My name is Juliet Kowalska and I'm 13 years old. I was born in Warsaw, Poland but two years later I moved to Ireland. I lived there for 7 years and then I travelled back to Warsaw to live there for 4 years.
Now I live in London and tomorrow is my first day of school. I will be heading to year 9 and I'm a bit worried. As a shy girl I'm worried that I might end up being lonely. Everybody in my class will know each other by now, so I will need to do my best to get to know anyone. And that's not the easiest thing to do. I'd rather be stuck in a cage with lions then getting to know some random people.
***
I woke up at 6:45 am, It's Wednesday the 16th of September. I just got a place in the local school, the school year already started a week ago. I got out of bed took a quick shower and put on my new school uniform. I don't know what to think of it, I had knee high black socks and a black skirt that didn't reach my knees no matter how hard I tried. I also wore a white shirt and a black jumper with no sleeves. There were no ties which I was grateful about because I don't know how to tie a tie.I went downstairs and into the dinning room while putting my hair up in a messy bun. My mother already sat at the table going through her newspaper and drinking coffee. My dad has already went to work.
"Good Morning Julia" said my mom whilst looking up at me with a smile on her face.
"Morning" I answered back while going over to the kitchen and taking out a bowl and some cereal.
I placed some cereal into the bowl before pouring over them with some cold milk. I took my bowl to the dinning table and sat in front of my mother. I started to eat.
"Are you ready?" She asked
I nodded.
"Good, do you know which bus you should take?" She asked and I nodded again.
Since we only just moved here 2 weeks ago my parents still didn't buy a car so I was left to take my first ever journey to school by bus and I wasn't even sure where my school was.
"When you arrive at school go straight to reception and they will pair you up with someone to show you around school." My mom said whilst glancing at the clock. "You should get going now school starts in an hour and it will take you forty minutes to get to school with the traffic and giving the fact that we live so far away from your school."
"I know Mother" I told whilst finishing my cereal and I went upstairs to get my stuff and brush my teeth.
When I got back downstairs my mum was already waiting for me.
"Have a nice day sweet heart" She gave me a hug before I left and went to the bus stop.
***
I arrived at school at 8:10. I saw many children walk through the main gates and I was trying to see if I could make a prediction of who is in my year. As I walked through the main gates I could feel all eyes on me. I pushed the thought back by telling myself they couldn't possibly know that I'm new. I went to the schools reception, it was a small little space with just a one big desk on the side and then a big door that led to the main school building."Can I help you?" Asked the receptionist as I entered
"Ummm... yes" I said in a quiet voice.
I don't like talking to strangers, it makes me feel really anxious. I had to try my best however. I'm the only person I can depend on to survive this day.
"What do you need?" The receptionist gave me a warm smile which made me feel a bit more comfortable.
"I'm new and this is my first day here." I answered
"What's your name dear?" Asked the receptionist.
"Juliet Kowalska" I replied
"Very well..." She typed something in to her computer and then opened her draw and took out some files. She went through them until she found the one she was looking for and handed it over to me.
"This is your timetable, the bold lines represent break and lunch time. You have first the two lessons in a row then 20 minutes of break then another one hour lesson and thirty minutes of form time. After that you have 40 minutes of lunch time and then another two lessons in a row." She explained and then looked at me to see if I understood everything.
"Uh-huh" I said and gave a quick nod.
I took the timetable and looked at it. It looked like I have science first. I studied the rest of my timetable until the door opened and a teacher entered.
"Mrs Steele" said the receptionist before turning to me "Miss Steele will be your form tutor, Juliet"
"Hello Juliet, I'm Mrs Steele now if you follow me and I will show you to your buddy who will show you around the school." She turned towards the door and opened it for me.
I walked with her for some time until we arrived at a place where a group of girls sat laughing.
"Jenna" said Mrs Steele and a girl with brown her looked up. "would you come here for a second?"
The girl stood up, she was a about a head shorter than me and she wore way too much makeup. I looked at her friends, I realised all of them did. I suddenly felt really uneasy, I didn't have any makeup on which made me look like the odd one out. Truth be told I didn't know anything about makeup, I only knew stuff like mascara and lipstick. Jenna walked over to Mrs Steele and me, she looked me up and down before turning to Mrs Steele.
"What is it Mrs?" She asked
"This is Juliet Kowalska, she's new and I was hoping you would show her around."
Jenna looked at me and I gave her a small smile. She looked me up and down again this time more carefully. I felt as if she was judging me, like trying to see if I would fit in with her and her friends. After some time she turned back to Mrs Steele.
"Sure I can show her around"
"Thank you Jenna, I will see you two during form time then" And with those words Mrs Steele left.
"So your name is Juliet is that right?" Jenna spoke to me for the first time
"Yes it is" I replied shortly
"What should we call you for short? Juliet is just too formal"
"Umm.. Call me Julia" I said.
"Right... wait here I'll be right back" Jenna said and she left to her group of friends.
She walked over to her friends and whispered something to them. I noticed the girls glance towards me and they laughed. I held my breath, I don't like the way they make me feel... Unworthy. Jenna returned with her bag over her shoulder.
"What's your first lesson?" She asked.
"Science" I replied while looking at the ground.
"Good, we have the same lessons come on let's go" She said before heading off towards a stair case.
I trotted after her. We didn't say a thing to each other before she finally spoke.
"You have a really nice figure and I love your hair"
I looked up unsure of what to make out from the compliment.
"Thanks" I said slowly and gave her a small smile.
"I was talking with my friends" She carried on "We decided to let you join our group unless you let us give you a makeover."
I felt hot blood pulse through my veins. What she just said made me feel angry. I couldn't believe that I could only be accepted if I wore makeup. I wanted to tell her what I thought of that but then I started to wonder. If everyone here is like this then should I agree, just to get some friends.
"I'll think about it" I said quietly
"Well hurry up then" She gave a brief laugh.
I didn't quite know what to think of that laugh. But what I assumed was never good so I'd rather not say what I thought of it.... but between you and me I thought it was fake.
I turned a corner and that was when I saw a group of guys under a classroom door. It wasn't long until I realised they stood under the class where I was supposed to have science. And they were probably in my class.
"Oi! Jenna!" Called out a guy "Where are your friends?"
The rest of the boys laughed as if it was some witty comment that deserved attention. I turned to look at Jenna. She just stood there with her normal face and ignored them. She turned towards me in a way that would normally look like girly gossip but it wasn't. I could see what she was playing at, she was shifting their attention towards me and it worked.
"Oi! You!" Said a guy and I gave him a look that said 'you talking to me'
"Yes you new girl!" The boys laughed again as expected.I rolled my eyes before facing Jenna. She looked rather entertained for no real reason.
"Yo Jenna! Who's the new girl?"
"Her name is Julia, Chris" said Jenna with a hint of annoyance.
"She cute" said the boy named Chris.
I felt a bit uncomfortable. I noticed that dude didn't pay much attention to proper grammar. Maybe that's why he seemed like the leader of the group.
"Uhhh no, you must be joking!" Said one of the guys to Chris.
"Of course I'm joking bruh! What!? Did you think I was serious Dennis?"
"Of course not, she's ugly! Why would you be interested in someone like her!" Dennis emphasised the last word in a way no guy ever could.
I turned towards him and glared. I couldn't help but notice that he was probably one of the guys who stood out the most to me. Even their so called 'Leader' was nothing more but another boy. All I saw now was Dennis and only Dennis. Never have I ever been insulted in such a undirect way.