New Life In Shadyside Chapter 1: Moving In
It wasn’t like she hated Shadyside. It was actually pretty cool. It looked like one of those small towns in the movies that you would see. A tight-knit community where everyone knows each other and everyone knows each others drama. For Badriya, She just didn’t want to leave another home again. In Northpond, Driya finally found a friend. More than that, a best friend in Marty. Some who just got who she was. Understood her and her personality. Someone who knew exactly what to say just by the look on her face. Driya didn’t know if she would find that in Shadyside.
As more and more houses started to pass by, Driya pondered what she should do. Should she fight against this move as much as she could. Get bad grades, not make any friends and not sign up for any clubs. Just go through the motions. School, homework, and sleep over and over and over again. An ugly feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of such a dreary life. Driya’s never been that type of person. Despite moving so much, Driya had gotten the hang of adjusting to new environments. She’s seen what her mom’s job demanded of her and she recognized that if her mom had any say they wouldn’t have moved as frequently as they did. That’s why no matter where they moved, Driya made it a point to not make it harder on her mom. To try and make friends, adjust and settle down so her mom didn’t have to worry about her.
As the suns rays hit her face, Driya decide to act on the advice Marty had texted to her that morning to heart,
Shadyside may be a new place but trust me when I say this, Driya. I know you, there is no way you won’t find new life there. I believe in you!
Driya’s mom, Ahaana, took a second to glance at her daughter’s face in the window and saw a smile that hasn’t been there since they left in the wee hours of the morning. Ahaana released the breath she was holding. She anticipated more of a fight about moving away from Northpond, moving away from Badriya’s friend Marty. It lifted weights from her shoulders seeing her daughters smile as they pulled up to their new home in Shadyside.
“MOM WHERE’S MY SUPER SUIT!!” Driya, holding back laughter, yelled down to her mom who was in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Pretty sure I didn’t give birth to a super but if your looking for your lucky boots, there in the hallway closet!” Ahaana yells back, smiling at her daughters antics.
Ahaana continues to fix some food for her kid before she starts her first day of high school. She hears stomps coming down the stairs right as she finishes up. When Driya comes around the corner, shes dancing around in her new outfit for the first day. Driya chose a pair of ripped jeans, a cropped grey hoodie, red timberland's and a faux leather snap back. Her hair was in a ponytail through the back of the hat. Driya took her headphones out and plopped down at the kitchen table.
“Hey mom!” Driya grabs her lunch and drops it in her backpack.
“Hey you look happy. Really like the outfit choice.” Ahaana places a smoothie bowl in front of Driya before grabbing her own and sitting down across from her.
“Well I’m stepping into a new situation. I had to wear my super suit. Marty approved.”
Ahaana nods along. “Ah yes I heard Marty this morning. Doesn’t he have school to attend, like you?”
“Yeah but we just comparing outfits. He wanted my opinion because there is this girl he’s trying to impress back in Northpond.” Driya and Ahaana continue to eat their shared breakfast. Soon enough, Driya finished up, rinsed her bowl and placed it in the sink. She walked over and grabbed her water bottle out of the refrigerator and headed towards the front door. As she was about to walk out, Ahaana calls her name.
“Yeah mom?”
“Remember Pat’s kid is gonna meet you to show you around. Ok?” Ahaana questions.
“Yes, mom, I got it. Can I go? If I don’t leave now, I’m gonna miss the bus.” Her mother opens her arms and gestures to Driya. Driya rolls her eyes before being embraced by her mother.
“I’m still so sorry for moving around again but I’m praying that this is the last time. I am so proud of you. You’re gonna do great.” Ahaana releases Driya and smooths her hat down on her head. Driya smiles up at her mom
“Thanks mom. I’ll text you about how my days going when I get to lunch.” Her mom nods and Driya finally walks out of the door. She gets to the end of the driveway when she turns around. Driya flashes a peace sign to her mom before heading down the sidewalk. Walking toward her bus stop, Driya blasts Champion by Fall Out Boy. Her mind drifts to Marty and how he’s doing. This was a song on their shared playlist. Just then she gets a text. She opens up the messenger app to see a text from Marty. It’s lyrics to the song she was listening to.
You can do this!!
If I can live through this
I can do anything
Driya smiles down at her phone but she doesn’t realize she’s about to bump into someone. Said someone grabs her and the touch startles Driya out of her Fall Out Boy filled bubble. Said person, a boy, had overly gelled hair, a basketball hoodie and really beautiful eyes.
“Sorry about that. You we’re about to bump into me.” He removes his hands from Driya’s shoulders. “Are you new here? Not a lot of kids have this bus stop.”
“Umm Yeah! Yeah I’m new. I just moved to the vacant house down the street. My name’s Driya and you are?” Driya sticks her hand out and the boy takes it with a smile.
“I’m TJ”
Driya and TJ ended up talking on the bus the entire way to school. TJ bragging about his basketball skills and Driya promising to show him up. There was nonstop chatter from both of them as the bus pulled up in the front of the school.
“So do you know what your first class is? Mine is....” TJ voice faded into the background of her mind as they approached the entrance to her new school. It was massive. The front entrance had this open quad area that went down one fight of stairs. Tons of kids were everywhere, hugging old friends, making promises of lunch later, posing for pictures and checking schedules. From the outside, Jefferson High’s building was in the shape of a T. The view of the school made everything real again. The move, leaving Marty, starting over. All of a sudden, the emotions and anxiety Driya was facing were pushed back into the forefront of her mind. Driya took several deep breaths before she heard TJ calling her name.
“Driya. Driya!!” TJ shook her.
“H huh, What’s up?” Dryia stopped walking and took a second to reacquaint herself to reality again.
“You spaced out. You ok?” The two starting walking toward the entrance again albeit at a slower pace.
“I’m fine. It just the reality of starting at a new school and trying to make new friends just hit me like a tidal wave. It basically took me a year to make the one friend I have that goes to my old school. How long will it be here before I make more?” Dryia stopped at the top of the staircase. Dryia looked around and saw the ton of strange, unknown faces running and walking around TJ and her.
“Well, You wont have to wait long.” TJ sticks out his hand with a smile. “Hi I’m TJ, your new best friend. You can tell your old friend, they’ve been replaced.” Dryia laughs before shaking his hand. TJ wraps his arm around her shoulders and they begin their descent to the front of the school where two girls and a guy are talking.
“Are you sure I look ok?” Cyrus asked once again while gesturing to his outfit. Both Andi and Buffy rolled their eyes before Andi speaks up.
“For the FIFTEENTH TIME, yes you look great. TJ is gonna love it.” Andi brings out her phone seeing a text from Jonah on the screen. ”Jonah said his bus is running a little late so we have a little more time to wait on...ah Dryia right?”
“Yeah that’s her name but I haven’t spotted her yet. My mom told me that she’ll be wearing a hat and her hair is dyed.” Buffy continues to search around the quad.
“OOO what’s her hair look like? I’ve been thinking about letting Bex dye my hair.” Andi moves closer to Buffy as fellow GHC member pulls up the picture on her phone.
“Oh My God its GORGEOUS!!” Andi exclaims.
Cyrus crowds around Buffy’s other side to see the picture. Said picture of Badriya is recent. Driya is posing, blowing a kiss to the camera, with her hair held in a ponytail by her hand. Her straight black hair was as long as a waterfall on the back of her head. The tips of Dirya’s hair were dyed in cascading colors, from dark green to blue to sliver on the very edge.
“Uh love it!! But it looks like a ton to manage. I have a hard enough time with the inch I have already.” Both girls laugh at Cyrus when he notices something out of the corner of his eye. His eyebrows lifted.
“Hey guys, Isn’t that TJ?” Cyrus points to the top of the stairs that TJ was walking down with an unknown girl. She had on ripped, black skinny jeans, A cropped grey hoodie, red boots and a snap back. Cyrus, Andi and Buffy’s heads all tilted to the side at the same time staring at the strange pair. TJ saw the group staring and waved with a smile.
“Umm We all have it confirmed that TJ only has one sister right. That sister is Amber Kippen. So if he has one sister, who is that.” Cyrus and the girls continue to stare at them as TJ and this new girl inch closer and closer to them.
“Hey guys, How was your summer?” TJ wraps Cyrus in a one sided hug that Cyrus didnt respond to. All of the GHC’s attention was on the girl standing on TJ right side.
“Dude you saw us yesterday. Matter of fact, you spent most of the summer with us!” Buffy gave a befuddled look.
“Alright Driscoll, the question just felt appropriate to the situation. No need for the hostility.” TJ adjusted his backpack.
“Soo TJ, after that failed attempt at small talk, Who is this?” Andi glances over at the girl with her eyes.
“OH Yeah! So guys this is Badriya. She just moved on my block and is starting school here.” TJ introduces Driya but She only gives a wave.
“Wait your name is Badriya? You wouldn’t be happen to be looking for a girl named Buffy right?” Andi remarks.
“Hmm.” Driya clears her throat. “Yeah I am. Do you know her?” Driya asks.
“She does. Hi, I’m Buffy.” Buffy sticks her hand out. Driya gives a look of surprise.
“OMG I’m am so sorry for not recognizing you. Hi, its nice to meet you. Your mom, Pat really talked you up to my mom.” Driya shakes her hand.
“That sounds like my mom. So, these are my friends Andi and Cyrus.” Both give Driya a wave which she returns in kind. “We were gonna wait for our other friend, Jonah but he’s running late and we should probably head in for the festivities.” Buffy waggles her eyebrows.
“Festivities?” Driya looks confused.
“Yeah, the first day of school at Jefferson is usually a soft open kind of day. The students get to come in and traverse the school. Next, we all get called in to an assembly where the principal gives a speech and any announcements. Then, everyone goes to all their classes, including clubs, for twenty minutes each. After all that, we all go home.” Cyrus explains.
“Wow that’s super cool. They didn’t have any of this at my old school.” Driya utters.
Andi checks the time and throws her hands in the air in exasperation. “Jonah’s bus is taking to long. He can catch up with us when he gets here. Lets head in.” As the group moves into the school. Andi grabs Driya’s elbow and entangles it with her arm.
“So how did you choose those colors for your hair? They are gorgeous!” Andi asks and Driya launches into a explanation. Suddenly, all the apprehension she felt walking up to the school faded away. It looked like this new school was gonna be a good fit for Driya.
