them

Her

My backpack felt like it weighed twenty pounds more than usual as I slung it over my shoulder and got out of my car. The parking lot was buzzing with people telling their friends what they did over winter break; what parties they went to, what boys they hooked up with on New Year's, and what their daddy's got them for Christmas.

It made me sick to my stomach.

I looked around the parking lot, searching for a familiar head of curly red hair. I finally spotted her and weaved my way through the masses of high schoolers until I was at her side.

"Hey, Poppy," I said quietly, nudging her side. Poppy turned towards me and flashed an award winning smile before embracing me in a tight, suffocating hug.

"Scar, I missed you so much!" Poppy squealed. I gave her a small smile and then ruffled her hair.

"I missed you, too. How was Florida?" I asked her.

"Hot and humid. But it doesn't matter how Florida was, because I want to know how you are. Was Christmas without her okay?" Poppy asked me, her dark brown eyes full of concern. I pursed my lips, willing the stinging feeling behind my eyes to go away before I answered.

"It was tough, I'm not going to lie. But Dad and I went over to Grams and Gramps's for Christmas and that helped," I told her. Poppy nodded and rubbed my shoulder. She really was the best friend anyone could ask for and I wanted to tell her that my break hadn't been tough, it had been unbearable. I cried myself to sleep almost every night and barely said a word. Dad and I hadn't even gotten a Christmas tree or decorated, both of us physically and emotionally drained. Neither of us were decorators; that had been Mom. And now that she was gone, the house was silent and dead.

But I wasn't a huge fan of showing emotion.

"We should get to class," Poppy said, looping her arm with mine. "Do you want to go out to lunch today?"

"Sure. But since you brought it up, you're paying," I joked and Poppy narrowed her eyes at me, but there was a playful sense to it. I could tell she was glad I wasn't moping around.

"Fine. It'll be my treat," she winked at me and then unlinked our arms as we walked into the school's front doors.

"I've got Bio now. Wish me luck!" Poppy waved and then skipped off, her curls bouncing every time one of her feet hit the ground.

I laughed softly and then turned in the opposite direction, heading to my own personal form of torture; Calculus.

"New year new seats!" Mr. Lance called, clapping his hands together as if us moving seats was the most excited thing since the invention of math. "The seating chart is on the board!"

I read through the names until I found mine that had been placed in the very back corner next to some guy named Dylan that I had never heard of. I think I had a special talent of ignoring everyone around me, which probably was why I didn't know 3/4 of my grade and we had been going to school together for 3 and a half years.

Not like it mattered anyways, I would be leaving for college soon. Hopefully.
I threw my ratty backpack under my desk and slumped down in the chair, pulling my black sweater up over my hands.

"Someone looks happy to be in math," a low voice said from my left, chuckling softly. I glanced out of the corner of my eyes to see a boy with brown hair and brown eyes. How boringly average.

This must be Dylan.

"Clearly," I muttered sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"I'm Dylan," he said.

"Scarlett,"

"I know,"

"What are you? My stalker?" I asked, slightly annoyed with the boy.

Normally I preferred to stay quiet and anti social, so the fact that Dylan decided to strike up a conversation with me didn't put me in a good mood.

"We've been going to the same school since 6th grade. And we have calc and ap lit together. So, no, I'm not your stalker. Unless you'd like me to be?" Dylan asked, a lazy smile on his lips.

I shot him the dirtiest glare I could muster and then turned to face the front of the room.

"I can already tell this semester will be a pleasure," Dylan said bitingly. I turned back only to smirk at him and then didn't acknowledge his presence for the rest of the hour.

******
Wellllll here I am. Starting a new story. Hopefully I will finish it! I'm thinking that I will because I have it planned out so this will be good, I promise:)