New Kid in Town, Old Problems Follow Me

Anonymous Tipsy Whisperer #117 · General

So, here's the deal. I just moved to a new city about three weeks ago with my family. My dad got a big promotion and we had to pack up our little house in Ohio and move all the way across to California. The drive was long but honestly, it wasn't too bad, just lots of stops at gas stations for snacks. We settled into our new home and I started going to school two days later. So fresh starts, right? Wrong. I'm not sure if everyone else notices or just me, but my new classmates seem to have this weird radar for anyone new. The minute they found out we moved in from Ohio, some kids took it upon themselves to become 'helpful friends,' like I needed a tour guide of all the best burrito places in town. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with them being nice, it's just that every time someone offers help, I kind of shrink back inside my hoodie and hope they walk away. The other day during lunch, this girl, let's call her Emily, sits down next to me while I'm minding my own business trying to eat quietly. She starts chatting about how she lives in the same neighborhood as my house and then goes on to share a bunch of random facts about herself. By the time we're done with our meal, I've barely said two words back except for polite nods or 'hmms.' At home that night, I felt pretty awful about it, but also wondered if I was being an asshole for not wanting to talk more. I'm trying my best to adjust and be social, but sometimes the way people interact feels overwhelming. So here's my confession: am I just too much of a wallflower to fit in? Or is there something really off about me that everyone else catches? I'm asking you all because if this is normal or if it's time for me to find some new strategies at this school.