Call Me Dumb (On Hold)

Call Me Dumb - Chapter Six

Okay, so I’m only a couple days late. Don’t hate me! I’ve been sick. But here it is, chapter six, Cassie’s first day at Ridgeway. Don’t forget to comment! Or smile =)

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Chapter Six

“Cassie, get out of the damn car,” Aunt Nina said for possibly the fifteenth time since we pulled up in front of the high school.

“I-I-I...I-,” I stuttered. I was frozen on the spot, or rather the seat. She sighed again.

“Cassie, come on hun; don’t have a nervous breakdown on me now. You’ll be fine, you can do this,” she assured me. Could I? “You’re smart, strong, independent and brave. It’s gonna be as easy for you as Algebra.” I guess she didn’t know that Algebra was the one subject I have trouble with, or she probably wouldn’t have said it. I turned my face to look at her, horrified. “Okay, Harvard? Or community college?” she questioned, weighing them in her hands. “Harvard. Community college-” I was out of the car before she could even finish that sentence. There was no way in hell that I was going to a community college. She smiled, satisfied at the outcome. “Remember I should be here before you’re out. If not, wait for me.” I nodded and closed the door, waving to her as she drove off.

 I took a deep breath and plastered a bright smile on my face before turning around, and then I had to stop my legs from running away without me when I saw how many kids were staring at me. I composed my face and kept smiling as I carefully made my way to the right side of the school where the front office was. I pulled open the heavy door and stepped inside, thankful that there were only about half a dozen students in there. I lined up behind the dark haired girl in front of the desk, who seemed to be trying to get out of P.E.

“But Mrs Harriddy, it’s that time of the month!” she whined quietly. Her voice reminded me of a chipmunk.

“You used that excuse last week. Forgive me if I’m incorrect but I thought that only happened one week a month,” the grey haired woman behind the desk said flatly.

“Well, maybe it’s not that time of the month, but I’ve got cramps! Really bad cramps!” she exclaimed. “I think I may have food poisoning.”

“If you did have food poisoning you would be at home, in bed, resting.”

“That sounds even better!” the girl exclaimed brightly. The woman behind the desk just sat there, still giving her the same unimpressed look. “Ohhh, come on Mrs Harriddy, we’ve got dodge ball!” she whined. We do? Oh crap!

“It’s not gonna happen Tansy, can I help you?” she asked, peering around the girl and smiling at me. The girl turned around, surprised, and moved aside when she saw me, her big, blue eyes discreetly scanning over me.

“Uh, hi, I’m Cassie Matthews. I’m new here,” I smiled at the woman.

“Oh yes dear, I spoke with your Aunt a few days ago, lovely woman. I’m Mrs Harriddy, and if you have any problems with your schedules or classes just come and see me and I’ll see what we can do to fix it,” she smiled brightly. “Now this is for you,” she said, handing me over a thin, clear, plastic folder. “It’s a map of the school with your classes marked out, your cafeteria card, locker number and combination, just those kinds of things. Oh, and I’ll have to take a picture for your student ID,” she said, grabbing a digital camera from next to her and getting up from the desk. She opened the door and ushered me inside the room, leading me into another room. She pulled down a large sheet of white that was behind a stool and told me to sit down. I smiled and she snapped my photo, going over to a machine in the corner of the room and plugging in the memory card. “Now Cassie, I’m one of the school personnel who are aware of your, special situation,” she settled for. “So if your classes get a bit much then all you have to do is come and see me and we’ll figure something out with Principal Harris,” she smiled. I nodded.