Romeo High looks just like any other high school I've been to. The main entrance has a row of glass doors you enter leading to a large atrium. Rows of showcases full of different trophies, awards and photos plaster the outer walls. Colorful posters made of crate paper welcome students back for another year. Not far down the hall to the right sits the office and cafeteria. The halls are all lined with red lockers as far as your eye can see. Students of every grade stand in front of them talking to friends and giving each other hugs. Watching those around me call out to one another and embrace each other reminds me of just how alone I am here, even in the midst of the crowd.

I find my way into the office and look around. It's much quieter and less crowded compared to the hallway I just came from. I'm grateful for the momentary reprieve. I walk up to the secretary sitting behind the front desk. She's a middle aged woman wearing a headset that she's currently talking into. Her desk plate read's Mrs Fox. From the sounds of it, she's talking to a nervous parent of an incoming freshman who forgot their emergency inhaler. Being the seasoned veteran at these kinds of parent calls, Mrs Fox gives a few well crafted reassurances to the mother on the line. Without missing a beat she holds up her finger, acknowledging that she knows I'm waiting to speak with her and continues to console the irrationally distraught woman on the phone. A moment later she finally hangs up and turns to me.

"Sorry about that. Just the normal first day mom jitters. You must be Lila Daniels!"

I'm a little bit shocked that she already knows who I am since we have never met.

"You caught me." I say with finger guns.

Why did I just answer like that?! Calm down you weirdo. I guess I also have a case of the first day jitters.

"I mean, uh yes. I'm Lila Daniels." I give Mrs. Fox a faint smile.

"So nice to meet you, honey. We don't get a lot of transfer students so you're sure to be the talk of the school! Looks like you came all the way from Chicago. How exciting! I always thought I'd live in a big city one day...."

Mrs. Fox trails off in thought which gives me the perfect amount of time to have a minor freak out. She thinks I'll be the talk of the school?! Me?? Talk about my worst nightmare. Gulp.

Mrs. Fox brings me back to reality when she senses my sudden nerves. Or maybe it was my ghostly white face that gave me away?

"Oh sweetie it's ok. Everyone here is very nice. Payton will be here any minute to show you around and you two will have a great day. Promise!" She gives me a reassuring smile and hands me my class schedule from her desk as the phone begins to ring again.

I muster up a brief smile back before taking a seat on the bench to wait on my escort. I scan the paper which holds all the names of teachers and room numbers that mean absolutely nothing to me. They could have all be written in German and it would have meant about the same to me. A moment later a gorgeous, bubbly brunette walks through the office door, directly up to me.

"Hi Lila, I'm Payton Johnson. It's so nice to finally meet you!" She gives me a giant hug without any warning. I'm completely caught off guard, standing with my arms pinned down at my sides unable to move away from the stranger I just met.

"Uh, hi. Nice to meet you. How did you know who I was?" I muster out the question when she finally releases me.

Payton lets out a laugh and slaps my arm. "You're funny."

I am? Wasn't tryin to be.

"I only mean because I know everyone at this school, silly. Plus, our dad's work together. My dad came home from work a few weeks ago saying there was a new transfer into his office and he had a daughter in my grade who would be starting at Romeo. Of course I volunteered to be the one to show you around on your first day! It only seemed right." She states matter of factly.

Payton exudes confidence and charm. She sort of reminds me of Charlie a little bit in that way. I can already tell that Payton is the type of person that can make herself comfortable anywhere she goes and wouldn't have an issue striking up a conversation with anyone she meets. All traits that I wish I could have but sadly don't. She grabs my arm linking it to hers, ushering us out of the office.

"Bye Mrs. Fox!" Payton calls over her shoulder with a wave as we are leaving.

"Bye honey, come back and visit me soon." Mrs. Fox says with a smile, holding her had over the microphone on her headset.

As soon as we are out of the office Payton turns to me, a serious look in her eye.

"This is probably the biggest piece of advice I can give you about Romeo, so listen up."

I nod in agreement so Payton will continue.

"Make sure you stay on Mrs. Fox's good side. She knows everything and everyone. Nothing happens in this school that she doesn't know about. Trust me, you don't want to do something to tick her off and definitely never lie to her."

"Noted." I say with a gulp.

"Ok good. Just wanted to make that clear." Payton goes back to her bubbly, happy demeanor.

She's talking a mile a minute as we walk down the hallway together. Taking the schedule from my hand she quickly scans it. Payton's rattling off anecdotal comments about the various teachers I have this semester. I'm only half listening because the longer we keep walking the more I realize all eyes are on the two of us. Or rather not on us, on me. Payton must sense my apprehension since she leans into me with a warmth I didn't expect from someone I only just met.

"Lila, take a deep breath, it's all good. I won't leave your side. Everything is going to be fine. Don't mind all these staring idiots. Clearly their mother's didn't teach them proper manners." Payton laughs at our peers then turns back to me. "Let's view this attention as a good thing, shall we? I mean heck, if I was you, I'd relish in it. This can totally work to your advantage, you know? You're brand new. Nobody knows you. You get to pick how you want people to see you and who you want to be! It's exciting really! So Lila, who do you want to be?"

Dang, this girl should be a motivational speaker.

It never dawned on me in the slightest to view starting over at Romeo as a perk. I wish I could bottle up some of Payton's optimism to use on myself. If this truly is a fresh start like she says, I would like to make it a good one.

"I know we just met and everything, but I like to think I'm an excellent judge of character. I can tell that you, Lila Daniels, are one solid chick and somebody who I'm going to be good friends with. I just know it. So take a deep breath and relax a little, I've got your back and will get you through this school day, promise!"

I'm not really sure how Payton could have possibly already come to those conclusions about me, but something inside me wants to think she's right. It's probably the fact that she's reminding me of Charlie so much that I'm hoping we really do turn out to be good friends.

"Thanks Payton, if you couldn't tell, I'm a little nervous about today. I'm not always the best at meeting new people either. I get all awkward and stuff, so I appreciate you sticking by me."

"No problem girl. I got you! Now here's the real question I've been dying to ask you. Tell me, how do you feel about cheerleading?" Payton has a giant grin like she knows something I don't.

"Um. Well, I've never really thought about it much. Why?"

Payton smiles even bigger. "That was sort of a trick question. See, your dad told my dad how you were this awesome State Champion gymnast back in Illinois. So naturally I googled you. You're freaking amazing, Lila! State titles your freshman and sophomore years?! Like seriously, mad respect girl." Payton gushes.

I'm sure my cheeks are turning bright red from the unexpected compliments.

"Anyways, I'm on our school's varsity cheer team and as it turns out, we could really use an advanced tumbler such as yourself to join us. Soooo, I may have mentioned to my coach you'd be starting at Romeo and she said you could be a late tryout for our team if you're interested! Isn't that great?! We can cheer together!" Payton is undeterred by the dumbfounded look I'm wearing. "Please Lila! At least say you'll think about it?? It would be so much fun!" Payton pleads.

I'm lost for words. Me, a cheerleader? The fact that Payton thinks I have it in me to stand in front of a crowd of people to lead them in a cheer is comical. On the other hand though, I did love the bond I had with my teammates from all our time spent working together in the gym. Gymnastics was pretty much my life in Chicago. It's all I did outside of going to class. It's something I've been lacking since we moved here and I'm definitely missing that piece of me.

Payton can see the wheels in my head spinning and interjects.

"Listen Lila, I know it's a lot to take in and you don't have to make any decisions right now. I mean it's your first day of school and we just met. I am fully aware that I can get tunnel vision and move really fast when I'm excited about something which freaks some people out......But! I promise, cheering is really fun and I do think you would make a great cheerleader. I don't say that to just anyone either. Our team is extremely competitive. Like we're talking goes to Nationals every year, kind of competitive. So I wouldn't be sticking my neck out for you if I didn't think it would be worth it. Why don't you come watch our practice after school today and see for yourself what it's like. If you hate it, there's no love lost between us, promise."

I think about it for a second longer and decide, what's it going to hurt if I go watch? If nothing else it at least introduces me to some other people instead of going home to be alone with my parents.

"Sure. I'll come. No promises.....I'm not convinced cheering is for me, but I'll agree to check it out before making any final decisions."

"EEEE!" Payton practically jumps into my arms in excitement. "Ok great! You're gonna love it! Now let's get you to class because Mr. Burns is a real stickler about tardies."