Panic and Butterflies

First Day Jitters

     I wake up to the terrible sound of my phone alarm ringing loudly in my ears. I groggily turn around in my bed to find my phone on my nightstand. I reach over, slowly grabbing my phone and turning my alarm off in the progress. I regrettably hold my phone up to my face, forgetting how bright it is and how sensitive my eyes are. I instinctively shut my eyes but then open them seconds after to see my phone read, "7:00".

     I put my phone down onto my bed and groan at the thought of merely moving my covers. I stare at the ceiling and feel the warmth of my covers that shelter me from the cold of my house. But I hear my dad clanking pans around, most likely trying to make breakfast downstairs. So I enjoy the last seconds of warmth and finally sit up. I examine my room to adjust my eyes and as I reach the window I stare out onto the trees outside for a couple of seconds until I realize I should get up. I get out of my bed, feeling the cold wooden floor beneath me. I shiver but walk out of my room and head to the bathroom before my siblings can hog it.

     As soon as I have taken a shower and brush my teeth, I head downstairs in a hurry. Almost tripping on each step I take. Now only having 10 minutes until I need to be at school. Luckily it's only a 7-minute walk but that doesn't really leave much room for breakfast.

     "Good morning!", my dad greets me in his usual joyful voice. I smile at his failed attempts at pancakes and take an apple on the counter instead.

     "I'm late to school, but it looks like you're getting better," I say in a sarcastic tone as I point to the pancakes on the counter.

     "Hey, no need to lie!" My dad laughs "I'll see you after school, do you need me to pick you up?"

     "Nope! I can walk, just focus on your work dad. Love you!" I yell as I walk out the door with my backpack now around my arm and apple in hand.

     I bite into the apple as I start my walk to school. First day of sophomore year and I'm a nervous wreck. My stomach is doing flips and I keep thinking of the worse things that could possibly happen. But from the outside, you could barely tell that I was even a tad bit nervous. I feel the wind on my skin and hear a crunch of leaves on the floor under me. I take a breath and focus on everything around me instead. Birds chirping and the beautiful sights of nature. Being outside always seemed to calm my nerves. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad.

     "HEY!", I hear a familiar voice yell from behind me. "What's up Row Boat?"

     "I told you to stop calling me that Mel." I roll my eyes but giggle as I see my best friend approaching.

     We've been friends since kindergarten. We met at recess when some kids were picking on me for being alone and having no friends. But Mel punched one of them and let's just say that they never picked on me again. Mel and I have been inseparable since. I don't know what I would do without her. But she really gets on my nerves at times. Like now.

     "Did you finish the chemistry homework? I didn't understand a thing!" Mel cries as she turns to me expectantly.

     "Maybe it's because you're always falling asleep in class?" I explain as I grab my bag to give her my homework. "I told you to stop staying up late so much."

     "I know! But watching anime is so much more fun than sleeping," I laugh at her silly reasoning and hand her my homework for her to copy. "Thank you so much! I owe you."

     "Yes, you do," I say with a cocky smirk and continue to walk to school with Mel by my side. Talking about how nervous we were to go to school.

     As soon as I see our school in the distance, my breathing becomes unsteady. "Oh no, not again.", I think to myself. My heart is racing and I can't focus. I excuse myself from Mel in a hurry and run to the side of the school where no one can see me. I sit down under a tree and start to count to 10 like my mom had taught me. She always made sure I was ready for a panic attack if she wasn't there to help.

     I finally regain my breath and my heart slows down after about 5 minutes. "Great, I'm definitely late now," I say to myself as I stand up.

     I dust myself off and then hear a crack behind me. Like someone stepping on a stick. I turn around quickly to where the noise came from. Only to be met with a tall girl who I've never seen before.

     "I- uh- hello."