Marceline made it to her Statistics class on time, while listening to her teacher make silly math jokes she already started envisioning staying awake until 3am to finish work she’d start at 6pm. The constant harassment from her father. She was so excited for those nights, it was top of her list of things she’d totally enjoy this year. After a whole hour and a half worth of Statistics, she felt her brains slowly melting out of her ears. She was beyond ready to go home but she remembered she still had four other classes to attend. She had to fast walk to make it to the other side of the school to reach her Art class in time. Finally. A class she knew she would love, she continued her strategy of walking to the back of the classroom to take a seat. It helped her through her other two classes, so she was sure it would help her here. The room was big, it had a room in the back corner she assumed had a kiln in it and another that she thought maybe was a materials closet. It was very rustic considering the look of the rest school. She pulled out her drawing pad, waiting for her teacher to walk in. She heard some people talking loud and laughing. A tall blonde amazonian caught her attention in the front of the room. She was beautiful and tan and had a voice that clearly caught and held the attention of the entire room.

“Lucy, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were sitting here.” The tiny girl said, trying to grab her things off the table.”

“You really didn’t see my shit here? Really? My bag, my water, my jacket? You really didn’t see it? Or were you trying to step up to me? Come on Natalie, you should know better than that.” The amazon said while shoving the rest of the girls things off the desk. Shortly after the teacher walked in.

“Oh, what a mess. What happened girls?” The teacher asked as she set her bag and coffee on her desk.

“Nothing Ms. Swahain, Natalie had a little accident. I was helping her pick up her stuff, wasn’t I Natalie?” The amazon looked at the much smaller girl, with eyes like daggers.

“Is that what happened Natalie?” The girl looked around the room, seeking help from anyone around her. Everyone ignored her silent plea and she agreed with the amazon.

The teacher walked to the front of the class “You’ve got to be more careful Natalie. Next time you could get seriously hurt, okay?” She scolded. “Hello class, many of you already know me as this is an advanced class but I see some new faces so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Sarah Swahian. I have my doctoral degree in fine arts and my masters in art history. I’ve been teaching for sixteen years and have been at this school for ten of those year. If you have anymore questions, please don’t hesitate from asking.” She glanced around the room. “So yes, back to New faces! We’re gonna play a little game. I’m going to toss this sack ball around the room, and when you catch it, you’re going to tell everyone a little bit about yourself like, name, maybe favorite art style?” She clapped her hands together and tossed the ball around the room. The ball flew around the room and everyone told a little about themselves. The Natalie girl from earlier explained that she was from India and her family moved here when she was 10. She seemed like a really cool girl. The ball flew around some more and it landed at Lucy. She explained that she was 19 and the School Vice President. She sounded too perfect and it was so so creepy. The ball continued to fly across the room until it had made it to everyone but Marceline. It landed back in Ms. Swahain’s lap and she threw the ball in my direction. “Tell us about yourself.”

Marceline shrunk into her seat realizing the entire room was staring at her. “I uh… I’m Marceline. I’m from Washington.. I like… drawing…. Which is kind of why I’m.. here… i-in this class… “There was an awkward silence and then she tossed the ball back to her teacher. It’s already starting. She could already hear everyone talking about her, she slouched even further into her seat. So much for that she sighed.

Ms. Swahain explained what we’d be getting out of this class. Expanding our knowledge of the fine arts. The final bell for the class rand and everyone rushed out into the halls. She grabbed up her bag once again and put in her headphones. Walking into the crowded hallway she made her way towards the lunchroom. It was huge, the natural light from outside bounced off the gold colored walls making the room open up even more. She searched for an open seat.

“Hey! Marceline!!” She turned to see Frank walking up to her smiling. “I told you I’d find you, come on!” Frank said signaling me to follow him. I pulled my headphones out and walked behind him to a round table on the far side of the cafeteria.

“Frank!” Everyone at the table shouted out.

“Hey guys!” Frank turned and looked at me. “You can sit down right here. Everyone this is Marceline, we have English together. She’s actually new here, and pretty fuckin’ cool.” He said sitting down next to her, nudging her in the shoulder. Marceline smiled and looked down at her hands.

“Hey Sugar!”

Marceline looked up and saw the stunning redhead from earlier.

"Oh, Hi Rebecca!" She smiled

“Well it seems you’ve already met Beccs.” He pointed towards a shy looking boy at the other side of the table. “That’s Mikey, and his brother should be showing up soon and next to him is Ray. Mikey’s a Freshman and Ray a Junior, so you probably won’t see them often.”

“I’m actually a junior.” She said rubbing her shoulder.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I just figured that you were a senior because you’re in my English class…” He said laughing. “Well now I’m curious, why do you have senior English then?”

Marceline paused for a second, she actually didn’t mind him asking which is way different than how she usually felt when this question ever came up. “I, uh, I took Sophomore and Junior English at my last school. I guess, I um, scored really high on some lame ass test and they put me in both classes. Something about ‘better test scores for out school’ I guess.” She raised her hands and shook her head. “So I wasn’t required to retake Junior English here.” The table was quiet. “You probably think I’m a h-huge nerd.”

Rebecca laughed “No, we think that’s really amazing-”

“Sorry I’m late, Mrs. Carter wouldn’t get off my fucking ass about last year.” Marceline looked up from her finger fiddling to see the most gorgeous boy she’d ever seen in her life. He had these piercing Hazel eyes with the cutest little pixie nose. His hair was jet black and shoulder length, and his cheeks were round.
“Gee! I didn’t see you this morning! Where were you at?” Frank high-fived the raven haired boy. “I dropped Mikes off, I just had somewhere else to be.” Mikey looked up at him with a sad look on his face. If frank noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it.

“So Gerard. This is Marceline. Marceline, Gerard.”

“Hey love, cute name.” Gerard said as he sat down next to Rebecca.

“Th-thanks” Marceline stuttered, gracefully letting her head hit the table groaning. She wished she kept her mouth shut. She turned her head slightly and glanced over at Frank, who was reaching in his bag for his lunch. Everyone started to eat and talk about what classes they had. They even managed to bring up some of the crazy things that happened last year. She sat there quietly, feeling out of place. It wasn’t that they weren’t inviting, it was just she’d never really quite done this before. Even her friends from her last school didn’t even sit with her at lunch. She always found herself wandering alone around the outside while they were inside hanging out and eating. She was so deep in thought, she didn’t even notice that her stomach was growling until Rebecca nudged her arm.

“Did you bring anything for lunch, sugar?” she said looking pretty concerned.

“I’ll eat when I get home.” She lied

“Are you sure?” Rebecca asked once more, sliding the power bar over to her.

“Yes, thank you though.” Marceline’s stomached growled once more. She knew she should have taken the power bar, she hadn’t eaten in four days, she was hungry. She was starving.

“So, where did you move here from, Marceline?” Ray asked.

“Washington, I lived in there my entire life. “Trying not to think about her mother, she tried to change the conversation. “But honestly, I like it here.” The first bell rang and everyone got their stuff together.

“What class did you say you have next?” Frank looked at Marceline.

“Choir.” She said sliding her bag back on her shoulder.

“Gerard and I have class that way, we’ll walk you.” He said.

“You really don’t have to.” She looked down at her shoes.

“We’re going that way anyways Marce. Might as well walk you.” He said laughing. “Come on, Let’s get you to class.”

---

Marce… No one’s called me Marce since my mother passed away…

“Marceline?? Earth to Marceline!?” Frank shouted waving his hands in front of my face. “Where are you girl?”

Snapping back into reality Marceline focused on Frank in front of her face. “Sorry, I totally spaced…” She started walking in front of the boys. Silently laughing at herself, she honestly didn’t even know where the hell she was going, slowing down she let the boys catch back up to her.

“I know we just met, but would you like to hang out with us after school today?” Frank asked clearing his throat.

“We’re going to Frank’s, he’s got all the junk food.” Gerard pitched in.

“I really wish I could, but I’ve got to get home.” She sighed heavy, although her dad probably doesn’t want her in the house much, if he knew she was out with boys… She shook the thought away.

“Oh.” Gerard got quiet.

“Maybe next time??” Frank said “Here’s your stop, Marce! We’ll see you later then?” He reached out to hug her, she hesitated at first caught completely off guard but she decided to hug back.

“Bye guys.” She smiled as she walked into Choir, she didn’t even know why she had this class.

Notes

Update: Rewrote
June 11th, 2017