Meet Me At the Swing Set

Chapter 1

I felt silence consume me for just a second, when I turned off the engine of my car in the school parking lot. I sucked in a breath, pulling my compact mirror up to my face. My finger brushed the gash on the underside of my jaw, covered with concealer, making me cringe.

The region around it swelled, which was something I couldn't do anything about. It wasn't like anyone noticed. I had gotten away with injuries a lot worse than this.

I turned in my seat, and stepped out of the car with my bag, counting till ten. "Hi, Alina." I took a deep breath before turning around to look at my friends. Although I wouldn't really call them friends. More like acquaintances. "Alina!" said Emily.

I realized I hadn't responded to her.

"I got you coffee, low sugar with a drizzle of hazelnut, just how you like it." She said, her voice thin and piercing. I put on my best trademark Stevens' smile, and took the cup graciously from her. "Thank you, Emily." I say, batting my eyelashes at her.

"So apparently, Josh and Mia got back together at the party last night-"

Oh I know. I watched them leave the party together.

We entered the building, and I didn't meet anyone's eye, only looking at Amanda, who was talking, out of the corner of my eye.

"Yeah, I know right? His friend Luca was so happy he literally blacked out from all the drinking. His boyfriend had to carry him home. I was swooning so hard over him. It's always the cute ones that are gay."

I masked a smirk at that. "When did you go home, anyway. I don't think anyone saw you leave." I lost the smirk on my face immediately, nervousness taking over. "Just felt a little tired. Besides, I had that assignment to complete, right?" I said, offering a tight smile.

I felt like time had moved faster than what I wanted it to. I sipped my coffee, just wanting an excuse not to talk. A boy passing in the hallways caught my attention, and I realized that it wasn't just me, but all the girls in the corridor checking him out. I had to admit he was cute.

He gave out a rugged vibe, with a smug smile gracing his face, and was wearing a pair of old ripped jeans, and a fitted white t-shirt under a black windbreaker. I wrinkled my nose at his taste in clothing. His hair was a mixture of brown and blonde strands.

"Come back here, you little piece of shit!"

I sighed. She always had to get into trouble, didn't she? Elizabeth chased after him, her old black hoodie dripping in something that looked suspiciously like muddy water, or black coffee. Or maybe both. I rolled my eyes, leaning against the nearest locker, knowing it wouldn't do me any good to interfere.

The boy didn't run, or even acknowledge her, which was something I found slightly amusing. She passed by me, before skidding to a stop. And before I could realize what happened, the cup of coffee was snatched right out of my hands, and she was stalking towards him.

Amanda and Emily gasped as soon as she threw the coffee in his face, and I heard myself wincing. That coffee was very hot, and it probably stung at least a little. He made a sound that sounded like a cry and a growl, and I slapped a hand over my forehead.

Everyone in the corridor had stopped at that point, eagerly looking and nudging each other at the potential fight. No one loves drama like high school students do.

He rubbed the sticky, hot liquid off his face. Both of them glared at each other, Elizabeth's arms crossed across her chest. And this is where I'm going to intervene. They do not disrespect coffee and get away with it.