7:01

1•Fresh Start

Come on, skinny love, what happened here?
I turn into the familiar parking lot of Crosswell High, and park my car. The first day of my sophomore year was not welcomed, but not hated. Swinging my backpack over my shoulder, I walk through the double doors of the school and find my locker. Just as I start to twist the dial on my locker, Cassidy, my best friend, rushes up to me.
"AJ, you will never believe what happened! Mac broke up with Jessica so now he's single!" Cassidy has had a crush on this guy, Mac, for a long time, and truthfully, she deserves better than him. He's never stayed with a girl for longer than a week. But, it's my job as a best friend to support Cassidy.
"Good luck with that, Cass. See you in 3rd hour!"

~•~
"Miss Jones? Is there something you would like to tell the class?" My teacher, Mrs. Mahan, peers down at me over her glasses.
"No, ma'am." I slide farther down in my seat, wishing that the day would end sooner.
"Very well. Be sure to keep your mouth shut, or it will not be-" Saved by the bell. Everyone jumps up and practically runs out of the classroom. Yes, it's only the first day of school, but once summer's over, you feel the dead weight of school on your shoulders. And it hurts.
"Thank the Lord, time for lunch! I'm so hungry, and Mrs. M was killing me! I almost fell asleep." Cassidy chatters on as we walk down towards the lunch room. I zone out as we wait in line for pizza. Oh, I wish I could spend the day eating pizza and watching Netflix...
"AJ! Pizza or pasta?" Cassidy jabs my side with her elbow.
"Ouch! Hm? Oh! Pizza please! Thank you!" I subtly (not) lick my lips as I give my pizza a hungry glance.
Cassidy and I are joined by our friend Jack and Jake at the table. They're twins, and are my second family.
"Pizza day, I see. Be careful, Jack, we can't steal AJ's food today." Jake tells his brother. Everybody know not to mess with me on pizza day. Suddenly, a boy drops his tray next to mine and sits down. I close my eyes as I catch a whiff of the familiar smell, pine needles and cinnamon. I pray to the God of personal fragrances that it's not him. I take a quick peek at the person next to me, and the God of personal fragrances has let me down.
"Blake, what are you doing here?" I ask sharply.
"Eating with my best friend." He says. I cock an eyebrow. "That's you, Alessandra." He adds with a wink. I promptly get up and grab his collar, dragging him out of the cafeteria.
"Since when were we 'best friends'," I ask, using my fingers as quotation marks.
"Ever since 7:01 5 years ago." He smirks.
"Blake, that's when our friendship ended. Because of you, and...that!" I wave my arms around in anger.
"That was not my fault," he says, walking closer to me. "But this is." His lips descend upon mine, and I push him off me.
"Blake! What are you thinking?! You have no right to do that!" I yelp. His smirk widens.
"Oh, Alessandra. I have every right, and you know it." His lips are upon mine again in a flash, and then everything is black.