They all headed for their first periods. Andrea and the others had Literature, while Lissa and Meg had European History.

“Later!” Lissa told them as she walked side by side with Meg.

“What was that about?” She continued, turning her neck to Meg.

“What’s what?”

“Back there with Andrea. You guys were most definitely murmuring.”

“Oh, that.” She must have seen Andrea asking me about the drawing, Meg thought.

“Wait! Let me guess. Hmmm… Is it about boys?” Lissa’s eyes were overflowing with expectancy. Her eagerness was clear, as expected. Lissa was an inside and out gossip-girl.

“Figures, that’s the first thing you came up with. But nope, it isn’t.” Meg responded quickly with a little chuckle.

Kind of, she corrected inside her head.

“Then what?”

“About some silly sketch I drew last night.”

“Sketch? About what?”

“Just…some random drawings.” Meg repeated the lines she spoke to Andrea.

Lissa wasn’t swayed. She kept on bugging Meg. She wasn’t much convincing with the way she answered, and there was no way Meg could blame Lissa for it. Though she ignored and told Lissa the same thing over and over again. She wouldn’t budge. Meg was forced to intercept a question about how Lissa started dating Robert. Lissa’s cheeks went red a couple of times, though it went back to its true complexion after awhile. The bugging reduced a lot. Lissa’s mind was diverted by Meg question. Good job! Meg applauded herself.

They arrived in the class, minutes before their professor, Mr. Rod, did. The room was slightly crowded. Most of the seats were not yet taken. Meg chose the one next to the windows while Lissa sat on the chair, two seats behind her.

Lissa was obligated to sit besides her cousin, a transferee. Mrs. Carter threatened her about trimming down her allowance, if she doesn’t comply. It was like a ‘life or death’ situation for her. Money was Lissa’s best bud––metaphorically.

That was one of their differences, money wasn’t everything for Meg. It felt delightful for Meg to have a classy and beneficial accessory or two, but to have a whole closet––or a room––of those were too much. Meg loves following eminent trends, being in style and on vogue. Though, she wouldn’t even think of gambling her life for the sake of material goods––the way Lissa would.

Meg allowed her eyes to browse around the place. She saw nothing out of ordinary, just some maps and globes. Some cliques were also forming, from the brainy ones to athletes to musicians and other more.

Mr. Rod started his lessons about the early middle ages in Europe. Meg didn’t concentrate on the lectures, not that it was basic knowledge, but she just that knew all about it. Her Gram-Gram used to teach her about European people, they’re her Gram-Gram’s favorite topic.

Meg kept looking outside the window. Her hand was scribbling––not sure of what it was all about.  Mr. Rod appeared to have taken noticed of Meg’s absent-mindedness and called her.

“Can you tell me, Ms.––” Mr. Rod prolonged.

Meg straightened herself up off her chair. “Lewis.” She followed his words up.

“Lewis, right. Can you tell me the capital of Byzantine Empire?”

Meg pretended as if she was thinking hard, and then replied, “Constantinople.”

He raised his eyebrow, seeing her through his spectacle, unbelieving that Meg knew the right answer. “Correct. Sit down.”

He called her twice, determined to humiliate her in front of the whole class. He was most probably offended that she was being inattentive, and still able to respond correctly. Meg didn’t mind though, it wasn’t her fault that she knew what to say.

Mr. Rod dismissed them as soon as the bell rang. Meg had two more subjects before lunch break, Trigonometry and Gym.

Trigonometry wasn’t her best subject. She always had a hard time with formulas and steps. Formulas were confusing and the steps were long and complex. Complex things weren’t part of her forte.

On the other hand, Gym Class went great. It was one of the subjects Meg likes––not loves but likes. She used to take every Karate, Taekwondo and other lessons––making some of the P.E activities easier––when she was young. Estella insisted. She wanted Meg to know even a bit about self-defense.

Meg used to hate every second she spend in the training sessions, but she soon learned to like it.

Meg glanced around the gymnasium; no one she knew was there. She was on her own this time. She took another quick look over the place as she walked towards a bench.

Meg waited for the time to pass by, participating every once in a while.

After the bell clanged, she went straight to her locker. She noticed Lissa, standing in front of hers.

 “Lissa!” Meg called out.

 “Hey!” Sticking her head out, smiling.

 “No more classes?”

 “Not until 1 o’clock.”

They headed for the cafeteria. Andrea and the other were waiting for both Lissa and Meg at the left end table. Lissa ran to them with a mouth full of words, pulling a seat besides Louise.

Lissa told us about her criticisms on Mr. Rod, their History teacher. She said that he was not that cute or good-looking though Mr. Rod was clever. Lissa also began nattering about her instructor from her Gym Class.

Meg sat besides Andrea. She was crunching some junk food, quietly, unlike everybody else.

“Where’s Ryan?” Meg asked.

Andrea shrugged. “Now that you mentioned it, I haven’t seen him since this morning.”

Meg heard a growling sound coming from her stomach. She was starving. Meg wasn’t able to eat her breakfast this morning. She was in a hurry organizing her stuff for school.

She stared at Lissa, mouthing to her the question ‘hungry’.

 “Starving.”

 “Let’s go get some food.” Meg suggested.

Lissa nodded without second thoughts.

Meg took a tray and started placing foods on it. She got pasta––macaroni’s on today’s schedule––, soda and fruits. The pasta looked delicious; it made her stomach groaned more. She wasn’t selective about what to eat, as long as she could.

After Meg saw Lissa’s tray, which carried twice the amount of hers, she chuckled. Lissa had been controlling her hunger more than Meg had.

Lissa directed her to head back to the table first as she was talking to Robert. Meg did. She lifted the plates and then proceeded back. Her eyes were glancing around the place. Nothing unusual, she thought.

Meg’s mind flew away the moment she sat, day dreaming about her next subject, Spanish Class. She imagined the activities and her soon-to-be classmates.

Meg was playing with her foods when Andrea called her.

 “Are you coming? And please stop playing with your food. You’re not a kid anymore.”

Meg put down her fork. She smiled and asked, “And where are we heading exactly?” Her face was mystified; she wasn’t sure what they were talking about.

“The school bell just rang.”

 “Class time.” Lissa interjected.

 “Oh! Right.” Meg hurriedly leaved her plates to the ‘used-dish’ trays.

They left the cafeteria.

Meg headed to the classroom. The lecturer wasn’t there yet. He was late for a few minutes.

Spanish was kind of fun for her. The professor was hilarious. He’d joke around and giggle with them. It was hard for anyone to miss his silly gags, they were kind of clichéd. They had a lively discussion with him.

Meg rushed her way out of the school as soon as her other last three subjects, ended. She wanted to go home. Her schedule for the night was loaded.

Meg immediately spotted Samantha’s car, she’s on-time like always. Meg climbed in, smiling. She was––for once––pleased that Samantha’s strict about time. The car slowly maneuvered out of the lot.

 “How’s your day?”

 “Normal.”

“Same answer as usual.” Samantha giggled.

Samantha felt irritated about hearing the revving car alone so she turned the radio on. The song playing caught their awareness. The heater was switched on this time, so Meg was able to focus more.

 “Is that… Thanksgiving?” Meg wanted to check if she was right.

“Yeah… Steve Barakatt’s.” Samantha wasn’t a classical music lover, though she did have her favorites.

Meg closed her eyes. The tune relaxed her, it was gentle and calm. She liked it. Meg listened carefully to the melody and rhythm. It felt like she was floating on the water, the waves were tenderly colliding with her skin. It was nice.

They soon arrived home. The house was empty; Estella wasn’t home, yet. She was working overtime tonight.

Meg headed for her room. It was as tidy as ever. Everything was in place; the papers full of drawings were piled properly, the clothes were all beautifully folded. The walls had no sign of any vandalism, just breath-taking paintings. Meg’s a very neat type of person.

She idly removed her garments as she laid down––facing the ceiling––on the bed. The day exhausted her, physically and mentally. The endless hunt for the classrooms never got old. And the wicked goals of the professors were eye-rolling.

Meg mindlessly changed her position to left. She shut her eyelids, falling into a nap. But then, her phone suddenly rang, startling her up.