The Second Virginity of Suzy Green - By Sara Hantz Page 0,2

you around and take you to all your classes during your first week. Anything you need to know, ask her.”

Someone, somewhere is looking out for me. I can’t believe she’s my mentor. This is my big chance. I’ve got a week to get her to like me, and maybe I’ll get to hang with the in-crowd all the time.

“Um. Thanks.” I look across at Lori, who’s smiling at me. Thing is I don’t know if it’s a wanting-to please-teacher smile, or whether it’s a genuine I-want-to-get-to-know-you smile. “I’ve got biology next.”

“Great, same as me. We can sit together. You can meet the rest of the gang.” Gang? I’m liking this more and more. Not sure if gang in St Peter’s vernacular has the same meaning as gang in Carlton’s—not that I was a gang member in the past. Not exactly.

Lori and I chat all the way to class which is another hike - well, to be honest, she does more chatting than me. What is it with this school? Is this their underhand way of getting us all to exercise?

It turns out we take all the same classes, except she’s in the AP class for math and English—can’t see that happening to me somehow. I’ve never been known for my high-flying academic ability—studying used to be well down my to-do list.

***

Well, I’ve survived the morning. Now it’s lunchtime. At the moment I’m standing in line at the school cafeteria waiting to see what culinary delights are on offer. No-one brings their own lunch it’s included with the school fees. I’m starving, but judging by what’s on Lori’s plate eating a lot is passé. So I best follow her lead and take a salad, if that what it takes to belong. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for being healthy. As long as a few hamburgers and lattes are thrown in for good measure.

“Lori, over here,” calls a girl sitting at a table by the window, as we walk away holding our trays.

Lori grins and turns to walk in her direction, with me following. But as I get closer I notice there’s only one spare seat. Oh. That’s me dumped then by the looks of it. Typical. Just as everything was going so well. As if sensing my dilemma Lori stops and calls over her shoulder. “You don’t mind sharing the seat, do you?”

Yay. Forget those last thoughts.

“Sure.”

Especially if I can sit on the left because in the next seat is the hottest boy I’ve seen since moving out here last week. Okay, that’s not hard seeing as I haven’t actually been anywhere—not counting the supermarket. But even so, he’s really cute.

I place my tray on the table in such a way as to angle myself next to hot-boy—Maddie would be way proud of me.

“Hey,” he says, flashing a brilliant white smile and causing my knees to go all weak. “I’m Guy. And you’re new.”

I try to reply but somehow my voice and brain have slid into unconnected mode, and no words make it through my open mouth.

“Guy,” says Lori leaping to the rescue. Not that I think she realizes. “This is Suzy. And you’re right. She’s new. And this is Jana, Mark, Rachel, Lulu and Sam.” Lori introduces the rest of them before I have time to respond to Guy. Which is good because I still can’t do anything other than nod and smile—a bit like one of those nodding dogs you see in the back of cars. Which is so weird. I’m not normally known for my reticence in speaking. My old school reports wax lyrically about my inability to keep quiet.

“Suzy, you into badminton?” asks one of the girls. Rachel, I think. “The girls’ team is desperate for some good players. Especially since she,” Rachel nods in the direction of Lori, “has chosen to play netball instead.”

Help. Me and sport have never been best buddies. I could lie and say yes, but I’m recovering from a knee injury. Or I could tell the truth and wreck my chances of being part of the gang.

“Give her a chance, Rach,” says Lori. “It’s her first day. Suzy has plenty of time to decide what sport and clubs to be involved in. Although,” her voice drops to a loud whisper and she looks from side to side before continuing. “See the girl with black skanky hair over there, two tables behind Jana and sitting with a girl with short hair?” I scan the room behind where Jana’s sitting and see who