Love Thy Neighbour

Being the new kid sucks. A lot. I say that because it wasn’t like I was expecting a parade or a special welcoming or anything from my classmates, but I didn’t want to be ignored or stared at. But when you’re a new kid at my school – that’s all you’ll get. And that sucks.

I tried to discreetly glare at Khristiano. The jerk. After entering the classroom and finding me a seat, he pretended he didn’t know me. Even though I didn’t like him, I didn’t want to be alone! But no, he ditched me to join his own little clique of boys. Some of his friends were even whispering and looking at me. As if there weren’t enough girl politics already!

“So you’re the new kid everyone’s talking about.”

I immediately turned around. A girl with auburn hair and a gaudy face had come up to me. Even though I could tell she was sizing me up, I didn’t mind. A potential friend! “I’m Adelina Birchmier. You are…?”

I smiled. “I’m Lyzelle.”

Adelina smiled, but for some reason, I felt weird, “Nice to meet you, Lyzelle…?”

Oh right, my surname. “Lyzelle Cos – ”

“Birchmier, class is starting,” a voice behind me interrupted.

Adelina made a face and I turned around. Yuck, I could see why. It was Khristiano.

Adelina frowned at Khristiano, who was in turn, glaring at her. “We were only talking. No need to get so worked up about it.” She smiled at me. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

I nodded, feeling somewhat better. I had made a friend, well sort of.

Khristiano shook his head at Adelina as she skipped back to a desk surrounded by a group of girls who were staring at me and whispering to each other.

“Be careful of her,” he advised.

“Why?”

He only shook his head, dismissing the topic. “Do you want to eat lunch with us?”

I made a face. ‘Us’?

“What? You prefer to sit alone?”

“Well, no…”

Khristiano nodded and sat in the desk next to me. “Okay, I’ll pick you up before lunch starts.”

I stared at him.

“We don’t share every class together,” he explained.

Thank goodness. “Hey, don’t you think everyone is staring?” I asked as I looked around the classroom.

“They are.”

“Do you think they’ll stop?”

“No.”

“Could you tell them to stop?”

“That’s stupid. That would make things worse.”

I groaned. “I can’t wait until class is over.”

He looked at me. “You know it’s only going to get worse.”

I stared at Khristiano. He looked serious. I guess he was telling the truth. I groaned as I buried my face in my arms. Yeah, thanks for the comfort.



He was right.

It did get worse. I had fourth period by myself and I was lost. I was walking through one of the many corridors for the third time. Ugh, why did this school have to be so darn big? The corridors were long and windy and the rooms were too spacey and vacant.

I looked at my map. Man, I wish that lady gave me a GPS instead of this pathetic map. I groaned as I tried to pinpoint exactly where I was.

Suddenly, I bumped into a girl, making me drop all of my papers. Great! Just drop all the papers in the middle of the hall so everyone can see and point and laugh at me. Darn, this wasn’t my day!

“Ah, sorry…” I mumbled, as I hurriedly bent down, picking up my papers. I could feel my cheeks burn in shame. ‘How embarrassing, how embarrassing’ seemed to be my current mantra.

All of a sudden, I saw a piece of paper float in front of my face. I blinked, baffled how that could have possibly happened. A sign? I looked up. No. It was the person I had bumped into. She handed me the paper. I blushed. “Th-thanks.”

Her golden hair bounced like in those shampoo advertisements as she nonchalantly shrugged. I looked at her. She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. I tried not to stare, but it was hard, especially with someone as gorgeous as her. I don’t know why, but instead of being jealous, I couldn’t help but admire attractive people, especially girls.

She frowned at me, as if my weird creepy staring ways offended her. It probably did. “Be careful.”

I dumbly blinked as she stood up and left. I didn’t know whether I should be grateful that someone as beautiful as her took the time to help me, or to be offended by her condescending behaviour.

“Lyzelle? Is that you?”

I immediately turned around. It was Adelina. I smiled gratefully. “Adel – ”

“What are you doing on the floor?” Adelina cried, “That’s dirty!” Adelina shook her head at me.

I could feel myself go red. Even though the tiled floors were white and I could tell they were spotless, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. I dusted myself as I got up. “Oh. Well, I accidently bumped into that person. So – ”

“Oh.” Adelina looked ahead. “You mean Savina?”

Is that her name? “She was so pretty,” I nodded.

“I know right,” Adelina made a face, “bitch.”

Adelina exasperatedly sighed as she grabbed my arm and linked it with hers. “Anyway, The Spinster told me find you. She figured you were either lost or skipping.” Adelina rolled her eyes.

“The Spinster?”

“Miss Marino, our math teacher. But that’s what we call her, because she’s such a lonely bitch. I bet you, in like, thirty years or something, she’ll be like, an evil spinster or something.”



I usually don’t like calling people the b-word, but Miss Marino – The Spinster was truly a bitch.

“Pair up, pair up!” the stupid math teacher called. I shuddered upon hearing those two words. Didn’t she know that those two words were every new student’s dread?

Suddenly, she turned around and pointed at me. “You!”

I flinched. Did she hear my thoughts? Oh my gosh. I was in trouble. I looked around nervously.

“Yeah, you,” she nodded at me, “the one looking around.”

I bit my lip. Was I in trouble? “M-me?”

The Spinster nodded and beckoned me to come to her. I began to slowly make my way towards her. I didn’t want to be in trouble on my first day of school. The Spinster glanced at her roll call. “You’re the new kid, right?”

It was that obvious, wasn’t it? I slowly nodded.

“Surname?”

“It’s Costanzo, ma’am.” I replied. She raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded. I frowned. Was it me, or did the room suddenly became quiet?

“Ah. Costanzo, Costanzo…” She mused as she tapped her finger on the clipboard. I looked at her unsurely. She chuckled and shook her head, “How ironic.”

I frowned. Not sure what she meant.

“Well, Costanzo, pair up,” She smiled at me, “pair up.”

Bitch, bitch, bitch! I nodded miserably and began to walk back to my desk. How could I do that? I knew no one and everyone else had a partner!

“Does everyone have a partner?” The Spinster asked the class.

There were mumbles and groans, but I didn’t hear anyone mumble ‘no’. Great. Now I was like the kid who got picked last when choosing for teams. And I hated that feeling.

“Costanzo, do you have a partner?” asked The Spinster.

I looked at my desk, trying to look busy. “N-no… Not yet.”

The Spinster clapped her hands. Oh no. I had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. “Alright. Does anyone want to be Costanzo’s partner?”

Oh my gosh! Why?!

I heard some whispers. I heard someone cough. But no one said anything.

“Anyone?” The Spinster continued, “Anyone?”

Why was she doing this to me?!

The Spinster sighed. Ugh. I am that unwanted kid that no one wanted on their team.

“Fine. Birchmier,” The Spinster called, “you will be Costanzo’s partner.”

Birchmier? Adelina Birchmier? The girl I met earlier who was a potential friend? A bubble of hope began to build inside me. Even though she directed me to the classroom, as soon as she entered the room, her friends called her over and she had to leave me.

I inwardly smiled. Finally! Something was going right for me! It wasn’t like I was weird or creepy or anything, but I could totally see her as my new best friend. This was a sign, a sign of beautiful, sweet friendshi –

“But Miss, I already have a partner.”

Rejection. A sign of cold, harsh rejection. I looked at Adelina, hurt.

The Spinster raised an unconvinced eyebrow. “Really now?”

“I’m partnered with Clarissa,” Adelina reasoned.

“And where is Walford?”

“She’s in the toilet.”

The Spinster sighed. “Adelina, please. Don’t lie. Just be partners with Costanzo. For today, only today.”

Miss Marino, please. Please stop. I know you have good intentions, but you’re doing more harm than good. And right now, I’m the new kid that no one wanted to be friends with. Well, I was that already, but now everyone in the classroom knows that I’m that kid.

Adelina looked appalled. “I’m not lying, Miss! Clarissa is really at the toilets! Remember she asked for a pass to leave class?”

I hate my life. Was I really that unloved or did she really want to not be partners with me?

“I’ll be her partner.”

I swear I heard bells and angels singing when I heard those four words. Everyone turned to the voice. A guy messy blonde hair had raised his hand. He smiled. “I’ll do it.”



I don’t care if he looked like a hero, sacrificing himself to be my partner. I was happy. Finally I had a partner! Finally my public humiliation show was over. For now.

He smiled and nodded at me as I began to sheepishly make my way to his desk. Even though he volunteered – and I was glad he did – I couldn’t help but feel bad. Like he was somehow coerced to be my partner.

“Hey, I’m Vanya Kovalevski.”

I stared at him. “S-sorry?”

“That’s my name.”

“Oh, hi…” I bit my lip. “Vanyanamana… Levski.” His name wasn’t even that hard, and I felt like an idiot mumbling his name. Even though I pride myself in remembering people’s name, his name I couldn’t even pronounce.

Vanamanamana laughed. “Eh, just call me ‘Van’. Everyone else does.”

Why does everyone have a nickname for each other? Was this some sort of exclusive club or something? “S-sorry…”

Van shook his head, “All good. All good.” He chuckled, “At least you tried to say it. Most people just smile and nod after I tell them.”

I just smiled and nodded. Van laughed. He seemed like a nice enough person. “Enough. I don’t even know you’re name.” He thought for a minute. “Well, sort of, anyway. You’re not a Valentino, are you?”

I couldn’t help but smile at this guy. He was friendly and nice and definitely friend material. “No. I’m Lyzelle Costanzo.”

He looked surprised. “Costanzo?”

I nodded, not sure how I should reply to that.

“Costanzo. Huh.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged and looked at the math sheet we were given earlier. “So we have to work out these equations, did you get the answer for question seven?”

I frowned at him. Was there something I’m missing? Oh well. I sighed and looked at the sheet. Great. I haven’t even read through the questions. I quickly skim-read question seven. “Well…”

“So you close to Valentino, hey?”

“I think the answer might be X=64.Bbut I’m not sure because the Y variable is…”

“Valentino won’t say nothing and everyone’s wondering…”

“And, I think that if we subtract 97 here, then we can find the – ”

“Are you his girlfriend?”

“Y varia – What?” I looked at Van.

Van glanced at my answer and nodded. “Yeah, that’s the same answer I got.”

“What did you just say?”

“Everyone’s wondering if you and Valentino are together, or something.”

I looked at him, horrified. “What makes them think that?!”

Van chuckled at my response. “Figured ‘cause you’re wearing his jersey.” Van shrugged, “that, and everyone’s been saying things. Especially in the morning how…”

My mouth was hanging from shock.

He looked at me. “So are you…?”

How could he even suggest that?! What an insult! I began to frantically shake my head and make a no deal sign with my arms – an ‘X’ with my arms. “No, no, no, and no!”

He laughed at my strong response. “Thought so. That’s good then.”

I stared at this guy in disbelief. “Really. How could people even think that?!”

Van shrugged and glanced at the classroom clock. “Crap. We only have ten more minutes until this period ends.”

“What? Are you serious? We haven’t even answered anything…”

All of the sudden Van stood up, “I’ll go get some answers from some people.” I began to panic inside. He was abandoning me. Like that unwanted kid no one wanted.

“Sit there and look pretty or something. Or just pretend to answer the questions.” Van smiled, “I’ll be back.”

I nodded and began pretending I was busy for a whole grueling seven minutes and thirty-two seconds. Not that I counted down the time exactly or anything. I mean, I had plenty of other stuff to do while I waited for Van to come back.

Van was laughing as he returned. “Okay sweet, I’ll do that.” He waved at some random guy as he sat down. “So I got some answers. Don’t know if they’re right but yeah. Copy them to your heart’s content.”

Van handed me his book and I gaped at the work he managed to copy in seven minutes and thirty-two seconds.

He was grinning. “You’re welcome.”

“W-wow, Van. That is a lot… I mean, thanks for this.”

Van shook his head, “Thank me later, you have very little time to copy. I’d hurry if I were you. Miss Marino is known to give harsh punishments”

I nodded and began to furiously write down all the answers. Who cares if question one, two, three, four, five, twelve, and basically every other question was wrong? I needed to finish this!

“And while you write,” Van began, “I shall do some socializing.”

I looked up at Van as he got up. “But your book…”

“Eh, just give it to me later. Just keep writing. Otherwise you’ll get a detention on your first day.”

I knew I didn’t want that. So I began writing furiously again. Ugh. I could hear everyone talking and laughing. Man, I hate being the new kid.

“Hey Lyzelle.”

“Hang on, hang on! I’m still copying. Don’t rush me!”

“So you’re cheating on your first day?”

I stopped writing and looked up. It was Khristiano. What was he doing here?

“Oh,” and then I remembered. I was having lunch with him. Ugh. I continued copying the answers.

Khristiano got the chair from the desk in front of mine and pushed it closer to my desk and sat on it. He didn’t even bother to turn the chair around in the right direction. Idiot.

“You know, half of these answers are wrong.”

I frowned at him, but said nothing. I needed to finish this.

“I don’t know how you got that answer. Seven isn’t the square root of anything, so why – ”

“I need to finish this or else I’ll get a detention!”

Khristiano shrugged. “True, that.”

I mentally groaned. Why, oh why was he here? Didn’t he know the drumming of his fingers on my desk was really annoying?

“Oh hey – oh.”

I looked up. Van was staring at Khristiano.

“Kovalevski,” Khristiano nodded.

“Valentino,” Van gave Khristiano a curt nod. “Why are you here?”

Khristiano glanced at me. “Waiting for someone.”

“Ah.” Van looked at me. “I see.”

“And… you’re finished!” Khristiano cheered as I slammed down the pen. I couldn’t help but feel so accomplished.

Then the bell just went off.

I grinned as I stood up. “Perfect timing, too!”

Khristiano smiled as he got up, “Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving.”

And then I remembered – I had to eat lunch with this guy and his boyfriends. Ugh. Before I could even sit down and wallow in my misery, Khristiano grabbed my hand and bolted out of the classroom. Now, I wasn’t looking forward to lunch anymore.