Chapter Fourteen

I held into the strap of my back and proceeded toward the teacher's office. The moment I knocked on the closed door, a mature, feminine voice sounded back. "Come in."



I immediately pulled the doorknob and turned it. The door opened with a click and I stepped in. There was a young woman in the room. She seemed to be in her late twenties.



When she saw me walk in, she paused in what she was doing and looked up. Then, she clasped her palms over the table with a focused gaze laid on me.

.

"Hello, dear. How may I help you?" She asked, gesturing for me to take a seat across from her. I reached out as told and pulled out one of the chairs to sit. Then, I settled on it.



"Hello. I'm Chelsea Smith. I am a new student in your class." I introduced myself.



The teacher's face was quick to morph into that of pleasant surprise as she took me in.



She flashed me a wide smile. "You're the new transfer student joining today. I forgot about it."



"Yeah, I am."



The woman pulled back her chair and looked at the time on her wristwatch.



Then, she looked at me before saying, "It's time for the first lecture. Let me take you to class first."



I nodded and stood up too. As I stood by the side, she hurriedly locked up the cabinet of her desk and her laptop. Then, she adjusted her knee-length skirt and looked up at me.



"Follow me," She said. "By the way, you can call me Ms. Adams."



We walked out of the office with me at the front leading and she coming behind me. It turned out the bell had been rung and classes already began. She walked me to the door of the classroom and popped her head in.



Then I heard her call out, "Mr. Richard, I apologize for intruding on your class."



From where I was standing, I could see the figure of a man standing at the podium of the class. He seemed of average height and a little robust. Other than that, I couldn't make out any other sharp images of him as I was standing behind the teacher.



I could also see that the attention of the students in the class had moved to Ms. Adams. They were all staring out the window, wondering what was happening. But, they could not see me since I was behind her.



I did not hear clearly what the man said but Ms. Adams smiled and entered the class. She strode to the podium and stood in front of the class.



Then, she began, "Good morning class. I'll only be taking a few minutes of your time. We have a new student joining us today. Please welcome her amongst you."



The class was quiet for a moment and I could hear countless murmurs from where I was standing outside. They couldn't see me but I could see their reaction.



"Come in." Ms. Adams suddenly called out to me and I was taken abrupt a little.



But, I knew I had to go in and I would have to meet my classmates soon enough.



So, I raised my chin and took a deep breath. I wasn't in NYC any longer. I didn't need to be afraid. No one knew me here and no one would know about my past.



I walked into the class and almost immediately, all the eyes zeroed in on me. They stared at me unbridledly and I could feel heat rise on my skin, due to their stares and murmurs.



I knew I dressed well that day and coupled with my attractive looks, it was what made them stare intensely. Not because they found out my parents were once rich and they were gonna mock me for coming to their school. Or because I couldn't stand the pressure at school and run away from all of it.



'We are not going to start school with being seen as an insecure and helpless idiot who thinks the world sees everything she does, Chelsea. We are not.' I thought to myself.



And so, I found myself walking into the class looking like I just downed a bottle of energy drink. I could tell myself that I looked very confident.



Ms. Adams gestured for me to come to the podium. I stepped on the small steps that led there and stood beside her.



She turned to look at me and said, "Introduce yourself."



I already expected that. So, I looked up at the audience. It was all quiet and everyone was staring at me as though I was the new wolf that just entered the pack..



And, I was also beginning to withdraw into my thought zone, forgetting that there were more than twenty students across me, waiting for me to introduce myself. It had become a part of me recently to get lost in thought.



"Chelsea." Ms. Adams whispered slightly beside my ears, jolting me out of my thoughts.



I flashed her a small smile designed for only teachers. I was not sure if it was a universal thing. But, it did always work on all of the teachers in my previous school as they all felt that I was cute and obedient. I was the teacher's pet back then.



"Hello everyone. Nice to meet you." I muttered, my voice coming out in a rich accent. "My name is Chelsea."



The room was quiet and I could tell they were waiting for me to continue. But, I didn't.



Ms. Adams also looked at me, realizing I wasn't going to continue. She asked, "That's all?"



And, I nodded. "Yeah. That's all."



Thankfully, she did not force me to go on. Nor, did she ask me which school I attended previously as per normal procedures of introduction.



The students seemed flabbergasted by my nonchalant reply. I merely looked at them calmly. They were not getting anything more.



And that was all.