I woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was my first day at a new school.
I got dressed and headed downstairs, where my mom had already prepared breakfast.
"Good luck today, sweetie," she said, giving me a hug. "You'll do great."
I smiled and took a bite of my toast. I was trying to be brave, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty.
As I walked to school with Raya, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the other students. I felt like an outsider, and it was intimidating.
We reached our lockers and began to organize our books and supplies. Raya introduced me to her friends, and they all seemed nice.
But as the bell rang, signaling the start of our first class, I felt my anxiety spike.
What if I didn't make any friends? What if the teachers were mean?
I took a deep breath and followed Raya to our first class, trying to push aside my doubts.
As we walked into the classroom, I noticed a girl staring at me. She was tall and blonde, with a smirk on her face.
"Hey, look at the new girl," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "What's with the outfit? You look like you just rolled out of bed."
I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. Raya noticed and stepped in.
"Hey, leave her alone, Tiffany," she said, her voice firm.
Tiffany raised an eyebrow. "Oh, look who's defending the new girl. How cute."
I felt a surge of anger, but I tried to stay calm.
"It's okay, Raya," I said, smiling. "I can handle myself."
But Tiffany wasn't finished yet.
"By the way, new girl, you might want to invest in some deodorant. You're not exactly smelling like roses."
The classroom fell silent, and I felt my face burn with humiliation.
Raya stood up to Tiffany again, but I just wanted to disappear.
Why did this girl have to be so mean?
I tried to shake off the feeling of embarrassment and focus on the lesson, but it was hard.
As the day went on, I couldn't help but notice Tiffany's snide comments and stares.
I was starting to feel like I didn't belong here.
But then, something unexpected happened.
As we were leaving our last class, Raya turned to me and smiled.
"Hey, don't let Tiffany get to you. She's just jealous."
I raised an eyebrow. "Jealous? Of what?"
Raya leaned in. "You're new, and you're already making friends. Tiffany's always been the queen bee around here, and she doesn't like the competition."
I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Raya.
Thanks to her, I was starting to feel like I might just make it through this day after all.