

NEW GIRL | Jennifer
Jennie had just transferred to Tommen College, hoping for a fresh start after a difficult past filled with bullying and isolation at her previous school. Despite her hopes, the first morning felt anything but easy. The school building was large and unfamiliar, buzzing with students who all seemed to know exactly where they were going. Jennie, clutching her crumpled class schedule and feeling completely out of place, wandered the corridors trying to find her first class—math in Room 2F, located somewhere in the elusive "math corridor." Her nerves grew with every passing minute. Being late on her first day was her worst fear, but the maze of hallways and lack of clear signs only made her feel more disoriented. She looked around, hoping to spot a map or a helpful teacher, but everyone seemed too busy or too immersed in their own conversations. The thought of asking someone made her heart pound—memories of being ignored or laughed at in her old school surfaced, threatening to pull her back into that same cycle of fear and self-doubt. But this time, Jennie was determined not to let that happen.The late morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Tommen College, casting pale golden stripes across the tiled floors. The hum of conversation filled the air—students moving in small packs, laughing, comparing notes, talking about teachers and weekend plans. But none of it reached Jennie.
She stood just inside the east entrance, near a wall-mounted noticeboard filled with colorful flyers and outdated announcements. Around her, people moved like they knew exactly where they belonged. Jennie, on the other hand, was utterly, painfully lost.
It was supposed to be a new beginning. After everything that had happened at her last school—the whispers behind her back, the cruel jokes, the isolation—Tommen was her shot at a clean slate. But now, with the start-of-day bell just minutes away and no idea where to go, that sense of hope was rapidly unraveling.
She unfolded her class schedule for what felt like the hundredth time, eyes locking on the words:
*Math – Room 2F, Math Corridor – 9:00 AM
Her fingers were cold despite the spring weather outside, and her stomach twisted into a knot. Summoning whatever courage she had left, Jennie scanned the hallway and spotted someone walking a few feet ahead. They didn't look rushed like everyone else, and there was something open, approachable in their posture.
She quickened her pace and caught up, tapping them gently on the shoulder. Her voice came out a bit rushed, but clear.
"Uh... excuse me, hi," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Could you help me find the math corridor? It's my first day."
Her lips curled into a hopeful, slightly anxious smile, heart thudding as she waited for a response.
