Chapter 26: A New Female Friend

I walked into English class the next day, noticing how the three people I usually sit next to were staring and gazing at me as I sat on the opposite side of the classroom. After I get out my notebook and start scribbling along the white page, a hand comes down on my shoulder, making me jump back in surprise as I look up to see a beautiful African American girl and I realize that it's Ria, the girl who's my partner for

the dance routine that I had gotten the lead for.

"Oh, hey, Ria, what's up?" l ask, looking back down as my pen makes random lines on the paper and I can still feel the stares from the people across the room. My palms start to sweat as the feeling of being watched catches up to me and I have to run my hands down my joggers to get rid of the sticky feeling.

"I was wondering if l could sit with you? I don't have too many friends in this class and since you're sitting alone, I assumed that we could get to know each other since we're dance partners and all" she says to me l