Never Forgotten

by Kelly Risser

  ***

  “Are you nervous?” Katie asked when I met her on the porch. “You look nervous.”

  “I am,” I admitted. “A little.”

  “It’ll be okay,” she said. “I can’t imagine high school here is all that different than anywhere else. Besides, you met several of my friends over the summer. I’ll introduce you to the rest. I’m sure you’ll get along just famously. We love you.”

  She gave me a hug, and I felt a little better.

  When we arrived at school, the parking lot was almost full. I could see kids hanging out in groups across the campus. Katie waved at one or two people and honked at a few more. I was getting the impression she was popular, not that it surprised me.

  When I received my class list about three weeks ago, Katie compared it to hers. We shared the same lunch hour, and we had first period together. At least I could follow her to our class, and then I would be on my own until lunchtime. I had studied the campus map they mailed out with the paperwork. It didn’t look too complicated.

  As soon as we entered the building, Jen ran over to us. Her black hair, which had been past her shoulders this summer, was freshly cut into a chin-length bob.

  “Katie!” She hugged Katie enthusiastically and then turned to me, smiling warmly. “Good to see you again, Meara. Welcome to Halifax High.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “Great haircut.”

  Jen patted her hair self-consciously. “You like it?”

  “Super cute,” Katie confirmed.

  Jen started to fill us in on the latest gossip. Since I didn’t know anyone, it didn’t matter too much to me. I trailed slightly behind them as we walked, half listening and half taking in my surroundings. Jen stopped, and I caught myself just before I plowed into her back.

  “I’m so rude,” she said. “I’m sorry, Meara. I don’t mean to ignore you. This must be hard for you, being new and all.”

  I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’m just trying to get my bearings, you know?”

  “Right.” She nodded. A look of disgust crossed her face, and I wondered what I had done when she added, “I wouldn’t know anything about that since I’ve been here my whole life.”

  “Before I came to Canada, I spent my whole life in Wisconsin. Let me tell you, it’s not any more exciting.”

  “I guess,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind hearing about somewhere else…”

  “Maybe later,” I said quickly. Or, maybe never, I thought. As if I wanted my new friends to realize how absolutely, terribly boring my life had been before I came here.

  “I better go,” Jen said. “I’ve got science first period. It’s down the other hall.”

  We said goodbye to Jen, and Katie led me further down the hall. When we reached the end, she gestured to a door on the right side.

  “Here’s our class. Do you want to go first or should I?”

  “You,” I said. I felt like a coward, but she was the one who knew people here.

  What if I sat by the most annoying kid in school? Or the one who tried to cheat? No, better that she found a seat first. She’d know where to go.

  Katie waved to a few boys in the back before walking to the far side of the room and sitting about halfway. She motioned to the seat in front of her. I quickly took it.

  Mr. Murphy started as soon as the bell rang. He introduced himself and provided a high-level outline of what we would cover this year. One of the Shakespeare plays we were going to read, Hamlet, I had already covered my sophomore year. Everything else would be new. Perfect. I liked to read, but I didn’t care to re-read.

  I made it through my morning classes with no major mishaps. Valerie, another friend of Katie’s that I had met at the Canada Day festival, was in my Biology class. It helped to have a friendly face nearby, and I was feeling more confident by the time lunch rolled around.

  Katie was partially standing and waving to me when I came into the cafeteria. I was glad she had been looking out—most of the tables were already full. I would’ve been lost if I hadn’t seen her. She scooted over to make room for me, and I sat down next to her.

  “How’s it going?” she said, handing me a Diet Coke and a bag of chips. “I stopped at the vending machine for you. I forgot to mention that you do not want to eat the hot lunch here. If you can, avoid it at all costs. Oh…” She dug in her backpack and pulled out an apple. “This is for you, too.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I grinned at her, and she laughed.

  “How’re things going?” Jen asked as she took a seat across from me.

  “Good,” I said. “Val’s in my Biology class.”

  Jen nodded at the lunch line. “She’s coming. She’s getting hot lunch.”

  “I can’t believe she likes that stuff,” Katie said.

  “I know,” Jen replied. They both shuddered, which made me laugh.

  “C’mon,” I said. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “Just you wait,” Jen whispered, leaning across the table. “Here she comes now.”

  Valerie sat down next to Jen. I had to admit, the lunch didn’t look too appetizing.

  “What’s for lunch today?” Jen asked.

  “Can’t you tell?” Val frowned at her before digging her fork into her food and taking a bite. “Mmmm. It’s meatloaf. Yummy.” She looked at my chips and apple. “That’s all you’re eating?”

  “I’m not hungry,” I said, and it was true. I bit the apple and avoided looking at Val’s meal while I chewed.

  Jen, Katie, and Val launched into a fresh batch of school gossip. Not knowing anyone yet, I wasn’t really interested and studied the lunchroom instead. It was funny how you could be in a totally different country and be reminded so much of home. The faces were all different, but other than that, it could have been a high school anywhere. From what I could tell, there were the same cliques and groups here that were at my high school back in Cedarburg. Actually, I found that comforting. At least I knew what I was getting into.

  “Meara?” Katie was looking at me funny. Great. How long had she been calling my name? “Are you okay?”

  “Sure,” I said. “Just thinking about how similar Halifax is to Cedarburg.”

  Katie’s expression turned smug, and I remembered her words in the car this morning. “Told you so. See, Meara, you’ll fit in fine here.”

  “Uh huh.” I was not entirely convinced. I threw away what was left of my lunch. Nerves usually worked as an excellent appetite suppressant for me. It was the only time I couldn’t eat.

  “What do you have now?” Katie asked.

  I glanced at my schedule, since I had already forgotten. After I looked, I wished I hadn’t. “Ugh. Gym class.”

  “Me, too!” Val said, coming over to stand next to me. “I’ll walk with you.”

  “Great. See you later, Katie. Jen.”

  They waved and walked away. Val and I started toward the gymnasium.

  “Do you play sports?” she asked. She walked with a natural grace. No wonder she was on Katie’s volleyball team.

  “Not really,” I said. “I played a bit in grade school, but I wasn’t good.”

  She frowned. “That’s too bad. We could’ve used another strong setter on our team.”

  “Katie already tried to recruit me.”

  She flashed me a grin. “Figures.”

  After gym, I had history and psychology. The rest of the day passed quickly. As far as first days of school went, I chalked this one up as a success. Katie was right. Her friends were great, and I was confident that I would soon be calling at least some of them my friends, too.