Short Scene: The Newcomer

Nathanial was not just chewing his gum. He was being loud about it. Class hadn't started yet but all of the kids were being quiet, probably due to a massive "Welcome Back" party that had been thrown the night before. It had been going til four in the morning and everyone who was anyone had been there. Obviously, most of the students were exhausted.

Even Nathanial was tired, but the silence was unbearable. So he chewed. He chewed in a way that almost dared someone to make a comment. Of course, in a theater class like this everyone already knew him so the dare itself was pointless, until the door opened.

Something about this girl made heads turn -- every head. The first thing everyone noticed was her hair. It seemed as though someone had taken a match to her head, and now the flames -- instead of rising -- were cascading down her back to a point just below her shoulders. Her skin was almost like porcelain from a distance, smooth and perfect yet pale. She strode into the room confidently, with more confidence than a new student usually had, but she was definitely too young to be a professor.
"Maybe she's a T.A.," one boy whispered behind Nathanial. He was clearly thinking the same way. There was a brief silence -- in which the boy was no doubt receiving the infamous dumb pat on his arm.
"We don't have T.A.s in the theater department," his friend reminded him.
In only a few seconds flat, the red head had planted herself in a seat next to Nathanial. He glanced sideways at her, then turned to the girl on his other side. She shrugged. He shifted back to face the red head and extended his hand. "Hi, I'm Nathanial Haksil..." he began.
With only a slight moment's hesitation, the new girl had taken his hand. "Hope Daniels, I just transferred here," she introduced herself with a gleaming smile. Her grip was firmer than his as they shook, which she must have realized because she released him very quickly. "Nice to meet you," she added.
"I think a friend of mine was going to sit there," Nathanial mentioned as they shook hands. Her grip was tighter than his. He also realized that, now that she was closer, her skin was spotted with freckles. Not so perfect after all -- although even he had to admit, she made freckles look good.
Hope flashed her dazzling smile as she released his hand. "Then I guess now we're friends," she replied.
Nathanial's mouth opened, closed, and then opened again. He wasn't used to people not putting up with his, well, shit. He kind of liked it, which seemed weird. At least he could tell this year was going to be interesting.