((Hey guys, sorry I'm late.))

A loud screeching rang in Lathia's ears as she was jolted from a dream.  She wore a pointed hat and carried a stick, while saying creepy chants.  She sleepily took her hand out from under her pillow and reached over to press the button that would silence her alarm clock.  Then she drifted off again.  When she woke up, her clock was flashing 9:00.  Oh, crap, she thought.  She rushed to get her clothes on, brush her teeth, and eat breakfast.  Still chewing as she ran out the door, carrying her backpack. It was her first day at the new school and she was late.  She hoped that the teachers didn't get a bad impression of her.  She was normally a very smart, punctual student.  She guessed she was just nervous.

She ran a couple blocks down the street and turned to the school.  She rushed to meet with the principal who introduced her to some people including the superintendent.  He showed her where to put her things and where her first cl@ss was as well as handing her a map and her schedule. The teacher was okay and she made her introduce herself to the cl@ss which Lathia wasn't too thrilled about and he didn't show any sympathy because she was a newbie.  She caught on the schedule and went with the flow like everyone else.  Lathia didn't make any close friends but had people who didn't mind answering her questions or having a polite conversation with.

At the end of the day, she felt like a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She was outside and paused in the doorway to let the sun warm her.  A small buzz of conversation reached her ears and her eyes roamed around curiously, looking for the source.  There was a small group of kids in a group.  They looked deep in conversation.  She walked a few steps toward them and paused at the mention of a magic shop.  Lathia searched her memory in case she new what they were talking about.  She actually recalled p@ssing a small building on the way to school. The windows looked dark and the things on shelfs and hanging in the windows looked weird.  It had a mysterious pull on her but she ignored it.  Her mind was on the new school.

Being as curious as she was, she walked over to the other teenagers.

"Magic shop?  I think I saw one of those on the way to school.  It looked creepy." Then she remembered to introduce herself.  "I'm Lathia Hathaway.  I just moved her and I heard you guys talking."