Until I Met You

2

My mom was so excited for the first day of school. Every year she would be waiting for me to come downstairs with my favorite breakfast meal, chocolate chip pancakes. She would ask me about my goals of that year and what I'm most excited for. I always loved the first day of school because of this reason. Just getting up and knowing that I would get to spend time with her one on one before school made me excited for the day to come. 

Now, everything is different. I woke up and got ready. I put on a flowy pink dress and matched it with my white Doc Martens. I just crimped my hair to make it look like I slept in braids. Grabbing my bag and phone, I headed downstairs hoping for my breakfast to be made but as I got closer to the first floor, there was so smell of pancakes. 

The house was empty and quiet. So instead, I made a smoothie and decided to head to the school early. I didn't have to be there till 8 but I figured I could get my class schedule and walk around to find everything. The drive was only about 10 minutes and when I pulled into the parking lot, there were only a few cars but they were closer to the football stadium which meant that the football players probably had practice this morning. 

Me and my friends back home had a first day of school tradition. It was always me, Emma, Maria, and their boyfriends, Noah, and Jake. We were a big group of friends and I knew that even if they broke up, we would all still be friends but I also knew that they wouldn't break up. We would meet at our favorite coffee shop at 7 o'clock and we would reflect on the summer. We would talk about the best moments and then our embarrassing moments of that summer. Most of the time it would be Noah and Jake going off about the parties they went to and then Emma and Maria would chime in and say they already knew that story cause the two of them were there as well. 

I spent most the last three summers with my mom. Whether she was in the hospital or wanting to travel or just chill in our house, I was always with her. Dad was always working and I think that's why he doesn't want to be a doctor anymore. He feels guilty because he was too busy trying to find a cure for her and not really spending time with her. 

I didn't even see if there was a coffee shop in town but I would find it hard to believe that there wouldn't be. But there is no need to continue that tradition if the friends are not going to be there too. 

I make my way through the doors and to my right is the main office. I ring the bell and someone unlocks to the door. My nose is filled with the smell of bleach the minute I open the door. There are two small couches to my left and a little table and then the counter top in a L shape with a magnetic door right beside me for people getting behind the desk. 

"How can I help you?" The older lady behind the desk asks me. She looks to be in her 60s with her grey hair and wrinkles around her hazel eyes. He smile is soft and welcoming. 

"I'm new think year. My name is Victoria Johnson," I smile softly at her as I walk closer to the desk. 

"Are you Joe's daughter?" 

How would she know my dad?

"Yeah," I say questionably. I don't even know if this is information I can give out like this. My dad is from this town and I really hope people don't just know me because of him. 

"Oh honey, I was the librarian when he was a senior here. I remember her used to always come into the library just to watch this very pretty girl. It was quite creepy but romantic in my book." 

"Oh yeah he said that he would go to the library just to watch my mom read and study because he thought she was the prettiest girl at the school and he fell in love with the way she read. At least that's how he words it," the lady laughs softly as if reflecting on that memory, or the memory of my father falling in love with my mother.