sweet stars | robin buckley

Chapter 1- Summer

Reese Mora
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3:51pm

I squint my eyes, trying to focus on the chalk board in the front of the classroom. Damn Mr. Walker for giving us a lesson on the last day of school. All our other teachers let us sign yearbooks and eat candy the whole class period. But here we are, the last period of the day, and listening to Mr. Walker go on and on about something I'm not listening to. No body is paying attention, even the smart kids. We're too busy looking out the window, or looking at the clock, or simply just thinking about other things.

I look up at the clock. Nine more minutes of this shit, and then junior year is over, I think to myself. I surprise myself by saying that, junior year is over. It feels like a day ago I was walking into Hawkins High, with such high hopes. Sorry to let my freshman self down, but this place sucks. Rocco and Dawn made it not so bad, though.

I open a book and read for the remainder of class. It's a romance book; forbidden, star-crossed lovers type of beat. It's a library book, and I should've turned it in last week, but it was too good to give back. I'm sure the librarian won't mind. Turns out reading makes time fly by faster, and before I know it there's only one minute of class left.

Mr. Walker stops, and looks up at us, "Alright, I think that's it for today. Oh! Don't forget about summer reading, I have your book clubs on the board in case you forget. And uh... have a great summer. You are dismissed." he says, and before he even finishes, the sound of zippers and feet moving and books being shoved into backpacks scatter around the room.

I rush to the door, I need to find Rocco and Dawns class so we can walk home together. I squeeze through this guy and the door frame, and find my way into the hallway.

It's a madhouse, everyone going different directions and yelling as they do so. People are pushing and shoving me left and right, the nerve of some people. This big football guy bumps into me causing me to almost loose my balance. He mumbles a sorry, and I feel the air in my throat start to close up. This is what my mom would call a "panic attack". I get them sometimes, when I feel small. They were worse when I was a kid, though. Now, I know to do the breathing method Dawn taught me. I rush to the nearest bathroom to catch my breath.

No surprises, the bathroom is packed too. Two popular girls stand close to the mirrors, and another girl stands to the side, washing her hands. I don't know the names of the popular girls, just that they're popular. The look in the mirror and one re-applies her blue eyeshadow. I do recognize the other girl, Robin Buckley. I've never talked to her, but I've seen her around.

The three of them look up to me as I rush in, and I realize I've made quite the entrance. I'm breathing heavily and on the verge of tears. The two girls just laugh, and whisper. I hate when they whisper. Robin looks at me, and I can't tell what she's thinking. I look at them for an awkward amount of time, and turn right back around. The energy in that bathroom is worse than the hallway.

I'm pacing to Dawn's class, keeping my head low and pushing through the crowd. I hate this place, I hate this place, I hate this place, echos through my head as I run up to Dawn. The crowd in the hallway has thankfully calmed down, and so have I.

"Oh my word, summer!" Dawn beams as we walk together, "We have so much to do. I can convince my mom to take us on a beach trip, you like the beach don't you? Oh, and s'mores with bonfires! We need to do that too. There's this ice cream place at the mall my little brother goes to, apparently it's good. Rocco wouldn't want to, but we should go shopping together, just girls!" she goes on. I smile and nod, and tune her out as I try to find Rocco.