Take a Bow

The First Day

Here it was. The first day of senior year - I was held back in 3rd grade because of "family issues" - *eye roll*

"Have the best time!" Said my mother as she gushed over Gigi.

Me, I got "bye". That was it. But I honestly didn't care. The sooner the next year finished, the sooner I could move. Where to?

Anywhere.

As far away as possible.

As we reached the steps to hell (as some would call school) Gigi was swarmed by people and I was left alone. At last.

It wasn't like I had no friends, I just preferred my own company.

"ELLA!! ELLA, WAIT UP!" Great. I could only hear his voice from across the courtyard, but clear as day, it was Max's. Max is cool. But not 24/7. I mean, he's one of my best friends, but he'd also had me on the phone for 2 hours last night asking about what I thought this year would bring. What could he possibly have left to say?
C'mon Ella, this is Max we're talking about here.

After twenty seconds of self doubt, I stopped to wait for Max. And he caught up quick. For a little guy, he could really move.

"Hey Ella!" Max's smile grew wider as he approached me.

"Hi Max. Nice look." It wasn't sarcasm. Seriously. Over the break, he'd cut his dirty blonde hair so it was short at the sides and longer at the top, and updated his nerdy wardrobe from loose fitting (what I'd like to call 'mum jeans') jeans and a sassy slogan tee to dark skinny's and a longer white tee donned with a black leather jacket.

"I could say the same to you, but you know you always look good babe." He joked, winking as he pushed his sunglasses on top of his head.

"Are you talking about me, or the guy behind me?" I laughed. You see, Max, although freakishly boyish and charming, isn't actually into girls...

"Ha ha. But how is your gorgeous cousin? Benji?" He draped his arm around my shoulders as we turned to the main office.

"Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow to him. He laughed at my most likely disgusted face. Ever since I caught them making out over Christmas break, it was weird.

"C'mon, I'm sure Mrs D missed you over the summer." I punched him in the arm as we got to the front of line. The little, old lady looked up from a stack of papers and smiled at us. Mrs Dells wasn't as horrid as the other teachers here, she was actually pretty nice. To me and Max anyway... She let us hang out during classes if we weren't particularly motivated to attend that day. I noticed that she had dyed her pale brown hair to a copper colour and wore a deep red pair of glasses, as opposed to her old wire pair. A pain in my right side brings me back to reality.

"Ow!" I say eyeing Max.

"Sorry El, but you were off in your own world again."

"Sorry." Biting the inside of my cheek, I take the schedule Mrs Dells holds to me and mumble a quick thank you before turning and moving to the halls.

Grabbing my upper arm and spinning me to face him, Max whispers to me.

"Ella, what's up? You don't usually space out unless you're stressed or something. I thought you were doing better with the therapy."
Shit. Why'd he have to remember that?

"I was." He raises a brow at me.

"I- I mean, I am. Its just, the first day, you know?" I adjust my bag in my shoulder and try not to panic if someone heard.

"Yeah, okay. Sorry. You know me, you're basically my sister. I'm just worried. Don't let things get to out of control." He says placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I won't." I assure him. "Let me see your schedule." He hands me a piece of paper with his classes on it.

"We have Lit and maths together." I tell him.

"Okay, see you in maths in 20." He says as he walks into his homeroom. Just from this morning, I could already tell that this was going to be a long year.