First Lunch

As if being a freshman wasn't hard enough, Alexis had to start school after moving just a week before.  Because of her father's job, her entire family had made the long trip from New Mexico to Wisconsin.  This meant that Alexis was going to know no one at her school.  She was nervous about her classes, but she knew that she at least could sit silently and listen to the teacher talking.  She was most worried about her first lunch.  Alexis had always been a very shy, awkward, and lanky girl.  At her old school, it had taken her years to warm up to all of the kids in her grade.  She had finally had a couple best friends when her dad told her about the move. She cried for months, but when August 20th came she packed up the car and drove the 20 hours to Wisconsin.

After a week of unpacking, it was time for Alexis to go school.  She picked out her first day of school out fit, which consisted of a new tank top and shorts (a bribe for the move) and got on the bus.  When she got to school she received her schedule and saw that lunch was her first class.  Even though she was not sure if she would talk to kids in her classes, she had secretly hoped that some girl would try to talk to her knowing that she was the new girl adn they could sit together.  So after a very stressful homeroom, Alexis made her way towards the cafeteria.

After Alexis got a stale bagel, a brown banana, and some delicious tator tots she got an ice cold chocolate milk and turned to where the students were sitting.  On the right she saw fancy booth looking tables.  She saw an open table in the corner so she tried to make her way towards the blue booth only made for two people.  As she entered the cut off section, a couple of larger football players ran right into her screaming "Seniors only...Stupid Freshman."  Alexis had never been so embarassed in her entire life.  As she looked into teh section again she now saw that not only were all of the students staring at her but they were all broken into their cliques...one table was obviously the play kids, then there were the jocks and the sluts, and then the nerds.  Alexis felt so stupid for not realizing that these kids obviously knew each other. 

When Alexis was finally able to feel her legs again, she tried to go right next to the booths.  She decided that it might be smart if she observed the people before she sat, but she didnt want anyone to think she was staring at them.  She decided to go next to the tables where she could get some ketchup and just pretend she was going to use it on her potatoes.  As she pumped the ketchup Alexis observed the second section of tables.  She saw the same cliques that she had seen in the senior section only younger looking.  She didn't know if they were Sophomores or Juniors, but she knew they were not Freshman. Then, while she was still looking at the tables she heard a girl's voice behind her, "Do you think you have enough ketchup?"  Alexis looked down to realize that she had poured too much ketchup and it had fallen right over the sides of the cup in her hands and was now pouring down her arm.  She turned around to face the girl and could feel how red and hot her cheeks were.  Then she realized that the girl was 4 foot 8 and had huge curly brown hair.  She was wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, and docs.  The girls friendly eyes and big smile somehow made Alexis feel more comfortable in the situation.  "Trying to figure out the cafeteria? Are you a Freshman?" said the girl.  Alexis just looked at her.  Finally, she replied "yes and yes. I'm so confused."  The girl smiled again. "I'm a Freshman, too. My name's Lucy. You can come sit with me if you want.  My sister is a senior here and she told me where the Freshman are supposed to sit."  Alexis finally felt relief. "That would be so great. My name's Alexis." Luct replied "Here. Follow me!" 

When Lucy walked Alexis over the Freshman section (the complete opposite side of the cafeteria), Alexis was introduced to two girls named Holly and Mary.  They were from Lucy's middle school and were very friendly to Alexis.  Looking back, Alexis is still embarrassed when Lucy brings up the ketchup incident, but now that Lucy, Holly, and Mary were her best friends and she sat with them everyday at lunch, she could see how it was funny and she now appreciated it because if she had not made embarrasing accidents she would have never asked to sit these girls who are now such important parts of her life.