It was Amaria’s first day at her new school. Just pulling up to the school in her mom’s brand new car made her realize that she already hated everything about it. It was almost like Amaria knew it was going to be the same s*** as always just with a different place with different people. Nothing except the scenery ever changes in life, she’d learned that the hard way. Her mom got out of the car and began to walk in, but then stopped when she realized that Amaria wasn’t behind her. She turned and questioned, “You gettin’ out?” raising an eyebrow. Amaria sighed and  slumped out of the car. Together they walked inside and the guidance counselor greeted them in  the main office. “Good morning ladies, I’m Mr. Walton and I’ll be Amaria’s guidance counselor.” Amaria looked the man up and down taking notice of his tall stature muscular body, and attractive face. She let out an unladylike grunt, but didn’t say anything back. LaTanya, Amaria’s mother, nudged her arm and gave her a look that told her to be polite or she’d hear about it later.
“I’m Amaria,” she mumbled not looking Mr. Walton in the eye. He smiled at her and extended his large hand toward her. Amaria c***ed an eyebrow, looked down at his hand, then back up at his face, her attitude beginning to coming out.
“Let’s make this easier for the both of us. You do what you gotta do and I’ll do what I gotta do and we can have as little contact with each other as possible.” He shook his head and chuckled, “I’m sorry, Amaria, it doesn’t work like that here. As far as you’re concerned, I’m your new best friend.”
“I don’t think so,” Amaria c***ed her head and placed her hand on her hip, daring him to challenge her. Knowing that she was going to be a challenge already, there was no point in having her mother around as her safety blanket. He needed her to open up to him, even if it was only the smallest thing.
“Alright mom, I’ll take good care of her,” Mr. Walton gestured for Amaria’s mother to leave. “Behave,” she warned looking her daughter in the eyes  before leaving the office.   Mr. Walton turned to Amaria and caught the flash of panic that crossed Amaria’s face. He watched as she closed herself back off and her vulnerability vanish. “Ready to go to class,” he asked her gently. “Yeah, I guess,” she sighed.
Mr. Walton walked Amaria to her homeroom, talking the whole way, but she wasn’t listening. Instead, she was taking in the school and thinking about how much she already liked it, without meeting anyone other than her guidance counselor. However, she  was also thinking about how she wanted to bolt through the nearest doors that led to the outside. “Amaria, we’re here,” Mr, Walton called snapping her out of her thoughts. He opened the door to the classroom leading her inside as she tried her best not to turn and run. He introduced her to the class and her teacher, Ms. Lucas, who directed her to the center of the room where there was an empty seat. In the center, she felt like a lab rat with everyone’ eyes on her . F*** these people, she thought. Her teacher seemed to sense her discomfort and didn’t force her to say anything to the class. Ms. Lucas got everyone started on their work, before calling Amaria to her desk so that they could talk. She explained to Amaria the rules of homeroom and first period, which was English, and that if Amaria had any questions all she had to do was ask. Again, Amaria got defensive and put up her walls again, even as she realized that her teacher really did care. At her old school, the students didn’t mean very much to most of the teachers, so this was definitely a first for her. She loved the attention she got from Mr. Walton and Ms. Lucas. She’d never admit it, but she knew this school is exactly what she needed.
After each and every class, Mr. Walton was outside the classroom to take her to her next one. He told her it was so he could check on her to see how her day was going, and she believed him. Mr. Walton knew he needed to keep an eye on her, but if she knew that’s what he was doing she’d shut down and he’d never get anywhere with her. Finally, it was the end of the day and school was over. Amaria went to her new locker and deposited all the things she didn’t need to bring home in it. When she moved to close the door, she noticed Mr. Walton  and her hands instantly came up like she was going to punch him. “Relax,” he soothed. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He waited until her body relaxed to explain to her that he would be driving her home every day after school. “Hell no,” she snapped her body tensing back. She didn’t want to be babysitted, she just wanted to be alone. “It’s not up to you. It’s was a decision made by the school and your mother,” he informed her. She fumed and Mr. Walton could almost see the anger radiating off of her. Mr. Walton wished Amaria would just understand that her mother was trying to help her cope, but he knew it would take some time for Amaria to let go of the control she wanted to have over every situation. No adult, other than her mother and grandmother,  put up with her for this long. She was starting to think it was time to stop believing that everyone was all bad, and start accepting that there was some good in people. She’d been in the school one day, and it had already started to rub off on her.