[COLOR=slategray][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]B R Y N N  R E Y E S[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]First Day of School, Mather Memorial High School[/sup][/INDENT]

To say Brynn was annoyed was a gross understatement—she was positively fuming, not that she let it show. Students passing the brown-haired girl in the halls merely got a clipped smile, and her classmates from last year received waves and hellos. Behind her slightly-annoyed facade, however, laid a girl furious whose plans had gone astray.
 
[color=slategray][i]What does Megan not understand about arriving on time?[/i][/color] Brynn raged internally, a frown making its way onto her face as she thought about the flub of a presentation the council had made at the assembly earlier that morning. [color=slategray][i]And Timothy! Why can’t he just speak up a little? I told him to go practice last week, but did he listen? Why can’t they all just be like Corben? Don’t they understand that they’re dragging the council—[/i][/color]

“Brynn!” a voice called from behind her. Brynn turned around, eyes lighting up when she saw Tavia. 

[color=slategray]“Tavi! You look amazing, as always,”[/color] Brynn said, grinning as she skimmed her eyes over Tavia's chosen outfit. After suffering through their history class together sophomore year, the pair had become good friends. They'd fell out of contact during the summer when when Tavia had gone to a prestigious fashion camp in Paris, but school was in session now and they had plenty of time to catch up. [color=slategray]“What class do you have first? I have history with Matthews.”[/color]

“Same!” Tavia said, matching Brynn’s grin. “Looks like you'll be stuck with me this year as well.”

[color=slategray]“Not the worst thing that could happen,”[/color] Brynn said, laughing. Just then, the second bell beeped to signal the start of first period. The two girls looked at each other with wide eyes before breaking out into a sprint for their classroom. 

[color=slategray][i]Senioritis strikes early, I suppose,[/i][/color] Brynn thought as the history classroom came into sight. Her mind was whirling, searching for an excuse.

[color=slategray]“Hi Mr. Matthews,[/color] Brynn said, offering the bespectacled man a polite smile. [color=slategray]"Tavia and I are a bit late since we had to stay behind and clean up after the assembly. I hope you don't mind."[/color]

[color=slategray][i]One teacher down, six to go,[/i][/color] Brynn thought as the teacher accepted their excuse with a welcoming smile. Absolute trust from teachers was one of the perks of being a star student, and Brynn wasn't shy about using it when she needed to.

Sitting down in a seat in the back, she slid a pen and notebook out of her bag and put on a polite smile, waiting for the class to begin.

[hr]

        Brynn let out a loud sigh as she exited her final classroom, brightening up to wave goodbye to a few friends. The first day was about uninteresting as she’d expected, save for the Environmental Science teacher that’d made them act out a fishing simulation with Goldfish crackers that had expired a few years ago. [i][color=slategray]She could have just had us take notes,[/color][/i] Brynn thought as she slid her unneeded binders into her locker by the front of the school. [i][color=slategray]No need to make us hash it out with spoons and cups[/color][/i]

        Spotting Corben emerging from a nearby English classroom, Brynn called out to him. [color=slategray]“Bye Cory! See you tomorrow!”[/color]

        Corben gave her an ‘Okay’ sign before jogging to catch up with his friends at the front gates. Almost all Brynn’s friends had something planned after school today, from driving to the port to spending a few hours around the mall, but Brynn had opted out after she’d gotten her schedule.

        [i][color=slategray]Since when had Crestwood had mandatory study groups?[/color][/i] Brynn wondered. It was rare that she wasn’t informed about the going-ons about the school, being part of the student council and all, but then again she shouldn’t be surprised. [color=slategray][i]Hopefully this wasn't a [/i]complete[i] waste of time,[/i][/color] Brynn thought, closing her lockers and making her way to the classroom for the “Social Conscious” group listed at the bottom of the letter that had come in the mail.

The room number indicated that it was at the top floor of the main building, which had been largely empty after the music department had gotten their own building a year ago. Brynn opened the door and walked in, offering a smile to the few faces she recognized.[i][color=slategray] So, definitely not an academically-orientated group. Wonder what the school’s thinking, letting the new teacher lead a study group his first day of class,[/color][/i] Brynn thought. She took a seat on the left side of the classroom, near the windows and not too far back. 

Brynn frowned when Mr. Lehrer posed the question to the class. Did the man [i]want[/i] to start a philosophical debate at three-thirty in the afternoon? As Brynn was thinking up a proper response in the unlikely scenario she was called on, a dark-haired boy interupted the quiet atmosphere to question Lehrer about something in one of his physics classes.

[i][color=slategray]He threw something at a student?[/color][/i] Brynn thought, eyes widening. [i][color=slategray]Most new teachers are overly polite since their job is on the line, but...[/color][/i] The girl paused, a smile creeping its way onto her face. [i][color=slategray]This could be interesting.[/color][/i]

And it was, considering that a curious girl sporting a nose ring and a buzz cut raised her hand to answer the proposed question and promptly spilled the details around her birth. Brynn sat up a little straighter in her chair, opening her notebook to the first page and uncapping her pen. [i][color=slategray]Color me interested.[/color][/i]