𝑰𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒏𝒐

4 : Second First Day

𝕆 𝔸 𝕂 𝕃 𝔼 𝕐

February 15th, 20xx

One of the worst first days is the first day in a new school. New surroundings, new people, everyone looking, and the awkwardness of standing alone. None of it was appealing.

Sadly, it was my first day at Edison. Not only that, I was awake before sunrise. The bus got to the middle school at 6:44 am and I lived a whole twenty minutes away. I'd have to walk those twenty minutes but also have to get ready.

"Oakley, you up?" Mom knocked on my door.

"Yeah, I'm up!"

Rubbing the exhaustion away from a sleepless night due to nerves, I grabbed a random shirt. All I owned were long sleeve solid-color shirts. When I wanted, I'd dress up but I didn't want more eyes on me.

Deciding my outfit was good enough, I crossed the room to the bathroom. I couldn't figure out why my mom was up though. She had scared me when she knocked a few minutes prior.

"Good morning, why are you awake?" I yawned.

"I couldn't let you go without a proper send-off. I wanted to see you leave for your second first day of senior year."

"Makes sense, I guess."

After I got ready, I stood at the door as my mom took photo after photo. She was always into posting things on Facebook. She was always posting about Willow on her mommy pages, pages that were made specifically to mothers with disabled children to help them create a safe zone. On her personal page, she'd post about me.

She tried hard to make me feel secure that she loved me. I knew she did but it hurt when she couldn't remember things about me like she did with Willow. When she felt burdened by the thought of not knowing me as much as she did with Willow, I told her it wasn't her fault.

She shouldn't have to worry about me when she has enough on her plate with Willow.

"I'll see you later. I'll text you when I get out."

"Okay, have fun!"

"Like school has ever been fun!" I said with the exact tone she had used.

Lightly slapping me, she jokingly pushed me out the front door. I put my headphones in before I walked down the stairs. It was nippy out, the wind wasn't helping either, but luckily I had chosen my long sleeve with a thick sweater. The street lights had turned off as I got to the first crosswalk. It was when I had crossed did I hear my name being called.

"Oakley!" Sally called from down the street.

Taking my headphones out, I watched as she lightly jogged my way. It was a little awkward that I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. What was I supposed to say? I didn't even know her enough to feel comfortable with her alone. Especially if her boyfriend Tate was going to say something about it. 

Although, they didn't really act the 'normal' way that couples did. Something felt...off.

"I should have texted you that we should walk together. We're going the same way anyway. Somer comes from the opposite way and we sometimes meet up at the second street light. You're part of us now so we'll all walk together."