Welcome to Timber Creek

Chapter 2

(Oui?)

Entrance to B hall

"There are staircases right outside the two main hallways, as well as at the ends of them. If the room number is in the hundreds, it's downstairs, two hundreds are upstairs. Any questions?" asked Marykate.

"There are only two floors?" asked Ron.

"Yeah, but there's a pool on the roof."

"Tori; don't! Sorry, there's no pool, no matter what you hear. All we've got is weight room." Marykate apologized for Tori statements for the millionth time in about a five minute period.

"Just let it go, MK," pleaded Amanda.

"Please don't call me that," she scowled at Amanda. "The only bathrooms unlocked upstairs, are in the A hallway. Right across from the library. Oh, right! There's also the main stairs, right in front of said library."

"Marykate. Can we cut it short? I'd really like to get to Science," Tori asked.

"Fine, I'm sure you're capable."

"Thanks. Umm...Harry is it? This way, Miss Williams is usually all over me for being late, but I don't think she can complain this time." The smart-mouthed girl, and so far, extremely quiet, boy continued down the hall toward certain death, I mean, Science class.

"We've got to be upstairs, Ron. French class with Mr. Lucas. He wouldn't care if walked in wearing pajamas that said 'I hate Mr. Lucas!' on them. He might even think it was funny." They left Marykate and Hermione alone, which may or may not have been a good idea.

"Look, Marykate. It's not that I don't thank you for your generosity, but I've got a map and a class list, so I think I can manage alone."

"Oh," said Marykate, a little hurt. "Okay. That's okay. Class is right here anyway, Mr. Razzi."

"That's what the list says." They walked, a little farther apart than the previous two, to Mr. Razzi's History class.

Science (Tori/Harry)

Tori led Harry through the halls, almost sprinting.

"Tori? Could we slow down a little? I mean, we're already late, right?"

"I suppose so." She slowed, and looked to her left at the exchange student. "Nervous?"

"Not really, there are worse things out there than a new school."

"You went to a private school, right?"

"Since I was eleven."

"Things are really different now. Public high school is different from private. I have a friend in a Catholic school. There are more rules, and less people who care to enforce them. Don't be fooled by anyone in this class. Some of them seem nice enough, but will double cross you as soon as look at you."

"I can understand that." They finally reached the door, and she opened it for him with a smile. "Good luck."

French (Amanda/Ron)

"So, you're one of the new kids, right?" asked Mr. Lucas.

"Yeah," replied Ron.

"Excuse me?"

"Umm...yes." Amanda did they same jabbing thing Hermione did earlier with her elbow, and said, "Answer in French!"

"Oh...I don't know any French, sir."

"Oui! If you want to say yes, say Oui!" Ron just nodded, and took the seat next to Amanda.

"Good job. He's not really that bad, like I said. He's probably just trying to prove something to the faculty. You'll see."

"Bonjour, class! Welcome back from 'winter' break. I trust you've all have a nice rest, unlike me. I got to read all your papers. Some were okay, but others I shuddered within the first sentences." He started walking around, handing back papers. Laying one on Amanda's desk, he said, "Shoddy work, Miss Erdbrink. Maybe you should stay after one of these days for a little extra help." He turned toward Ron and said, "Maybe, you should find a different study-buddy." Ron gulped, and replied, "Oui?"

History (Marykate/Hermione)

"Are we all here? I don't feel like taking attendance," Mr. Razzi said tiredly. The class just mumbled quietly, except for Hermione, who raised her hand.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Mr. Razzi? My name's Hermione Granger. I'm one of the exchange students. From England."

"Really?" he replied still uninterested. "I lived in England for a few years. The pizza was terrible, and I couldn't find a cheesesteak for anything."

"Ummm..."

"Let's get started. King Henry IIX..." Marykate leaned over, and whispered, "Different, isn't it?"

"Not really, my History professor is worse. He doesn't bother to write on the board." Hermione took out her notebook, and started taking notes.

Forty minutes later, the bell rang, and it was time for second period.