Last Breath (2021)

Chapter #1: First Day 💄

I love first days of school, to me it is the opportunity to embrace the new you. It's a new beginning. I decided to wear a black crop top, blue skinny jeans and black vans. My long brown hair is loose and my light pink lips have one coat of lip-gloss on. As I walk through the hallway I can't help but notice all the boys staring at me. I know I'm beautiful, but it's nice to receive this kind of attention.

Once I make it to my locker, I open it and dump my PINK school bag in it. I open my bag and pull out my eyeliner. Staring at myself on the locker door mirror, I apply a little bit just to make my light brown eyes pop. I put away my eyeliner and start looking for my English notebook. As I look for my notebook I feel someone pulling at my shirt, I turn around and its Luna, my best friend.

"What's up girl?" She says, jumping in for a hug. I hug her back. "How've you been?"

"Nena, pero tu estás bella." I say looking at her. Luna is tall, olive skinned, her long black hair makes her light brown eyes and light pink lips pop. Today she's wearing a blue summer dress and blue Vans.

"Tu estás más bella!" She answers back. A guy across from us hears our exchange and looks at us funny.

"Speak English! You're not in Mexico anymore!" He slams his locker and makes his way through the hallway.

"I got two words for you, papito." Luna starts saying, "Fuck you!" She yells, and gives him the finger.

"What a dick." I say, pulling out my English class notebook. I close my locker and lean on it.

"Don't pay attention to it." She says, playing with her hair. "He is as stupid as they come."

"So," I start. "How was Spain?" I ask, smiling.

"It was wonderful!" She exclaims. "I'll show the pictures during lunch, I didn't want to leave."

"That's nice to hear. I'm really happy for you." I say, pulling my notebook close.

"How was your summer?" She asks, "Did anything interesting?"

"Well, I just worked the entire summer and went to the beach a couple of times." I answer.

"Ugh, sounds boring." She says and laughs.

"It may sound boring but thanks to all that hard work I got this!" I take out my car key from my pocket and show it to her.

"Girl! You got a car!" She shrieks, taking the key from my right hand. "When are we going to the mall?" I laugh.

"Maybe this Saturday, right after practice." I answer, taking the key back from her and placing it in my front left pocket of my jeans.

"Ugh, you're going to make me wait?" She wells.

"Serves you right for mocking my summer vacation." We both laugh.

"Andrea! Luna!" Someone yells from the end of the hallway. We both look to our left, searching for the mystery person that just called out our names. After a few seconds of searching we see Nina, our friend, waving her hands and running towards us. She's wearing a white short sleeve buttoned down shirt, black skirt and black converse. The wind is pushing her long brown hair behind, showing off her white skin, light green eyes and light pink lips.

"Why is she running?" Luna asks, looking at me.

"Guess we'll find out in a few seconds." I answer, looking at Nina.

"Guys," she starts, catching her breath. "You... won't... believe..."

"First of all," Luna starts. "Hello!"

"Hey guys," Nina says, recovered from her exhausting run. "You won't believe what I just saw in my homeroom list outside of my classroom."

"What did you see?" I ask, staring at her.

"Better yet, let me show you." She says, shoving her phone our way. "This is the list of students in my homeroom."

"Yeah, so?" I say, confused. "What's the big deal with this list?"

"Look at the first name on that list." She says, smiling like a crazy person.

"OH MY GOD!" Luna yells, taking the phone from Nina's hand. "SHUT UP!"

"I KNOW RIGHT?" Nina yells. "I still can't believe it myself."

"What? What is so incredible?" I ask, looking at both of them. "Show me," I say, taking the phone from Luna. Once I have the phone in my hands I look at the picture. I can't believe what I am seeing. The top name in that list reads: Aaron Anderson. The best cheerleader known in the High School level.

"Is this for real?" I ask, clutching the phone tight in my hand.

"I know right." Answers Nina, taking her phone back and putting it back in her skirt pocket. "Aaron Anderson is in OUR school. I can't believe it."

"But what is he even doing here?" Luna asks. "He is from a different school district."

"Maybe he moved here." I say, shrugging.

"It doesn't matter." Nina says, smiling. "The important thing is that he's here and he should join our squad."

"Definitely." I say playing with my hair.

"But, do you think he will join our squad?" Luna asks, holding her bookbag close. "He left the cheerleading scene like over a year ago."

"Really?" Nina asks. "Why?"

"No one knows." Luna starts, "He did not give anyone an explanation of why he did it."

"Doesn't make sense." I say, looking at my phone. Classes are about to start. "Why would the best cheerleader leave cheerleading behind?"

"Beats me," Luna answers. "But our job is to convince him to join our squad!"

"Totes!" Nina says, giddy.

"Make sure to ask him when you see him." I start, "But be subtle about it."

"Subtle is my middle name." Nina answers.

"No, it's not." I answer with a straight face.

"And don't take no for an answer." Luna says, looking at Nina in the eyes. "We need that boy in our squad." Right there on the spot the bell rings, the hallway is full of students making their way to their classes.

"We'll see you later Nina." I say, making my way to English class. "Text us all the details when you talk with Aaron."

"Please!" Luna says, as she runs the opposite direction to her first class of the semester.

"Trust me!" Nina says, walking behind Luna. "I promise I will deliver."

God, I hope she's right. Our squad needs someone like him.

And fast.