WALLFLOWER // B.E

one

juniper

i sighed as i slumped into my seat. today is the first day of my senior year.

i'm just ready to graduate.

i'm holding on to the fact that after this semester, i'll only have to take one more class. i have a full schedule this semester, but next semester, i'll only have to come to school for one class.

i leaned back in my seat, and i crossed my left leg over my right leg. i put one of my airpods in, then looked down at my phone as i scrolled through tiktok.

i glanced up at the classroom door. the teacher was stood at it, waiting for students to come into the room. once they did, she would ask for their name, then show them which seat to sit at.

i don't know why she's giving a bunch of seventeen and eighteen year olds assigned seats, but whatever.

when i glanced up, i saw a girl walk in. she was a little shorter than the average height. she had mid-length, blonde hair, as well as piercing blue eyes. she was dressed in a black skirt, paired with a black, graphic t-shirt.

i've seen her around the school several times. she's always so smiley and seems friendly enough. it seems as though she knows everybody who goes here; every time i see her, she's talking to a different group of people.

she's cute, i'll give her that.

"what's your name?" the teacher raised a brow.

"billie. billie o'connell."

"right..." the teacher mumbled as she trailed off and looked down at her clipboard. "okay, you're sitting in the back, beside juniper. juniper, raise your hand."

i briefly held up my hand. i dropped it when i saw billie heading over here, and i diverted my attention back to my phone.

she walked over, and she dropped her book bag onto the floor beside her desk. i side-eyed her as she sat down.

please, don't talk to me. just be quiet, and we can both get through the day. everything—

"hi," she greeted. "i'm billie."

i sighed as i dipped my head for a few seconds. "i know," i replied.

"juniper, right?" she tilted her head. "are you new here? i don't think i've seen you around."

"nope. i've gone here my whole life."

"really? do you try and stay hidden, or something? away from everybody?" she questioned in a joking manner.

"that's the goal."

"oh," she mumbled. she awkwardly rubbed at her neck. "that's... cool. do you like it..?"

"yep."

she was silent for a couple of seconds. "i couldn't. i've always been the kinda of person that needs to be around friends and people. you know? it doesn't make me happy to be lonely all the time," she laughed a bit.

"i'm not lonely all the time. alone? yeah. lonely though? no," i corrected her.

she pursed her lips. "oh, okay. i get that."

i hummed, then completely turned my attention to my phone again. i was able to watch one tiktok before she started to talk again.

"you don't talk a lot, do you?"

"i'd rather not," i blew out a puff of air. "not to people i don't know."

her brows furrowed. "well... why don't we get to know each other then? would you talk then?"