The Program

Chapter 4

*Mariella's POV*

I woke up early the next morning, took a shower, got dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. Ms. Simmons was already downstairs waiting for me with pancakes. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I made a wild guess. I hope it's ok," Ms. Simmons said.

"They're perfect," I said sitting down at the table. I stabbed one of my pancakes with my fork. I cleared my plate in less than five minutes.

"Oh, shoot. It's getting late. Go upstairs and grab your school bag. We should probably take the car or we're going to be late," Ms. Simmons said running over to the sink to wash her hands. I ran upstairs and brushed my teeth really quick before grabbing my bag and heading back downstairs. I went outside where Ms. Simmons had already started up her silver '05 Renault Clio and climbed into the passenger seat. It was only a ten minute walk, but the drive took the same amount of time because you had to go around the neighborhood park, whereas if you walked, you could go right through.

Ms. Simmons led me to the office of my new school as soon as we got there. "I'll have to leave you now. Maddie should be waking up right about now. They'll take over from here. I'll pick you up after school, ok?" she said. I nodded and she gave me a hug that on a scale of one to Voldemort, was pretty close to Voldemort. With that she left and I went up to the receptionist at the desk.

"Why don't you sit there while you wait for the principal? He's in a meeting right now but he should be done soon," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She gestured to a few chairs that were lined up in a row next to a door marked "Principal". I sat down in the chair closest to the door and waited for about five minutes before the door finally opened.

"Don't worry, Mr. Geller, I won't disappoint you," a voice said as a boy about my age walked out of the office. Damn, he's hot, I thought, I haven't even been here a full 24 hours and I already have a crush. I'm hopeless. He was a natural brunette but had dyed it blond. His hair had grown since then though so it was mainly just the ends that were blond. "Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there. Here," he said holding the door open for me.

I mumbled a thanks and kept my eyes down walking past him and into the principal's office. "Ah, you must be Mariella. I'm Mr. Geller. Connor? Why don't you come in here for a moment?" the principal said. I shook his outstretched hand as the boy came back into the room and closed the door behind him. "Connor, this is Mariella Smith. Mariella, this is Connor Ball. He'll be your honorary best friend for the rest of the school year." No! I thought, Just my luck. I'm shy enough. Why did it have to be a guy?

"Nice to meet you," Connor said as he shook my hand. I nodded as the bell rang.

"That's your cue. Here's your schedule and a note for the two of you to excuse you from your first class while Connor shows you your locker," Mr. Geller said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mariella. And Connor?" Connor turned from the door with his hand still on the handle. "Remember what we talked about." Connor nodded and ushered me out of the office.