Page 16 of Ask No Questions

I knew the story, but I guess I assumed they were the same age.

“He’s only got one semester left. Then he’ll be working with me full time.” Brandon finally snatched the creamer and poured it into his mug.

Nineteen?

I knew that shouldn’t matter to me. He was my brother’s friend, business partner, and nearly graduated with college. None of that changed how attractive he was and the way I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

Tuesday morning, I picked Mckayla up early for school so she could help me find the office and register before the first bell rang.

I had the top down and music blasting as we pulled into the student lot. If there was anything that could put me in a good mood and calm me down before my first day, it was my beautiful car, good music, and Mckayla by my side. I wasn’t alone in this. For the first time, I had someone I trusted to have my back.

Bay View High was different than my large brick three-story school in Chicago. There was a sprawling lawn in front of the main building with “Bay View High School: Home of the Pirates” painted on the front and hallways leading away from a center courtyard behind the front office.

A middle-aged woman sitting behind the counter greeted us as we walked into the office. "Hello, Ms. Page. Did you have a good break?”

“Hi, Mrs. M. I did, thank you! This is my cousin, Aubrey. She transferred here from Chicago.”

“Oh right! Ms. Tate. We received your transcript, and your guidance counselor is waiting for you in her office to set up your schedule. Just go on in, girls."

We started down the hall, and Mckayla said “thanks” over her shoulder before guiding me through another hall to an office with a giant poster of Wonder Woman on the open door. I knocked as we entered, and another middle-aged woman greeted us with a wide smile. She had a dirty blonde bob and a kind face.

"Come on in and have a seat. Nice to see you, Mckayla." She turned to me, still smiling. "And you must be Aubrey Tate! I’m Mrs. Finn. I must say, I was excited to meet you after reading through your transcript. It seems that we have gained quite the student with you. Your previous school even included letters of recommendation from several teachers, your coach, and headmistress. I'm very impressed. I hope you find that our school lives up to your standard."

Wow, I was not expecting that. I left without mentioning to any of them where I was going or why. I didn’t even think about asking for recommendations.

“How nice of them. I’m looking forward to starting here, though." I tried to sound as polite as possible.

"That is just the attitude we need around here. Now, have you thought about what classes you want to take? I’ve done my best to match up your old schedule, but you have two elective periods you need to decide on."

I glanced at Mckayla and saw her give a little nod of encouragement. "I know since I'm coming in at the last minute my options are limited, but I was wondering if I could join the yearbook staff and maybe the dance team?"

"The yearbook staff seems like a great option for you with the experience you have from your old school. Dance team isn't an option, though, since tryouts are held at the end of the previous school year so the team can practice over the summer. Although, we can put you in one of the dance classes so Coach Sandra can get to know you. Maybe you can try out for the annual dance showcase."

I had figured there was a slim chance of joining, but this just meant I would have to find a studio fast to keep up with training.

"That sounds good. Thanks for all of your help!"

"Of course, it was my pleasure.” She clicked around on her laptop then glanced back up at me. “Let me just print out your schedule, and you two can be on your way. If there are any problems, don't hesitate to come in and talk to me."

She smiled at us as she handed me the schedule, and we left her office. Once we were out of the main office and into the center courtyard, Mckayla asked to see what classes I got.

"Geez, overachiever! Didn't anyone ever tell you high school is meant to be easy?" She laughed and hip bumped me before taking a seat at one of the picnic tables. "All right, let's see if you have any classes with us... Algebra II, nope. Dance, oh, our friend Cassie is in there with you. She's really nice. I'll try to introduce you two before then. AP English, have fun with that one. I think Talia is in that class, though! AP US History, Alexis is in there with you. Yearbook with me, yay! I'm so glad she let you in there! Chemistry, nada! Well at least you have some classes with us, and you'll make friends really fast too. Let’s go find the girls and Cassie so you’ll know someone in dance."

We wandered around the courtyard, then to the lawn in front of the school before we found Alexis and Talia talking to a petite brunette. We walked over to them, and Mckayla introduced me.

"Hey, guys. We were just looking for you, Cassie! This is my cousin, Aubrey. She just transferred here, and she's in your dance class. There! You guys are officially friends now!"

Cassie laughed and smiled at me. "Nice to meet you, Aubrey. I've heard all about you and the parties. Sorry, I couldn't make it to either of them. I was in Aspen with my family. I'm glad you're in my class though, we always need partners for warm ups so we can team up."

The bell rang and people slowly began making their way toward the buildings and we filed in with them. The girls dropped me off at the math hall, and Cassie promised she would meet me by the gym to show me where the dance room was. When they were gone, I looked at the door leading into my class, dreading starting everyday with math—my worst subject.

Giving up, I ambled into the room and noticed other people talking to each other before separating to seats on opposite sides of the room. Unless people didn't sit with their friends at this school, there must be some assigned arrangement. I looked at my schedule to check the teacher's name before approaching him.

"Hi, Mr. Cox, I'm Aubrey Tate. Today's my first day. Is there..."

Without looking up from the paper he was reading, he interrupted me. "We will be changing the seating chart. They just don't know it yet. Stand by the door, and I will assign everyone."

I walked back, hoping not all my teachers would treat me like a child and waited.