Never let me go

Chapter 1

- It's finally over.

I quietly say under my breath as I close the locker. The last first day of High School, finally over. I can't believe that in 365 days, I will no longer return here, to this brick building, to this place that holds so much memory. Well, actually not that many memories for my part. To be honest, High School has not been easy for me. So when I say memories, I basically mean the memories that a teenager should have from High School. You know, the parties, the first kiss, the football games, the memorable moments with you friend group. I did not have any of those moments during my first years at Lohima High School, so why would anything magically change for me as a senior? It's just better for me to go about my day as I have always done, you know, so that I don't get my hopes up or anything. Wouldn't want that to happen, right.

As I walk out of the school halls, I am instantly greeted by sunshine and a blue sky. Perks of living in sunny California, I guess. They say that living in a sunny place could cure depression, I guess science can be wrong sometimes. Anyways, I walk towards my bike and unlock the lock. As I look up to put the keys in my backpack, Toni is looking right at me, glancing with her brownie-colored eyes at something behind me. I turn around and see Tristan, standing in the corner of the entrance of our School, laughing with a bunch of guys. Though he's laughing, I see him looking in Toni's direction with a shy smile. Ugh, High School love at its finest. Everyone is either too shy to make a move or too confident, like the jocks, always hanging out at the roof like some pelicans observing their next kill. I wish they could lose some of that confidence and hand it over to someone who actually needs it, like me, for example. But only if they're offering.

I bike all the way home, kind of enjoying the sunny weather, but also being tired of the same old assembly and presentations you have to go through every first day. As I open the door, I see my mom standing in the kitchen, making something I believe is bread, or at least smells like bread.

- What are you making? I ask as I lunge myself on the couch in the living room across our kitchen.

- Oh, hey honey! I was just trying out this new recipe I found on the internet, smells good don't it! She says as she's wiping of excess flour of her hands.

- It sures smells like something in there.

I unzip my backpack and take out my choice of book for the English lesson tomorrow. This time I chose to read J.D Salingers Catcher in the Rye. I've never read it before, but it was the only book left on Mr Johnsons desk after every student in my class grabbed the best ones. I just hope it's not boring.

- So, how was your official last first day of High School? Did it feel weird? My mom asks while kneading what I believe is a dough.

Here we go again.

- It was alright, you know, same old same old, I say. I try to avoid eye contact, as I know she will try to push it, like she always does.

- Where there any new students in your class or any new teachers?

- Nope, like I said, same old same old.

I take off my shoes and put my feet on the couch while plugging in some earphones. I see her noticing my small answer, so she just goes back to kneading the dough. Honestly, I don't listen to that much music, and my mom knows that. My family has never been that much cultural, I mean, neither one of my parents has ever been to a concert or anything likewise. So, whenever I plug my earphones in, it's just a symbol of me wanting to be alone and not be disturbed.

I notice the front page of the book, how the golden color swirls through the brown background. It's truly a beautiful cover, I must admit. The first few pages are not that interesting though, as it's mostly a monologue of the main character Holden. I sometimes zone out while reading, but the book is actually alright. At least the first 25 pages. Fortunately, Mr Johnson only asked us to choose a book and read the first few pages to have a view of the possible themes and main characters of the book. I lay on my side with my phone and put the book away. Browsing through the many apps, without any meaning or destination. I go to look at the list of my classmates. Maybe my mom is right, maybe we have someone new this year in my class, someone that I can be friends with. Okay Alex slow down, don't get your hopes up, don't rush things like you always do. As I scroll through the list, I do find a name that I don't recognize. I wonder who Aisha Green is.