A Letter to You

senior year: day one, before class

"And," Dylan began as he parked the car, "we're on time, just like Emma wanted."

"Just like we all needed," the blue-eyed girl retorted before slipping out of the vehicle. You all followed her example, meeting near the hood.

"She's got a point, Dyl," Maddie said as the boy threw an arm over her shoulders. You walked in-step beside her, Jenna to your right and Emma on Dylan's left. "We can't afford detention this early in the year."

"And you," Jenna interjected, pointing at the boy, "can't afford detention, period."

"Dylan almost got expelled last year with the amount of detentions he got," your cousin whispered, providing context for the conversation at hand. You chuckled lightly.

Dylan threw his hands in the air. "Not my fault this school can't handle my genius."

"I don't think I'd call almost blowing up the science lab 'genius,'" Emma scoffed.

"Pish posh," the boy said. "Either way--"

He was interrupted as you stepped through the front entrance and other students noticed your group, different forms of greeting being called out to the others around you.

"Hey, Dyl!"

"Maddie! Looking good!"

"Jenna!"

"Emma, hi!"

"Who's that girl with them?" one boy piped up loud enough to cause everyone's eyes to fall on you. For a moment, silence filled the hallways before your peers simply shrugged and went back to the conversations that they were having beforehand. Still, as the five of you walked, you could feel eyes following your movements and heard questioning whispers.

"You guys are used to new students then?" you asked, gaze dancing from one new face to the next.

Maddie nodded. "We get at least one or two every year. At this point, it's no biggie, especially since it's obvious that you already have friends." She slipped out from beneath Dylan's arm and then looped her pinky with yours, guiding you towards your new locker as the other three went in a different direction, not bothering with goodbyes. "If you were alone, then there might be a few attempts to pull you into certain groups, but you're not, so you don't have to worry about that."

Throughout the halls, people continued to wave or greet your cousin, and you loitered awkwardly beside her while she spoke. It was clear that she was at least somewhat popular.

"And here we are," she said as she stopped. Your locker was right next to hers--comfort, the principal had said, is our number one priority, as though you were at a hotel and not a high school.

You were slowly unpacking your bag, organizing the shelves so that your binders would be easy to grab, when a body leaned against the locker beside you. You glanced up, glanced down, and then glanced up again, struck by the beauty of the girl that was eyeing you with a small smirk. A strand of black hair fell in her face and she blew it away nonchalantly before gracing you with a smile that was all pearly-white teeth

"Hi," she said, voice tinged with a rasp that made your knees weak.

Maddie's locker slammed shut and you jumped at the noise before startling at the sound of your cousin squealing. "Mikey!" she exclaimed, rushing past you to throw her arms around the raven-haired girl. She hugged the blonde with an equal amount of vigor and then pulled away.

"Maddie! Ugh, it's so good to see you. I absolutely need to tell you all about my summer," Mikey said, twisting so that her back was pressed against the locker. She crossed her arms over her chest, and you simply watched. "But, I was just introducing myself to our newest student." Her gaze drifted towards you, and Maddie beamed.

"Mikey, this is my cousin, Y/N. Y/N, this is Mikey," the blonde said, introducing you to each other. You offered a small smile, racking your brain for any memory of this girl. You had never heard Maddie speak of her before, so she must be a newer friend you finally concluded.

"Cousin, huh? Well, very nice to meet you, Y/N. Looks like we're locker neighbors." She pushed herself off the locker. "So, I guess I'll be seeing you around." Another perfect smile paired with a wink, and then she disappeared into the crowd.

Maddie practically vibrated with glee beside you. "Okay, that one you can fall for."

You shook your head, ridding yourself of your stupor. "W-what?" You shut your locker softly, zipped up your backpack, furrowed your eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," your cousin began, looping her arm with yours and dragging you with her as she walked, "that Mikey's up for grabs. I've never seen anyone more into women than she is. Jenna, on the other hand"--she shrugged, clicked her tongue--"is one of the straightest girls I've ever met, so she's a no-go."

"I didn't--I don't--I'm not," you sputtered, thinking too quickly for your mouth to catch up. "I'm not attracted to Jenna." Lie--huge, tremendous lie.

Maddie quirked an eyebrow at you, grinning. "Sure you're not. In the same way that Dylan's a genius."

"I heard that!" the blue-haired boy shouted, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Emma and Jenna were walking beside him, caught up in their own conversation, and you couldn't help your eyes as they glued themselves to the latter's frame before you and Maddie fell into step with the trio. "What're you guys talking about, anyway?"

You glanced at your cousin, fear and warning dancing behind your eyes. She chuckled. "Just girl stuff, babe. Nothing crazy."

He eyed her suspiciously and hummed. "Well, alright then."

Cutting through all conversations, the first bell rang, signaling that you had three minutes to get to class. You jumped, gasping audibly at the screeching sound, to which your cousin lightly rubbed her thumb against your arm.

"Just the bell," she said softly, her finger never ceasing its movements.

"I'll see you ladies later," Dylan chuckled as he parted from the group, moving backwards.

"Yeah, catch you guys at lunch!" Emma said, drifting towards the left.

"My class is at the east end," Maddie told you. "But you have your first period with Jenna. She'll take you, alright?" You nodded, separating yourself from her. "I'll see you at lunch."

And then she, too, disappeared into the sea of other students, leaving you with Jenna. The brunette smiled at you, looped her arm with yours just as your cousin did.

"Class time, baby!" she shouted energetically before pulling you along, leading you towards the west end of the school. 

author's note: and in rolls mikey!

-bingwriterxo