I walked over to sit next to this Spencer Carlin person and sat down in the chair beside hers. She jerked her chair away with cat-like reflexes. The movement made the stool squeal across the linoleum flooring. That was pretty much the situation the rest of the period, only now, she was staring at me. I swear, I’d still think I smelled and had bedhead if I didn’t know what I know now.

I had to get to my second block class, so Mike walked me there. “Don’t worry about Carlin. Her whole family is pretty weird.Most people just stay clear of them. They are all adopted by Paula and Arthur Carlin. Arthur is a doctor and probably the best one in the state. All of the kids are like together-together, Except Spencer. She’s really pretty and could probably have her pick, but she doesn’t seem interested in here. I figure she has a boyfriend where they used to live.”
“Why are they so weird? And where did they move here from?”
“No one knows where they came from. They showed up freshman year, I think Dr. Carlin took a job at the hospital.”
“why are they so weird?” Avoid-y much?
“Its like they came outta nowhere and the kids are all dating. Clay and Glen are the two boys, and Chelsea, Madison, and Spencer are the girls. Clay and Chelsea date while Glen and Madison date. I guess its not illegal since none of then are blood related, but its still pretty weird.”
“Yeah, I guess. Dr. Carlin let’s them date each other?”
“I assume, because they’re always going on family vacations, like camping and stuff; especially when its warm and sunny. Well anyway, this is you.” He stopped in front of a door that was marked ‘art’.
“Thanks for getting me here. I’ll see you in geometry?”
“Count on it, Ash. See ya!” He was already walking away, backwards.
I walked into the room and approached the teacher.
“You must be Ashley Davies. Am I right?” I nodded my head. “Okay, I have you over in the corner, near Lauren. Lauren, could you raise your hand so Ms. Davies knows where to go?”
A thin, mousy girl poked her head out from behind an easel, looked at me, and then raised her tiny hand. I went and stood by her at an easel nearby.
“Do you like art, or are you only in this for the credit?” She asked me, rather abruptly.
“I really like art. Its sort of my first passion.” I answered honestly. “Oh hey, do you know anything about the Carlins?” I was still really curious about them.
“Well that’s Chelsea Carlin, over there.” She pointed to a dark-skinned girl, that was looking our way.
“Omigod, don’t point. She’s looking over here.”
“She always seems to look at you when you talk about them.” Lauren seemed unphased.
“Well still, impolite to point.” I heard laughing and looked to see Chelsea laughing like she’d just heard the funniest thing in the world.
“Don’t worry about her. She harmless and does that laughing thing a lot.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
Art went on like an art class should. The teacher let us do pretty much whatever we wanted, as long as it pertained to art. Lauren and I continued to talk throughout the period, not just about the Carlins, but where I moved from and about b oth of our lives.