1 New School
"thank you sir" April's mom replied
"You are welcome" the principal smiled
"Just to make things clear, the reason we withdrew her from her old school is because she was a prey of the bullying spirit in those students. So, we don't want that to repeat itself" he pauses and look at the Principal's calm face "Else I will have to accompany this school to ruins.."he was interrupted by his wife's solemn voice
"Honey, our daughter is waiting outside for us" she notified
"You are right" Mr John replied as he left the office to meet his daughter.
"Mr Peterson, I'm sure you have your child too and this is why we are entrusting our daughter to you. Please ensure her safety while she is here, in school. Please." The woman pleased with much agony in her voice.
"No worries madam, I understand" He replied as he humbly extend his hand for an handshake which April's mom received warmly.
"Thank you sir"
Mr Peterson led Mrs Ashley, April's mom out of his office where they met April and her dad waiting, Mrs Ashley walked to her family to announce the good news to her daughter but the girl was too excited to wait.
"So dad, mom is here now. Did I make it into this school? I really want to" April pleaded.
"You did miss April Wills, welcome to Essential High School, I am your Principal and you can call me Mr Peterson.
"Thank you sir" April bowed " When do I get to go to class?"
"Now!" The Principal replied as he led them to the bursar's office "After settling necessary things like your uniform, and other exclusive materials for our students only"
"Ok Principal Peterson" April replied beaming with smiles. April's parents were very happy to see their daughter so excited as she was the quite type and was only happy whenever her elder sister was around. They had taken it as their fault because they were always busy and rarely had time for her. This was what made them get her admission processed into her dream high School.
"I am so happy" Mrs Ashley whispered between gentle sobs
"Same here honey, I have seen our daughter so happy to attend school, I am proud of us"Mr Wills replied before placing a light peck on his wife's cheek.
As they entered the bursar's office, the Principal notified them of what they needed to do before he left for his office. April was surprised to see an old woman on seat as she expected to meet a young lady just like her former school."Maybe there's more to life that Sundew High School" April thought
"This is the list of items she will need and the amount are also included on the list. You can just purchase the necessary ones today and pay into the school's bank account"The old woman explained while April was busy looking around the office. There was something weird about the school but she's unable to pinpoint it. She continued to study the woman as she typed on her computer with her glasses just below her eyes.
April found the woman amusing as she eyed the old woman's blonde hair. The hair was plaited neatly into a bun suiting her peach coloured blouse on cream suit.
"We are paying for everything" Mr Wills replied as he went through the list with his wife who held his shoulder lightly. "Give them to her" He continued as he fondled with his phone and within some minutes, the stern face of the bursar melted into a warm smile.
"Come in" She called over the line phone on her table. Within seconds, a young lady entered the office, as soon as she sighted April's dad, a with a blush on her face as she started to look uneasy.
April could not blame any female who come across her dad as he is the typical dream guy of most women with the chiseled and firm jaw and his tall frame. His jet black hair was one of the features she inherited from him and she was glad for that because her mom had the public colour of hair- blonde, it was so common that it upsets her to go to the salon with her mom. However, she inherited her mom's hazel eyes and rosy pink lips plus her body figure that fitted perfectly for a female lead in an action movie. April could not feel more blessed to have such a blessed family but family time was the exception of all the qualities.
April was returned to reality by the firm voice of the bursar"Get this young lady her uniform and other assessories."
"Okay madam" Teri replied as she led April out of the office. Some minutes later, April appeared in the office with her new uniform on her, she had a new school bag containing all her writing materials including an iPad.
"Wow" her mom cried as she saw her "You look amazing"
"Thanks Mom, love you both" April replied as she hugged her parents tightly " I will make you proud"
"I trust you to do that" her dad replied stroking her hair gently.
"Fill this form before Teri takes you to your new class"
"Ok mam" April replied as she collected the form and filled it up. "Can I leave now?"
"Yes you can" The woman replied as she intructed Teri to take her to her class. After walking through some hallway and the lawn, they finally arrived in front of a classroom. Teri peeped into the class while April quickly sneaked a peek too but her view was obstructed by the masculine body of the teacher in the class.
"Good day Mr Johnson, this is a new student and I was instructed to bring her here, so new girl, this is your new class. Hope you have a lovely day".
April watched as Teri's image faded along the corridor before she turned to her new teacher with a smile, the man was however too absorbed in whatever it was that caught his attention to realize her smile.
"What's your name?" Mr Johnson asked
"April Will"
"Good" He replied briefly before turning back to his students "So guys, we have a new student in
our class, let's welcome her into our class" He continued, referring to his students who responded with a loud applaude.
April felt flattered, she had a feeling that this school was her channel of joy. Ever since the day she had seen the school's magazine with one of her old classmates, she had fallen in love with the school and she was going to do all her best to be happy in this new school. First step, nobody must know who she really is.
"So, introduce yourself to the class, miss Wills"
"Thank you sir" April curtsied before she turned to her new classmates "I am April Will, a new student in your class. I hope you treat me well" April flashed her million times smiles at them and some stern faces warmed up with an accommodating smile.
Her new classmates were about fifteen in number, all dressed in their uniforms. The boys had blue t-shirts on with blue trousers and blue ties while the girls wear wearing cream short-sleeved blouse that had a bow design on the collar with deep blue skirt. Most of the girls also had their hair fixed up in ponytail unlike her, she had a shoulder length hair and she liked the fact that she was different on the first day.
"Good, so does anyone have any question for April?" Mr Johnson asked. Almost immediately, five hands were raised "You Chloe, what's your question for April?"
"Welcome April, would you like to join the green nation?" Chloe asked with a puppy face. "Join us to save mother Earth. We will go on adventures and do all sort of fun activities while we revive dying mother Earth.
April was charmed by Chloe's adorable voice and face, the girl was obviously a professional in the advertisement. "Thank you, but I don't know yet. I will love to ask questions though"
"You are welcome to ask questions" Chloe replied with a wink
April felt bliss, her first day in this school has indeed been full of love and she could not help the grin creeping up her white oblong face.
"Any other question?" Mr Johnson yelled again, almost screeching April eardrums. A cute boy with spiky blonde hair raised his slim but long hand. "Yes Kingston, what's your question?"
"My question for the new pretty girl is do you have a boyfriend because a pretty girl like you should be seen with a boy like me, king of the boys" He replied flexing and kissing his invincible muscles with the class was jeering.
April almost fainted as her white skin made it obvious that she was red with embarrassment. "No I don't"She replied shyly, making the whole class burst into laughter.
"That's enough question" Mr Johnson yelled
"This man must enjoy screaming" April thought in her head.
"Back to class" He continued before realizing that April was still beside him. "Take the seat over there" he directed, pointing to an empty sit beside the window.
"Thank you sir" April curtsied and hurried over to her new seat, as she was about to sit, the bell rang for change of class.
"Today's class was unproductive because we sent very little time but the next class will be productive. Amen?" He yelled
"Amen" The class except April chorused.
"And you Kingston, see me in detention class, you make silly jokes with every situation" Mr Johnson continued
"It's a gift sir" Kingston replied making the girls giggle
"You are so annoying Kingston" A girl interjected before Mr Johnson could yell again
"Thanks Alison" Mr Johnson replied before leaving the class.
April was about to sit again when a cool voice stopped her "Won't you clean the chair before you sit?" The voice queried
"Oh! Thanks" April smiled sheeply as she straighten up to check her back for a clean rag "I must have left it in dad's car" She whispered
"Have mine" The voice replied extending a clean handkerchief to April
"Thank you"April responded as she cleaned her desk and chair and returned the handkerchief when she was done cleaning "Thank you" she replied as she returned the handkerchief
"You are welcome" he replied
April smiled and sat on her chair, she whispered a word of prayer and arranged her things in preparation for the next class.
"Yo April, you are a lucky charm" Alison called out, getting the whole class to stare at the herself and April.
April wanted to ask her why she said the statement but kept quiet when she saw her coming towards her seat, she could only smile sheeply.
"Mrs Smith is not in school, apparently, she's down with fever" Alison announced making the class go wild with joy. Now, Alison turned to April fully "First you saved us from Mr Johnson's boring class, and now Mrs Smith is absent, meaning we have a whole forty minutes to ourselves then lunch break and the most interesting class of the day...."
"Music class" the class yelled.
"And who do we have to thank for this....?"
"April the new girl" they yelled again
April was beyond flattered as the class gave her a standing ovation. "Thank you everyone, I am so happy to see that I am able to help you, I am honored" she replied mustering all the courage in her body cells.
"Give it for the newest, prettiest girl in class, April Wills" Kingston yelled and the whole class roared again, whistling and clapping.
"Thank you everyone" April kept repeating till the whole noise died down.
"You must really love the word thank you" Alison observed
"Errr" was all April could say as she started drawing with her toe inside her shoe
"You don't intend to spoil that shoe, do you?" Alison replied raising a questionable eyebrow.
"No, no.." April replied
"Ok" Alison replied as she turned away. As soon as she left, a sigh escaped April's lips
"Why are you tensed?" The boy with the cool voice asked.
"Don't know, maybe I am just not used to this" April replied
"Really? What are you use to?"
"Nothing much, just use to a quiet life, always in the shadows."
"Ok, well lucky for you, you are in a class where no one wants anybody in the shadows" He smiled "My name's Jason Derulo, pleased to meet you." He extended his hands for a warm handshake which April accepted happily.
"So lucky charm, I am Jasper, Jason's best friend" Another boy interrupted, the guy was a black, but he was handsome, especially with the clean Afro haircut.
"Can I touch your hair?" April found herself saying
"Yeah, why not?" Jasper replied. He leaned slightly to let her touch his hair to her heart's content.
"Thanks" April replied after feeling the texture of his hair. "I'm sorry but it felt nice to touch your hair"
"You are funny girl, haven't you seen a black boy before?"
"I have, infact, he was my best friend till he was transferred to another school"
"Why? He should have stayed with you since you guys are friends" Jasper replied sitting beside Jason
"No, he had to else he would have died"
"Holy sh*t"
"Yeah, the students in my old school used to discriminate between whites and blacks but I we were friends so I could not sit back and watch them hurt him. When I did, we would both get hit till we bleed. When my parents got to know, they decided to change my school but I could not leave without him so he got his parents to transfer him."
"Terrible" Jason sighed
"Yeah, I would have died if I were in his shoes" Jason replied "But now, you are in our territory, and save. Welcome. We don't discriminate" He replied snuggling Jason into hug and peck his check.
"York" Jason exclaimed while April and Jasper laughted their eyes out. Jason looked at the both of them in surprise. "You guys are annoying" he smiled and joined them in the laughter. The class continued to roar while the trio continued to talk about April former school.
April was very happy to talk to other students who accepted her for who she was and she could not keep her hands away from their black and chestnut coloured hair.
