Connection

The alarm buzzed beside me, its sharp ring breaking the fragile silence of the room. I groaned and reached over to silence it, my hand fumbling for the snooze button. My grandparents' house was quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional creak of the floorboards. It wasn't my childhood home in Greece, but it was... peaceful.

I sat up, staring at the pale light streaming through the curtains. First day of school. Again. The thought twisted my stomach. I didn't know anyone here .. New school, new faces, and hopefully, no bullies.

"Logan! Breakfast is ready!" my grandmother's voice called from the kitchen.
"I'm coming!" I replied, my thick Greek accent making the words feel foreign on my tongue.

I dressed quickly, pulling on a plain long sleeve with a light blue cardigan over it and jeans. I smoothed my hair down, grabbed my backpack, and headed downstairs. My grandmother was bustling about the kitchen, her hair tied in a neat bun.

"Eat something," she said, placing a plate of toast and scrambled eggs in front of me. "You'll need your strength."

I nodded, eating quietly as she watched me with a concerned expression. She didn't say anything, but I knew she was worried. I'd told her I wanted a fresh start here, No more being the quiet kid that everyone picked on — yet deep down, we both knew it was a lie.

After finishing breakfast, I slipped on my shoes and slung my backpack over my shoulder.
"Have a good day," my grandfather said from his seat at the table, a newspaper in his hands."thank you .." I said softly before stepping out the door.

The walk to school was quiet, the cool morning air brushing against my face. As I approached the large brick building, my anxiety grew. The school was bigger than I imagined, students milling about in groups, laughing and talking. I swallowed hard and made my way inside.

I found my first class—history—easily enough. The teacher greeted me at the door, handing me a syllabus. "Take any seat you'd like, Logan," he said warmly.
I nodded, scanning the room before settling in the back corner. Students were filing in, chatting loudly. I kept my head down, fiddling with the strap of my backpack.

"Hey," a voice said beside me.

I glanced up to see a girl sitting down next to me. She had dark brown hair, with bright amber eyes with a warm smile that instantly made me feel less tense.
"You're new, right?" she asked, her Spanish accent thick but her words clear.

"Y-Yes," I stammered, my Greek accent even more noticeable in my nervousness.

"I'm Taylor," she said, extending a hand. "Taylor Hernandez."

I hesitated before shaking her hand. "Logan, Logan Fields."

"Nice to meet you, Logan." Her smile widened. "Where are you from?"

"Greece," I replied, my voice quieter than I intended.
I hated when the conversation was about me.

"Greece?" She repeated, her eyes widening "That's cool! Your accent is nice," she said, leaning on her desk.

I felt my cheeks heat up. "Th-Thank you." I paused, "Your accent is... nice too."

She laughed, a light, friendly sound. "Thanks. My English isn't perfect either, so don't worry about it."

Taylor was easy to talk to, something I hadn't experienced much before. She didn't press me with too many questions, sensing my awkwardness.

"Hey," she said after a moment. "You should meet my friends after this class." she requested "They're cool, I'm sure they'll like you." she reassured

"oh, um .." I hesitated.
Meeting more people wasn't exactly on my list of things to do today.

Taylor tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I get it. New place, new people—it's a lot. But trust me, they're good people. No pressure, though." She gave a reassuring smile, leaning back in her chair.

I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. "I... I'll think about it," I said quietly, feeling a mix of gratitude and nervousness.

Taylor nodded, seeming to understand. "Fair enough. Just so you know, I'm in the cafeteria during lunch—by the windows, near the big tree outside. If you feel like it, come find me." Her tone was casual, leaving the decision entirely in my hands.

"Okay," I mumbled, managing a small smile.

The teacher started the lesson, and I focused on taking notes, grateful for the distraction. But every so often, I caught Taylor glancing my way, her smile warm and encouraging. It was strange—comforting, even—to have someone like her reach out to me on my first day.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Taylor stood and gathered her things. Before heading to the door, she turned back to me. "Think about it, okay? I'd really like to introduce you to them."

"I will," I replied, my voice steadier this time.

"See you around, Logan," she said with a wave before disappearing into the bustling hallway.

As I packed my things, I found myself wondering if I should take her up on her offer. Maybe meeting her friends wouldn't be so bad.
Maybe this new school wasn't as daunting as I thought.