Chapter 7 (slightly revised, so re-read it anyway!)

The next morning, Seth was woken up rudely at five thirty. It had been so quite, peaceful, dark, and warm.
Then, “Hey, wake up! School!” Jenn was on top of him, shining a light into his dark eyes.
He squinted and groaned. “Get off me,” he said.
Jenn shook him. “No, get up.”
He sat up. “I said. Get. Off. Me,” he growled, sitting up.
Jenn rolled off the bed and onto her feet. She was already dressed and ready to go. “Sheesh, grouchy much?”
She shut the light off and went over to the door. “Okay, but make sure you’re all ready to leave the house and not be hungry until,” she checked her watch, “Six thirty.”
He rubbed his face and shook his hair. “’Kay.”
As she left, she flicked on the light switch. Seth dropped and covered his eyes. “Aah!”
He heard a low chuckle in the hallway.
He groaned again and got out of ‘his’ bed. He opened ‘his’ dresser and pulled out one of his black t-shirts and a dark pair of jeans.
When he’d changed, he walked into the bathroom to fix his severe bed-head.

“Ready for your first day?” Sasha asked from the front seat of the car.
Jenn was literally bouncing in her seat.
Seth wasn’t interested.
“Seth?” she asked, flicking the left signal up quickly with her finger and turning left.
A nice looking school came into view. Ivy covered the outside bricks and a black wrought-iron fence lined the yard. The sky was a blanket of gray watercolor.
And it was raining again.
He took a deep breath and gave her another one-word answer, “Sure.”
He shifted his black backpack on his shoulder, where the straps felt like plastic fabric. The binder inside was heavy with new supplies. He wore his black jacket with the high collar that went halfway up to his neck. It was really warm, and water tight. He looked over at Jenn. She was sitting on the other side of the car listening to her new iPod. She had a dark blue t-shirt on with a black cami and light jeans. On her feet were brown and light green skate shoes.
He shook his head, black hair falling into his face again and making his nose itch.
“Okay, guys, see you later,” Sasha pulled the car up to the sidewalk where other children were unloading.
Jenn opened her door, and set one foot out onto the damp sidewalk and got out. “’Cmon, Seth,” she added, holding the door open for him.
He gave a low growl and made his way to the door. He immediately knew that he was one of the only new kids because heads swiveled his way.
Yeah, pick on the figure in black, he thought angrily.
The door of the car slammed, and the BMW drove away. And he was on his own with Jenn.
Which was, technically, alone.
Footsteps were everywhere. “Jenn!” someone behind them called.
An Asian girl ran towards them and tackle-hugged Jenn. “Hey! How was your weekend? Did you get him yet? Is he cute? Is –”
Jenn clamped a hand over the girl’s mouth. “Shut up!” she hissed. “I missed you too.”
Then the girl caught sight of Seth. “Ooh, Jenn,” she giggled.
Jenn pulled away from the girl, still holding her shoulder with one hand. “This is Seth,” Jenn said. “Seth, this is Sam.”
The girl, Sam, giggled again. “Hi,” she grinned, and gave a small wave.
He nodded once.
She swiveled back to Jenn, “OhmyGod he’s cute,” she squealed before Jenn covered her mouth again.
“Shh-shh-shh!” she giggled.
Then a bus pulled up and unloaded, and Seth lost sight of the girls. Someone bigger than him shoved him and yelled, “Move it, freak!” and swore at him.
Seth staggered back a few steps and into a few more kids. Now he was feeling even more lost.
One side of his mouth drooped.
This could be a long day.