Blossom's POV
"And stay away from boys!" my mama called as I quickly ran down the steps to catch the school bus which should be approaching any minute now.
Today, I was a ball of wrecking nerves. It was the beginning of a new year and a new life for my mother and myself. Two weeks ago, we migrated from Africa to the US for my mother's new job opportunity and my scholarship education at one of the most prestigious high school in the California state.
It was an overcast morning with no one in sight but me waiting on the bus stop for the bus. After five minutes, the bright yellow school bus with the name 'Pacific High school' displaying above its windshield.
I outstretched my arm and the bus slowed down before coming to a halt in front of me. The doors opened automatically.
"This is it," I told myself as I clutched onto my backpack tighter and boarded.
Rude stares and small laughter met me when I saw the other students and they saw me. I quickly found a seat, close to a window, and tuned everything out by opening one of my textbooks.
"Who's that?" I heard someone asking from behind me.
"I've never seen it before," someone else answered. There were more giggles and I slumped in the seat, wishing I could disappear or this bus would turn around and drop me off where it found me.
After thirty minutes of pretending to be invisible, the bus pulled into the highschool's parking lot. The doors opened and everyone started filing out like sand being emptied on a beach. I was the last grain of sand to get off. I slowly followed the others into the opened hall which I quickly regretted because the stares were more and the comments were getting ruder with every student I walked pass by.
'What could they be looking at?' I asked myself as I tried to find my assigned locker from the sheet of paper the Head Mistress had given my mother when we applied three days ago.
'Locker 26T, Locker 26T,' I mumbled as I counted. '23, 24, 25,...'
"Hey!" someone yelled at me and I was instantly shoved against my very locker.
"Why don't you watch where you're going, new girl!" other hissed, coming to the aid of the first girl I accidentally stumbled into.
"I'm....I'm sorry," I apologized. Both their eyes blazed at me before they flipped their hair and walked away.
I opened my locker and placed my books inside that I wouldn't be needing for first period. The bell rang and I headed to my first class, or at least I thought I was.
I got lost and I knew I was going around in circles when I orbit at my locker for the second time.
"You there! Why aren't you in class?" a woman called from behind me. It was Mrs. Tisdale, the Head Mistress.
"Sorry ma'am, I'm new and I'm a bit lost," I managed to speak although I was shaking with fear.
"Ah! The new girl from Africa. What's your first class?"
"Geography with Miss.."
"Miss Harris," she filled. "Follow me."
I did exactly as told and followed Mrs. Tisdale. She was a stern looking woman with a built body and light skin complexion.
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"Good morning," Mrs. Tisdale spoke when she entered the classroom. All the students stood until she gestured for them to sit.
"Miss. Harris, this is Blossom Wright. She's a new student this senior year and she'll be joining your class," she said to the teacher and left with me standing there feeling more vulnerable than ever.
"Hello Blossom and welcome to Geography. You can have a seat next to Sophia. Sophia is in the first row on the right," Miss. Harris told me.
I put on a smile. I felt comfortable. Miss. Harris seemed nice and she pointed to a girl with similar skin complexion like mine. I quickly sat next to her and pulled out my textbook to catch up.
"Who can tell me the names of the Seven major bodies of water found in the world?" Miss. Harris asked.
"Malibu Beach!" someone shouted from the back and the class laughed. I joined in the laugh to feel included.
"No Zac," Miss. Harris said. Then her eyes fell on me. "Blossom, do you know?"
I knew but I didn't want to show up myself on the first day.
"Y...not really," I answered.
"If you know the answer, it would be wise to speak up," Sophia whispered.
"The Gulf Of Mexico. The Caribbean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea. The Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic and Indian Oceans," I spoke up.
"Excellent," Miss. Harris complimented and wrote my answers on the chalk board.
"Now, we're going to in pairs. You'll pair up with the person sitting next to you and you have exactly twenty minutes to choose any one of the major body of waters and find out as much about it as possible in terms of geography.
For instance, what lies beneath? Any underwater volcanoes? Have a tsunami ever occurred? Have a hurricane ever formed? Let's make it exciting with a topic as well. Understood?"
"Yes Miss. Harris," the class answered and we got to work.
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"Which should we pick?" I asked Sophia. She was very pretty with black hair and brown eyes that matched her skin tone.
"The Atlantic. It got more activities such as Hurricanes every year. We can call it, 'Birthplace of The Winds.' We can research the hurricanes, the strengths and which countries were affected."
"Sounds good." We set to work and within the next twenty minutes, we had two file pages of information.
The bell rang shortly after and Sophia disappeared before I could even ask to be her friend. I pulled out my class schedule for my next class.
English Literature with Mr. James. Room 102.
I set to find room 102 and again, I was lost. Why there wasn't a tour guide person to take new students to their classes?
At last, I found it and quickly walked in. The door slammed after me, alerting everyone of my entrance. I froze. The room fell silent and everyone stared once again.
"Who are you?" Mr. James asked.
"Bloom.. Blossom," I said, feeling as if all the blood was draining from my body.
"Well Bloom Blossom, welcome to English Lit. I'm Mr. James and you're late. Have a seat wherever there's a free seat."
"Yes sir." I found a seat next to a guy this time, but oddly, he had his head on his desk and covered up with a grey hoodie so I couldn't get a good look at him.
Mr. James had the class do work from the textbook. There was a paragraph filled with errors and it was our job to correct it. It took the whole period to do so.
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Finally, it was lunchtime and I was dreadfully hungry. I ran into the washroom to do my business before heading to the cafeteria.
I took my place in the line and selected the food most appealing to the eyes. To drink, I had a juice box and I made my way over to a table but was cut short by the same girl who shoved me into my locker this morning, only this time, instead of our school uniform, she was wearing a cheerleader outfit.
"Remember me?" she asked with a smirk. She then took my juice box and squeezed the content all over my food, ruining it.
"Don't ever mess with us," the other said and I watched them leave and sat down at a table with a group of guys.
Tears caught in my eyes as my stomach rumbled. I joined the long line again and picked the unappealing food since the yummy ones were all gone now.
At the end, I had to rush into the bathroom again because the food wasn't settling right.
Blossom's POVAfter doing my business, I had a sight pain in my stomach as I made my way to the sink to wash my hands."That was ugly back there," a voice spoke. I turned and saw Sophia."Oh hey. Yes. It really was." I turned on the tap, wet my hands and caught soap from the dispenser. I washed off my hands and toweled them off."To make it here this senior year, you should know a few things around here. Come on, I'll show you." She ushered me out the bathroom and we walked back into the cafeteria and I sat down with her and another girl."This is Nina. Nina, meet Blossom. She's new and she's from Africa," Sophia introduced."Really, which country in Africa?" Nina asked."Ghana," I answered."That's awesome," Nina replied with a smile and although it was hard to tell, I caught her dimple on the left side of her cheek. She was very pretty overall. She had dark brown wavy hair that ran all
Jevan's POV"Did you miss me, baby?" Brooke asked when she eagerly came into my arms."Hmmm," I sounded as I looked her in the face. She lowered her head to mine and our lips collided with a passionate kiss.Brooke and I were hitting a rough path in our relationship. Her possessive side was getting out of control and now, both my parents were of concern. But Brooke wasn't the type of person who'll let go of me so easily all because 'It's for the best'. And to top it off, she knew how to charm her way to me when she sensed I was trying to push her away gradually.I watched her leave the cafeteria with her friends then my eyes fell on someone new. Someone I've never seen before. She was sitting across the cafeteria with two of my fellow seniors, Nina and Sophia.The new girl was staring right back at me. Her dark brown eyes were like rich chocolate and her complexion matched them. Her kinky hair was in the highest p
Blossom's POV"How was your first day?" my mother asked as I walked into the kitchen and found her cooking at the stove."It was fine," I answered."You made any friends?""Yes. With two girls and...." I paused when I remembered her warning me to stay away from boys."And?" she asked."And they're super nice.""What are you their names?""Sophia and Nina.""Okay. I'm happy you're already adjusting here. I'll be starting the new job tomorrow so when you get home from school, I wouldn't be here. Lock all the doors and windows and don't open for anyone but me.Do you understand me, Blossom?""Yes mama," I answered."Good. The food is almost ready. Get freshen up.""Okay."_______________The very next day at school, I ran into Nina and Sophia in the hallway. We walked together to our locker."Guys, I got this new l
Blossom's POVAfter school the next day, it was my first cheerleading practice. Mrs. Tisdale ushered me into the gymnasium where the others were gathered and already doing cartwheels and poses."Brooke! Meet the newest member of the squad," Mrs. Tisdale cut right to the chase then she turned on her heel, leaving me to the pact of wolves."Well.. well.. well, look at what the cat dragged in," Brooke gnarled as she approached me, "You're not going to make this squad because it's only for the best of the best but I'm interested in seeing what you can do. Cartwheel and Toe-Touch!" she finished.I immediately did a cartwheel and finished with the perfect toe-touch.Brooke smirked and I spent the rest of the practice doing hand springs and cartwheels until I couldn't feel my hands anymore. It was torture."That's it," I spoke when at last, I couldn't bare it anymore."Everyone, what's the motto?" Brooke as
Blossom's POV"YOU ALMOST KISSED JEVAN HOLLEN?" both Nina and Sophia asked at the same time when I told them about Jevan's rescue last Friday night after the game.It was now Monday and we were heading to our last class before lunch.As we rounded the corner, books in hands, I walked into a wall.. Or at least I thought it was a wall.I stumbled backwards, books spilling from my arms as I almost hit the floor. I was caught just in the nick of time and stabled back to my feet."Damn. I'm so sorry. I'm rushing to practice and I didn't see you. Are you okay?""I bet she is now," Nina answered in her usual teasing manner. Sophia giggled softly besides her before turning her head to avert her eyes."It's... It's.. Okay," I stuttered. There was a lingering electricity on my arm where he had caught me. My heart raced around in my chest that I thought it would move to another part of my body."Let
Blossom's POV"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FOREHEAD?" my mother's concerned voice rang out when I entered the house and met her in the small living room."I tripped and fell on a stair case in the school," I lied. I had never lied to my mother before but I couldn't tell her that I was beaten up by my head cheerleader for being too friendly with her boyfriend. After all, my mother did warned me to stay away from boys."Are you going to be okay?" She asked again."Yes. I already saw the school nurse and she said it was just a slight cut. It wouldn't scar or anything.""Okay. Well, I'm off to work now. Lock the doors as usual and don't answer it to anyone. I felt food in the oven."I watched as she walked down the pathway, crossed and street and fetched a bus to her night-shift job. I felt vulnerable all over again as the images flashed back to what Brooke had her friends do to me.My tiny frame was pushed in every direction, with p
Jevan's POVThe next morning, before I left for school, I joined my family for breakfast.Jada was being her usual talkative self while everyone else listened while stuffing their faces."Good morning," I greeted and sat down next to my father."Good morning," everyone responded."And it came out of nowhere. I was so scared at first, but then I wasn't anymore when I saw that it was the cutest bunny ever. His eyes were red but his fur was white," Jada went on."Hey, mom, dad, is it okay if I invite someone over this weekend?" I asked my parents as an idea sparked in my head."Who?" Jada asked me."None of your business," I responded, "I was speaking to mom and dad.""You're so mean!""And you're always prying into someone's business!""Okay! That's enough. Jada, Jevan, mind your table manners," my father cut in and put a stop to it."So
Blossom's POV"Where were you?" my mother asked and she approached me."Mama, I'm so sorry. I..I.. I.""Stop with the stuttering and speak up!" she bolted out.I swallowed. "I was with my friend.""So, Blossom, you're now your own woman to be disobeying me, lying to me and hanging out with guys.""Mom, I'm sorry," I sincerely apologised. There were tears in my eyes and to my great surprise, my mother pulled me into her arms and comforted me."It's okay, baby. Maybe I'm being too hard on you. We've moved here to create a new life for ourselves and you're growing up to become a woman.One day, whether I like it or not, you'll have a husband and kids."We laughed together."But I want to meet him. Your friend. What was his name again?""Jevan," I answered."Okay. I want to meet this Jevan. Go rest now. I'll make us some dinner.""I wan