Surviving High School

parents. Plus, I’ll probably have way more time after school for, you know, ‘activities.’ ”
    Emily arched an eyebrow.
    “I thought you stopped going to that hip-hop dance class.”
    “Some people’s bones just aren’t made to pop and lock, okay? I was actually thinking something more along the linesof flirting with hot guys at the mall,” said Kimi. “You want to head over there after school?”
    “I wish I could. But, you know, swimming. Besides, I don’t have time for guys. I barely have time to text back and forth with you .”
    “ Everyone has time for guys,” said Kimi. “I mean, come on! Homecoming is only, like, two and a half months away. Then there’s the winter formal two months after that. Not to mention prom in eight months—and that means getting a junior or senior to invite you. We’re practically behind schedule already!”
    Emily laughed.
    “Me at a dance? You’re kidding, right? You have met my dad.” It was true that Emily’s dad had set an outright ban on her dating, much less going to dances, until she was in college. Not that it really mattered: Between school, swim practice, and homework, Emily’s schedule was booked for the next four years anyway.
    “Your dad, huh?” Kimi asked. “I just thought that now that we’re in high school, you might want to stop living like a nun.”
    “I have a great system with guys,” said Emily. “I don’t have time for them, and they’re not interested in me.”
    “Sounds to me like you just haven’t met the right one,” said Kimi. “But we’ll work on that.”
    “Okay,” said Emily, eager to end the conversation. “I’d better get to class—if I can find it.”
    Kimi looked over Emily’s schedule and wrinkled her brow.
    “Hm… room 246B? That’s probably on the second floor of the library building. Too bad. It looks like we’re going in opposite directions. I’m headed down that hall over there.”
    “Our homerooms aren’t even in the same building ?” Emily felt a wave of panic rising in her.
    “Relax,” said Kimi. “There’s a map on the back of your schedule. Just follow that and you’ll be fine.”
    Unfortunately, Emily’s journey to room 246B proved to be slightly more perilous than Kimi had predicted. Emily was halfway across the parking lot when she realized she’d been holding her map upside down and had to circle back. By that time, the first bell of the day had rung, and the halls were mostly empty.
    Once she got to the library building, Emily’s luck didn’t get much better. The signs indicating where each classroom was located were all outdated, missing, or simply wrong, and she was forced to check every door, hoping she’d finally find the right one.
    She was beginning to think she’d never get to room 246B when she bumped into a pretty redheaded girl dressed in a knee-length black skirt with matching leggings and a white tailored blouse. Rather than a backpack, the girl carried an elegant black leather handbag. Maybe Kimi’s first-day outfit wasn’t as out of place as Emily had thought.
    “You look almost as lost as I am,” said the redhead. “Which room are you looking for?”
    “246B.”
    “Well, then we’re both in the same boat,” said the girl, offering her hand. “I’m Alicia, by the way.”
    “I’m Emily.” Given Alicia’s sophisticated clothes and bag, Emily would never have pegged her for a fellow lost freshman. “Are you, like, a transfer or something?”
    Alicia smiled. “Something like that. Come on,” she added. “I think we’re almost there.”
    Sure enough, Emily and Alicia found their classroom a few doors down. As they walked inside, Emily turned to Alicia and asked, “Want to sit together?”
    Alicia smiled again. “Unfortunately, I can’t.”
    Can’t? thought Emily as she took a seat near the front of the room. Then, as she settled into her chair and looked up, she saw Alicia walk up to the whiteboard and write her full name: ALICIA PREZ .
    “Apologies for my tardiness,” Alicia said, turning back to the class. “They’ve literally moved my classroom four times in the last week as we’ve been getting ready for the new year. Trust me when I say that I arrived thirty minutes early in 246 A .”
    The other students in the class chuckled as Emily cringed. She couldn’t believe it. One class in, and she’d already completely embarrassed herself in front of her teacher. Are you, like, a transfer or something? She slunk low in her chair as if