Sparrow

By R.A. Krauszer

Sparrow made her way through the busy halls of Trinity High School. It was the first day of her senior year at a brand-new school. She hated being the new girl; it had happened too many times. Sparrow didn't want to leave her last, but her mom insisted she needed a change after another bad breakup. So here she was, walking the halls of another new school, trying to memorize a map of where all her classes were.

 

And so it begins....

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.A. Krauszer
• Release date: Mar 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215022412

R.A. Krauszer

Mom to children and furbabies. Wife to an awesome, supportive husband. Crafter, beader, almost all the things. I have always wanted to publish a book...I have done that....now I have the bug and want to do it more. So many ideas, so little time. Love to meet new people. Love to learn new things. Love to create. I am an open book....pun intended...you have questions, please ask :)

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CHAPTER 1

Sparrow

Sparrow made her way through the busy halls of Trinity High School. It was the first day of her senior year at a brand-new school. She hated being the new girl, it had happened too many times. Sparrow didn’t even want to leave her last school, but her mom insisted she needed a change after yet another bad break up. So here she was, walking the halls of another new school, trying to memorize a map of where all her classes were. The only good thing was she hadn’t been noticed by anyone yet. She may just make it through her first day without the new girl nicknames.

Sparrow weaved around students at lockers grabbing books or talking to friends. She finally found her first  period History class. The class was already fairly full, with only a few empty seats. Walking toward the teacher’s desk, she ignored the whispers that began when she entered. Maybe she wouldn’t be so lucky.

You must be Sparrow Lawson. Find an empty seat, the teacher told her, not even looking at the slip she gave him.

Finding the first empty seat that was close, she sat down trying to ignore the whispers and stares. Sparrow listened as the teacher discussed what they would be studying over the school year as he passed out history books to everyone.

So nice of you to join us, Mr. Bennett, the teacher scolded when a guy entered ten minutes after the bell rang. Find a seat quickly. We have a lot to go over and little time to do so.

He sat in the seat behind Sparrow, much to the cheerleader’s annoyance two rows over. Sparrow couldn’t help the giggle that escaped at the girl’s annoyance. Who cares where people sat?

What’s so funny? the cheerleader hissed.

Just the sound of desperation, Sparrow sassed.

What’s that supposed to mean? the cheerleader snapped.

Enough, Veronica. I am trying to teach a class, the teacher scolded.

Whatever Mr. V. Tell the new girl to mind her own business, Veronica said.

Are you finished? he glared at her.

She started it, Veronica whined.

Sparrow couldn’t help but giggle again. This Veronica girl was definitely the center of attention type. They were not going to be getting along, she knew that already. The teacher decided the best option was to just ignore Veronica’s outburst and continue going over the syllabus.

Sparrow went back to taking notes about important dates for assignments, ignoring the whispers that were still circulating through the class. She knew they would only get worse as the day progressed.

As soon as the bell rang, Sparrow began packing her things up. She took her time, hoping that Veronica and the other cheer bitches would be gone. She really didn’t want to deal with them, even if she knew it was impossible to avoid them. She would do her best.

Sparrow checked her schedule. English Lit was her next class and if she was correct, it was only a couple doors over and across the hall.

You need to leave him alone, Veronica hissed when Sparrow exited the class.

What are you talking about, cheerbitch? Sparrow hissed, rolling her eyes at the drama.

Kingston, of course. He’s mine, she told her.

And that is who? Sparrow asked, even though she knew who she was referring to.

He sat behind you since he was late to class, Veronica explained snidely.

Sparrow rolled her eyes and walked away. She didn’t have time for this drama. Making her way to her English Lit class, Veronica was still yelling down the hall for her to stay away from him. Sparrow walked toward the teacher’s desk and handed her the slip.

Take a seat anywhere Sparrow. I don’t do assigned seating, unless issues arise, Mrs. Patterson told her sweetly after handing her back the slip.

Sparrow sat in the first seat of the furthest row from the door. She had learned over the years of switching schools, that if she went straight to the back row and tried to blend in, then she was called on more often. Her book was on her desk, just as all the other desks in the room. Pulling out her notebook and a pen, she was ready to take notes and pay attention to class. Hopefully, there were no cheerbitches in the class with her.

The class began to fill up as it came close to start. She discreetly watched the door as people entered, praying there was no drama this class. A few students entered just as the bell rang announcing the beginning of class. She was grateful she didn’t see Veronica or any of her minions.

Mrs. Patterson began passing out the syllabus for the class. She was discussing her expectations during the class when the door was opened, distracting everyone.

Your late, Mr. Bennett. I hope you don’t make this a habit. Find a seat, Mrs. Patterson told him.

Sparrow kept her head down, silently reading ahead on the syllabus, highlighting important information. Kingston sat in the seat next to her, not saying anything. She discreetly looked around trying to see if there were other desks available, but she didn’t see any. She didn’t need Veronica hearing about this and giving her more grief.

Sparrow was surprised when the bell rang to dismiss the class. It had gone by so quickly. Looking at her schedule she realized she had P.E. Making her way to the girl’s locker room, Sparrow couldn’t but roll her eyes at seeing Veronica in there already.

She changed into her gym clothes quickly and disappeared before Veronica could notice her. Sparrow followed the group of girls that had left the locker room right before her. Everyone seemed to be meeting in the bleachers. Sitting on the first set of bleachers, she watched as Veronica entered and climbed to the top of the bleachers. Several of her minions following suit. At least she hadn’t noticed her, she really didn’t want to get into it with her in front of all these people.

Sparrow watched as the four teachers sat at a table they had placed in the middle of the floor. They explained that over the course of the school year, they would be breaking up into four groups. Each group would be doing different things, and they would alternate throughout the different options. The current options were soccer, running, volleyball, or field hockey for girls and football for boys. It took the entire class period to make it through all the students and their choices. When they were dismissed a few minutes before the bell to go change back into regular clothes, she made it quickly to the locker room. She was happy with her option of running.

Sparrow made her way to her locker so she could drop off books before heading to lunch. So far, the day hadn’t been awful. She didn’t have a ton of homework either.

Entering the cafeteria was strange for her. She could sense everyone’s eyes on her, as if they were all curious about her. Avoiding eye contact with people as she walked by was more difficult than she had expected. Standing in line to get food, seemed to make her more obvious. The whispers were more obvious than in class. Sparrow grabbed a raw veggie and fruit plate for lunch with a water. She didn’t think she could keep down anything heavier.

Making her way to an empty seat outside the cafeteria doors seemed to be her best option. She saw others out there, so she knew she was allowed. She had only been sitting at the table a few minutes when a shadow fell across the table. Taking a deep breath, she looked to the side finding a girl that she recognized from history class.

Do you mind if I sit with you? she asked, giving Sparrow a bright smile.

Sure. Sparrow, but I am sure you knew that from this morning, she giggled.

You have to ignore Veronica and all of them. She thinks that she is better than everyone, the girl explained as she sat in the seat across from Sparrow. I’m Raelyn.

I am not sure what she thinks that I did to her, but whatever it is, she is wrong. I am not interested in her or the other cheerbitches. They can keep their boppy little lives, so not my scene, Sparrow said with a smile.

What class do you have next? Raelyn asked curiously.

Pulling out her schedule, she noticed that she had statistics. I have statistics, she groaned. Math was her worst subject, she just couldn’t grasp it. She already knew that she was going to need a tutor for the class.

Me too. We can walk together, Raelyn told her happily.

Sounds good to me, Sparrow told her.

Don’t look now, but you have an audience, Raelyn said with an eye roll.

Next thing Sparrow knew, a guy had sat in the seat next to her.

Can I help you? she asked, not making eye contact.

I wanted to come see who exactly had Veronica’s hackles up. That’s all, he grinned.

Not you too, damn! Sparrow groaned. I didn’t do anything to the cheerbitch.

Name’s Keegan, he told her, winking.

Sparrow, but I am sure you knew that already, she told him, giving him a small smile.

See you around, he told her as he grabbed a cucumber off her plate.

You know who that was don’t you? Raelyn asked, completely shocked.

Can’t say that I do or that I care, Sparrow laughed. Let me guess football captain?

You nailed it, Raelyn told her with a giggle.

He was just curious because I didn’t bow down to the head cheerbitch, Sparrow was saying as she stood from her seat to dump her tray. The bell for next period was going to ring in just a minute. Raelyn stood and followed.

They made their way toward Statistics in silence. Here we are, Raelyn said as she entered a door at the end of the hall.

She pulled the slip from the pocket of her jeans and handed it to the teacher. Sparrow waited in the front of the class while the teacher looked over her slip. Feeling the curious gazes of students as they entered the class.

Find a seat Sparrow, Mrs. Walters told her. Without a word, Sparrow sat in a seat next to Raelyn. She was not looking forward to this class at all. It couldn’t end fast enough for her. Just as the bell rang, the seat on the other side of her became occupied.

The teacher barely waited for the bell to stop ringing before she began her lecture on the expectations of everyone in the class. She felt something hit her foot, so she leaned down and saw a pen. Picking it up, she went to hand it to who dropped it. She was staring at Kingston Bennett.

Here’s your pen, she said as she handed it to him, not sure what else to say.

Thanks. She gives a ton of notes, he told her in a deep and gravelly voice.

Turning back toward the teacher and her monotone bored voice, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She already wanted to shove an icepick in her ear, so she didn’t have to listen to this teacher. She already knew that the class was going to be a struggle, but having the teacher sound the way she does, it was that much worse.

The classroom door opened, and in walked Veronica. Oh, goody! Veronica’s eyes instantly found Kingston, then Sparrow. Walking straight toward her, Veronica glared, you need to find somewhere else to sit. This is my seat.

That’s funny, I didn’t see cheerbitch written anywhere on it, Sparrow said, looking her straight in the eye.

You can’t talk to me like that, Veronica screeched.

I think I just did. Now if you could find a seat and stop interrupting, I really need to understand what is expected of me in this class, she told her, looking back in the direction of the teacher at the front of the class.

I said move, Veronica yelled. The entire classroom went silent at her screeching to see what she would do next. Even the teacher was watching in disbelief.

There is a seat right over there, Sparrow said, not giving into her fit.

"Veronica take your