Signal of Distress

2 - Friends

~ No Friends - Chase Atlantic ~
❤︎❤︎❤︎

My mask is up
yet I still taste your gunpowder
-River Mitchell

"What the hell did you do!" Ashlyn shouts walking back in from wherever she went. I look back up at my wall.

"What? Is it crooked?" I ask. My wall is covered in song lyrics, my favourite poetry, quotes adorning the 6x4 collage photos.

Ashlyn doesn't say anything. She huffs out a breath running to her desk. "At least I don't think it is. Anyways, I've got class." I grab my backpack off the floor.

I don't bother saying goodbye. I leave. I begin making my way to the coffee shop on the way to my first class. I'm an English major. I will become a writer one day, I can promise you that.

The smell of coffee blesses my nostrils as I walk in. I head to the line. It doesn't take long until they hand me my coffee and I head back outside.

To my first class. Creative writing. It was long but I didn't mind. I could write for hours. As soon as class finishes I leave and head outside. I wonder what's around here?

"Miss! Miss!" I turn around to see a man with a camera around his neck running towards me. I notice his Grey shirt covered in paint.

My eyebrows crease as I wait for him to speak. "Your picture, can I take it?" He asks. I don't miss the British accent in his voice.

"Why?" I ask skeptically. No one's ever asked me that before.

"Well you are a beautiful bird," he says.

"Bird?"

He laughs, shaking his head. "I mean girl. Ever been to the UK?" He asks. I shake my head. "Well, you should. It's beautiful. Your picture?" He holds up his camera.

I give in. "Fuck it right?" I smile into the camera.

"MARCUS!" A girl screams.

"Bloody hell," Marcus mumbles under his breath. I can't help but laugh a little.

The dark skinned girl approaches us, her hair braided in cornrows. "Sorry, Marcus has no manners. I'm Ebony. I think you were in my class," she holds out her hand to me. She doesn't have a British accent but an American one like me.

I shake her hand. "Mr. Potter?" I question. She nods, a bright smile spreading across her face. "I'm River," I introduce.

"Nice to meet you. Sorry about Marcus here, I can get him to delete your picture. Sometimes he's overbearing." Ebony shoves her elbow with Marcus.

"She's beautiful. Those hazel eyes," Marcus compliments. "How could you delete such a beautiful photo?" He holds his camera out to show me the picture he took.

It looks professional. "Are you an artist?" I ask. It would only make sense as to why he has a camera around his neck and paint on his shirt.

He nods proudly. "Marcus Foster, future artist, photographer. One day you shall see one of my paintings worth millions of dollars," he assures. I love his confidence.

"Alright Marcus. I'm River Mitchell, future writer. One day you will see my books in store and one of the best books."

He smiles. "I like her. Can we keep her," he looks at Ebony.

Ebony looks at me. "We're about to go to the diner for lunch. You want to come with us?" Ebony asks. Did I just make friends?

"Yeah, sure," I agree. We all begin walking to the dinner. Ebony is actually a business major but she decided to take a creative writing class.