rings as Allison sits in Classroom 2A, alone on her own little island. Also present in the classroom are Claire Bellami and Vanessa Windemear. Like two peas in a pod. Vanessa and Claire sit next to each other. Entering the classroom is AJ Kappa, wearing his signature red and white jacket. He wanders the classroom, looking for a seat. Glancing over at the empty spot near Allison, he approaches her. Without hesitation, he asks:

AJ: "Is this seat taken?"

Allison is oblivious that he is addressing this question to her, tapping her fingers on the desk. She finally realizes he is talking to her. Caught by surprise, she almost gasps.

Allison: "Oh, me? No."

AJ: "Alrighty, mind if I seat myself right here?"

Allison: "Yeah, definitely! Oh gosh, I mean.... Like no, you can definitely sit here."

Allison clearly is embarrassed, wanting to bury her head in a pile of textbooks.

God I'm making such a fool out of myself today!

AJ lightly chuckles as he sits down in the seat next to Allison. Looking straight at Allison, he asks-

AJ: "So, how's Attwater been treating you.?

Allison looks confused.

Allison: "How do you-"

AJ interrupts Allison.

AJ: "Trust me. Word gets around quick in Attwater."

AJ smirks.

Walking into the classroom is an older gentleman, around his 30's. His walk is very formal. He wears a fancy blue collar shirt, a white tie, and black jeans. His dark brown hair is styled, combed to the right. As he enters the classroom he plops into the desk situated in the front of the classroom, going through many files and papers in an orderly fashion. Finally, he gets up from his desk and takes a piece of white chalk. Writing on the chalkboard in the front of the classroom, he writes out in huge letters-

Mr. Wright
Game Theory, 1st Period

He then announces to the class in a fluent English accent-

Wright: "Good morning class. Welcome back to Game Theory. Hope you all had a splendid weekend."

Vanessa's face grows worried.

"Sure did..."

The sheer thought of remembering what she was gifted the night of the party haunts Vanessa. She shivers in her seat. Reassuring herself, she mutters under breath repetitively.

"It was just some sick prank. Some dumbass looking to pick a bone with ME. Me, Vanessa Windemear, daughter of the freaking fracking mayor. I'm essentially a princess."

Eager to move on with her life, Vanessa continues to push the thought aside. She whispers to Claire, head over heels about the teacher.

Vanessa: "God, I missed that British accent of his."

Claire rolls her eyes as she slightly laughs at Vanessa's remark towards the teacher. Mr. Wright notices Allison in her desk and AJ situated next to her.

Wright: "I see that we have two new students joining this class."

Allison seems curious about AJ.

Allison: "Wait, are you new here too?"

AJ chuckles.

AJ: "Gods no, I just decided to switch my classes up. Live life on the edge you know?"

He smiles at Allison.

Wright: "AJ and..."

Wright seems to be gesturing towards Allison to respond, giving her a look that indicates he does in fact know her name. Allison smiles as she attempts to say with a false bravado:

Allison: "Allison."

Mr. Wright approaches Allison's desk, situated near the back half of the classroom, and shakes her hand. He smiles and nods at Allison.

Wright: "Pleasure to have you in this town and school, Allison."

Vanessa rolls her eyes in annoyance. Mr. Wright clears his throat as he walks back to his desk. Taking out tiny slips of paper, he starts to stroll around the room, handing out the slips to those situated in desks.

Wright: "Before we move on to our first day back from your precious break, I'm going to be switching up the seating arrangements... On your desk should be a sheet that tells you where you'll be sitting for the next semester. Now, go introduce yourselves."

AJ examines Allison's paper. He exhales largely.

AJ: "Yeesh... Tough break."

Allison looks confusingly at AJ.

Allison: "What?"

AJ: "You're sitting next to her."

AJ points out Claire, who is texting on her phone. He nudges Allison.

AJ: "Good luck over there. You're gonna need it."

She looks over at Vanessa, wearing a. Optimism rushes through Allison.

Allison: "Well... Maybe we can be friends."
AJ grits his teeth and shakes his head in disagreement.

AJ: "I'd aim your expectations a little bit lower."

Peppy, Allison's smile gleams. She shrugs at AJ's remark.

Allison: "It doesn't hurt to try."

With a slight chuckle, AJ shrugs back to Allison.

AJ: "It's your funeral."

Allison looks discouraged, but still decides to walk over to where Claire is sitting. She clears her throat, hoping to gain Claire's attention.

Allison: "So... Looks like I'll be sitting next to you! My name's-"

Claire simply ignores her, still glancing down at her iPhone. Vanessa's face lights up, however. She gives a devilish smirk that Allison does not catch with her eyes. Vanessa clears her throat, and Allison now faces her.

Vanessa: "Hey, new girl. There's this girl that I have to sit by, someone I could care less about... Kind of like you."

Vanessa uses a soft and persuading voice, plastering on a smile.

Vanessa: "Wanna trade spots?"

Allison purses her lips. She looks around at everyone else situating themselves at their desks. Mr. Wright sits at his front desk, his direction down at a pile of papers.

Allison: "Umm-"

In the nick of time, Mr. Wright peers up from the work on his desk, looking onto the scene of Allison nibbling her bottom lip as Vanessa twirls her hair into little curls. He clears his throat, louder than Vanessa.

Wright: "No trading, Miss Windemear. That goes for everyone."

Vanessa rolls her eyes and groans.

Vanessa: "Ugh... You're no fun Mr. W."

Vanessa gets up from her seat, heavily sighing, and situates herself to the front of the classroom. She plops down in the seat. Mr. Wright crosses his arms.

Wright: "That's not my job, Miss Windemear. If you want to talk about no fun, talk about your dad and his recent campaign video."

AJ chuckles, falling back in his seat. He sits next to a boy with brown shaggy hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt; the boy laughs along with him. However, his chuckles not as exuberant as AJ's fit of laughter.

AJ: "Ooh burn!"

The other boy chuckles along with AJ. Her rage boiling, face reddening, Vanessa hisses.

Vanessa: "Shut it!"

The laughing stops. The room goes dead silent. A student in the back of the classroom coughs. Vanessa glares at AJ and his desk partner. Her eyes darting at them.She then clears her throat, looking dead straight into Mr. Wright eyes. He lifts an eyebrow.

Vanessa: "Mr. Wright, I'll have you know that my dad runs this town, he's the freaking mayor. And because of that, he has every right and has the power to kick your sorry butt out of this school. Tread lightly with your insults."

Vanessa smiles vindictively as Mr. Wright glances at her. Smirking, he says-

Wright: "He wouldn't do that to the school's award winning teacher, would he?"

Mr. Wright chuckles as Vanessa rolls her eyes.

The conversation between Vanessa and Mr. Wright continues as Allison slides into her desk seat. She sets her backpack to her side, before looking up at Claire. Smiling at Claire, girl slips Allison a guarded look. Claire sits up with poised posture.

Allison: "Hi, I'm Allison. I'm new here in town."

She gives a soft smile to Claire. Allison reaches out her arm in greeting. She slowly lowers it as Claire, sneers. Her whisper, with clear intent, travels into Allison's ear.

Claire: "I know. Listen, you stay out of me way and I'll stay out of your's. Deal? No harsh feelings."

Claire flips hAllison's lips droop, nodding at Claire's obvious message.Disappointment clouds her natural features. She scooches to the edge of her seat, as far away from Claire.

Wright: "Alright! Let's get on with class guys."

He claps his hands. Mr. Wright run walks to the front of the room to grab a small piece of white chalk.

Wright: "Our first lesson back will be..."

Mr. Wright, with fancy and professional handwriting, writes in bold letters on the classroom chalkboard. The students watch in wonder as he continue to write. Finishing, he steps to the side. Arms folded and his bearded face smirking.

Wright: "The Game of Life."

Sorry about the delayed publish! I'm still trying to find a schedule that works for me, but more importantly works for you guys. I'll try to get these chapters out quicker than I have been. But like they always say, quality over quantity! :)