Day After Day

Inner Circle

Chapter 001;
Inner circle

TODAY IS monday, the worst day of the week. This week was state testing week as well, and the blazing heat of mid May doesn't lighten up my mood either.

I put on an oversized hoodie, baggy jeans, and worn out converse and left my house. I always enjoyed walking to school because the sun in the morning is refreshing. The way it peeks out from between the trees, washing my face with a beautiful ray of orange.

•

On my usual way to school I hear yelling from afar. My head shoots in the direction subconsciously to see what it's about. I'm surprised to see Robin and a few of his friends. Robin had blonde hair and always smelt of cigarettes and body spray.

"Anna! Come walk with us." He calls out. I can't really make out his facial features because the beautiful sun is blocking them.

"Aw. Do I have to?"

"Yes. This isn't a negotiation, loser, get over here!" He yells once again.

I walk over to his group and once I do so they began walking once more. I notice they are all wearing similar attire, which is flannel and jeans. I recognize two of them, Carter; Who was very tall and looked intimidating, but he was actually really sweet, and Phoebe who has dark skin and butterfly locs, she's super nice and bubbly.

"So whatcha been up to this summer, Annie?" Phoebe asked.

"Nothing much, I went to stay at my parents beach house, I guess. What about you?"

"Oh you know, keeping these dumbasses in line, which I suppose I'm not very good at since they got fucking arrested!"

"What the fuck Robin, what for?" I ask, slapping his shoulder.

"We got caught spray painting a dick at Mr. Dawson's store. Heh.." He sighs, recalling the embarrassing moment.

"I bet it was in the light of day too. Wasn't it, Carter?" I interrogate.

I noticed Carter's body language change. His shoulders shot up and he rubbed the back of his neck, giving an apologetic smile. This gave me my answer.

"Uhh- Anyways, Annie this is Matteo, Theo, and Ivy."

Matteo has dark skin and dreads. He's about the same height as me.

Theo has pale skin, freckles, and blonde hair, he's shorter than me.

Ivy has light brown skin, curly hair, dimples, and dark brown eyes that drew me in. I could feel myself getting lost in the deep depths of her eyes.

"What's up?"

"Hey."

"Hi."

They all greeted me, wondering why the girl Infront of them was staring so deeply.

"Oh sorry. I'm Adrianna." I say, giving a warm smile.

We continued the walk to school talking about random things. I could feel an uneasy tension between Ivy and I. She gave a few soft glares, but didn't say anything rude or out of pocket.

When we reached the entrance doors, where we would usually depart, Robin stopped me.

"You wanna hangout with us?" He asked. I could see Ivy tense up a bit.

"Uh. Nah I'm good."

"Please?" Matteo said, to which I gave in because this kid just met me and is so welcoming? Hello? Ivy could never.

"Well. I guess." I said, letting my shoulders relax.

"Whoopie." Ivy said under her breath, sarcasm evident in her voice.

•

After school the group and I decided to head to the mall. Phoebe informed me that they usually don't pay for things. I could tell she thought I was someone who got all sweaty and scared when someone stole stuff, but I'm not, I've done it before, hasn't everyone?

When we got there we all broke up into two groups. Phoebe, Ivy, and I in one, Matteo, Carter, Theo, and Robin in another.

Ivy wasn't entirely pleased when she got paired with me, and everyone could tell the tension between us but no one commented on it. Until..

"Okay, so Ivy what the fuck is your deal, babe?" Phoebe asked, leading us to a sephora.

"What?"

"Your deal with Ria?"

"Who the fuck is Ria?"

"Me-" I said with an uncomfortable chuckle.

"I don't have a 'deal' with you. I just don't like new people?" She said with poison in her tone.

"I get it." I sighed.

After a few hours of walking around the mall Phoebe got lost. I was left with literal poison ivy.

"I'm sorry." I said, as we looked through the stores to find Phoebe.

"For?"

"Dropping in so abruptly. I don't like new people either. Robin knows that so I don't know why he put both of us in the position but it's not his fault. It's mine. I'll leave you and your group if you so please."

"Nah it's cool. Just have boundaries, got it?" She said, giving me a light tipped smile.

"Got it. Thanks Poison Ivy." I said, to which she chuckled.

•

We ended up finding Phoebe at a Starbucks with the rest of the group. Apparently they all planned this so we would be forced to work out our problems. Now we're walking out of the mall, heading to the skatepark.

The beautiful night time sky sets over us, bathing us in majestic blue lighting. Everyone seems to adore the sky as much as I do, because we all ended up just admiring it.

•

"So hold on, you're telling me you've NEVER smoked before?" Robin dramatically gasped.

"Nah." I hesitated, "I mean I did like once a year ago but I didn't even inhale so I didn't get high." I said, cringing at the moment.

"Well.. do you want to?"

"Robin you said you didn't have any more bud?" Theo said.

"I lied, but for a newbie, I will share." He said, giving a bow.

"I hate you for real." Theo said.

"You all love me, I'm just irresistible, right Annie?"

"Ick."