Counter~

The bell rings and I get up, neatly repacking what's left of my lunch. Other than my unfortunate sandwich, I've barely touched anything else. I check my schedule. Next subject is English. Maybe it won't be too bad.

I make my way to the classroom and sit down at an empty desk in the middle of the room. I didn't get too lost, so I'm one of the first people there. Slowly, the rest of the class files in and claims their seats. The bell rings and the teacher introduces herself.

Suddenly, the door flies open with a bang and an AE runs inside.

"Sorry I'm late! Got a bit lost and I had to get peanut butter out of my hair," she chirps, plunking down in the last empty seat, which happens to be directly in front of mine. Wait. Peanut butter? Oh, no. I pray she doesn't notice me. 

The teacher nods, showing her appology was accepted, and continues. The girl does a one-eighty in her desk, checking who's in her class. When she gets to me, she freezes and her smile vanishes.

"You again! Seriously?!" she announces way too loudly, rolling her eyes. The teacher turns, raising an eyebrow. Silently, I motion for her to turn around.

"What's that supposed to mean? Why do you keep wiggling your fingers at me? Whatever. Anyway, you better apologize to me right now for making me late because I was getting your dumb sandwich out of my hair!"

"Just... turn around," I anxiously whisper. The teacher is starting to walk towards her.

"I said appologize!" The teacher is now standing directly behind her. 

"Jammira!" the teacher shouts, slapping her hand loudly on the girl's desk, "Please turn around now. I'm trying to teach and you are being extremely rude." The girl, Jammira, turns around. "Thank you. I'm sure you wouldn't want to start off the year on the wrong foot, now would you, Miss Jammira?" the teacher starts to walk away.

"But, Miss! He was talking, too!" Jammira points at me. I shrink low in my seat.

"Your point being?"

"Well, he should get in trouble, too."

"My dear, you aren't in trouble. I'm simply correcting your behavior."

"Well, you ought to correct his, too! He did the same thing as me!" 

"Miss Jammira, I am finished with this conversation. Please focus on class now," the teacher turns her back on Jammira and walks up to the front of the room.

"This is all your fault," Jammira hisses, glaring at me before spinning around to face the teacher.

I sigh and attempt to pay attention, but my eyes keep drifting back to Jammira's curly red bun, where a chunk of peanut butter still lurks. I consider getting it out for her, but angrily tell myself to focus. Yet my eyes continue to go to her, like an iron filing to a magnet. It almost feels like a physical force making me look at her. It's probably because... because I feel bad that my sandwich landed on her. That's definatly it.

Ugh. I forgot about this. And now everyody else is way into it, and I really don't think I can keep up....

Sorry. I'm pulling my Æs out.

I wish I had more time for RPs.... 

Counter~

Recess. Break. Whatever it is, I'm glad it's here. I might finally find a nice, quiet place where I can read or do homework or something. The AEs are shepherded outside by exasperated teachers, the school door bangs shut, and mayhem proceeds.

I find myself mixed in with most of the calmer AEs. At the urge of a slightly transparent girl called Shifting, we get to the jungle gym and start barracading ourselves inside. Once the barracade is finished and the other AEs are occupied in attempting to create a battering ram I settle down with a book and try not to catch anyone's attention.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a girl walking towards me. Uh-oh. I try to focus on my book, but it's hard to do that when she sits down right next to me. I glance sideways at her apprehensively. She makes eye contact with me and smiles. I cautiously smile back. When she doesn't make any move to converse I look back down at my book. I am certainly not going to start another conversation. One is enough for a day.

"Good job throwing that sandwich," she blurts out suddenly. Startled, I look up.

"Huh? Oh! That- that was an accident. I really didn't mean to, y'know, throw it at someone," my face goes a bit red and I look away. Is this how I'll be known for the rest of the year? The Kid Who Hit Jammira On The Head With A Sandwich The First Day Of School? Great. Maybe it's not too late to transfer schools.

The girl ignores my discomfort and plows on, "Really? An accident? You landed it so perfectly I thought it must be on purpose! Well, either way, I like peanut butter and mustard, too! Isn't that a coincidence? I've never met anyone else who eats peanut butter and mustard sandwiches! Sapphire thinks it's discusting, but I like it! I'm Gem, by the way."

"It wasn't peanut butter and mustard! It was peanut butter and honey," I manage to put in while she pauses for air. How in the world does she talk like that, without breathing for so long?

"Oh, is that right? Sorry, Jammira yelled that it was mustard," she chuckles, "I guess it's hard to tell when it's dripping down your face. Oh well, we can still be friends, right? Even if we don't both like the same type of sandwich?" She smiles encouragingly.

"Of- of course we can. My name's Counter," I manage to say. I realize that I actually do mean it. I'm starting to like this loud, cheerful girl who isn't dissuaded by my shyness. 

"Really? That's great! I love making new friends. That's what school's really all about, right?" 

"I- I suppose so. I think that's why I signed up," I reply. I see her mouth open to respond, but at that moment a super loud "STAND BACK, EVERYONE! HERE I COOOOOOOME!" interupts her. I just have time to register a girl with almost flame-like red hair literally explode the barricade. With fire. I leap up and pull Gem, who was sitting closer to the barricade than I was, out of the way.

"Volcano! You complete imbecile! What were you thinking? I told Somebody not to let you bring explosives to school!" Shifting yells, hurriedly floating away from the flames. Right on cue, the bell rings and recess is officially over. Everyone pours inside to get as far from the smoke as possible.

"Well, that was exciting, to say the least. I didn't think school would be this interesting! I've never been to school before, have you?" Gem asks as we walk into the hallway. She doesn't even wait for a response before asking, "What subject do you have next?"

"Math. How 'bout you?" 

"Oh, I have science. See ya later, Counter!" She bounces away. 

Pseudonym~

Jammira looked incredibly funny with the peanut butter in her hair. But when I mentioned it to Cilantro, she wasn't thrilled. "He could have completely ruined her hair and outfit!" "Cilantro, it was just peanut butter. You have to admit that's funny." "Ugh! You are so-" "Immature?" "I HATE YOU!" She walks over to talk to Jammira.

History is the only thing that gives me any difficulty. We are assigned a 3 page essay about the history of the CB from 2009-2017. Including a list of current threads, longest threads, and most popular threads. All by tomorrow! 

Cilantro~

Jammira doesn't seem too miffed in Art. I go over to talk to her anyway.  

Counter~

I sneak a look at the math teacher, but he's handing out the rubric for the year and not paying any attention to me. I slowly slide a bright green sheet of construction paper out of my bag and lay it on the table, then follow it with some colorful markers. After carefully folding the paper in half I write in large purple block letters on the front: I'M SORRY! 

I decorate the card with flowers and butterflies, ladybugs, and dragonflies. Then I open the card and write in my favorite shade of pumpkin orange:

Jammira-

I'm really sorry I hit you with a peanut butter and honey sandwich. It was an accident. I got startled and threw my sandwich, but I was not aiming for your head. I'm also sorry that the teacher got mad at you in class and not me. You're right, it wasn't fair. I should have gotten in trouble, too.

If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. Thank you.

From, Counter

I close the finished card and slip it into my notebook, then wait for class to finish.

The bell finally rings and I leap up, pull my backpack over my shoulder and set off into the hallway, keeping a sharp lookout for Jammira. At last, I spot her while going towards the art room. She's leaving and her back is to me, but I run and catch up to her.

"Hey, Jammira!" I pant, grabbing the zipper on her bookbag. She spins and accidentally smacks me in the gut with it.

"Wha- oh, sorry! Hey, what do you want? Can't you just leave me alone?" She tries to pull her bag out of my grip, but I shove the card into her hand.

"Here. I made this. I'm sorry," I say, releasing her. She looks down at the card and seems to consider ripping it to peices, but then curiosity gets the better of her. She tucks the card into her pocket and strides off without saying another word. I try to stand on my tip-toes to see if she reads it, but the pull of the crowd whisks me off to art class.