forget me not [severe hiatus]

chapter one - new school

elliot

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love. - Max Muller

"C'mon, El. You'll love it here."

 "Don't call me El," I grumble. "It sounds like a girls' name."

 "And what's wrong with girls' names?" Asks my sister, mock offended, and brings a hand to her cheek . Her nails are painted bright pink, which catches my eye every time I look at her hands. Although I suppose that's the point.

 "Because I'm not a girl," I groan. "And put your hand back on the wheel, you'll get us in a car crash. And I'm not ready to die yet."

 "Sure you aren't," she smiles, but turns her gaze back to the road. "Aren't you excited for the new school? We can finally start over. Oh my Lord, I can't wait. Do you think there's going to be any cute new boys here? It's the coast here - Eeep, maybe I can find one of those beach boys! He'll be a surfer, for sure, with tan skin and sun-kissed hair. And oh, his abs," She rambles, listing what her perfect boyfriend - that she'll undoubtedly never get - will be like.

 Moaning, I lean my head against the window, then start banging it against it. Maybe if I hit my head hard enough, I'll knock myself out and won't have to listen to Brandi anymore. Or go to school.

 A song comes on the radio, and Brandi starts squealing. She turns the volume dial up. "Oh. My. Lawd. It's One Direction! I wasn't sure if they even HAD  them in Cali!" She starts bobbing her head to the music, holding up a peace sign with her left hand and singing along to the lyrics.

 "Of course they have them in California, Brandi. They're not just going to not exist," I mumble, before saying much louder, "For God's sake, Brandi, keep your eyes on the road! You want us to die, don't you?"

 She laughs and waves her hand at me - again, unsafe - before going back to driving. If I have to ride in a car with this girl again, I'm pretty much 100% sure she'll wrap the car around a tree. In a very violent way.

 "Think you're going to meet any girls?" She winks at me before brushing her bleached hair out of her eyes. "I think maybe you will."

 "I think maybe I won't."

 "Stop being so negative, Elliot. It's only going to backfire on you."

 "I don't care." I missed my old town in Oklahoma. I had friends there. I was popular. I had a life there. 

I had parents.

 "Stop thinking, El. Oh, we're here. Have fun!" She says, pulling over to a curb in front of the  very intimidating looking school. I sit in the car, seatbelt still on, closing my eyes. Brandi reaches a hand across me - She's wearing a strong perfume, some sort of fruit? - and opens the door for me. I continue to sit. She unbuckles my seatbelt like I'm a child, but I stay in place.

 Next thing I know, I'm on the ground in front of the school. I stand up, angry. "You pushed me out."

 She throws my heavy navy blue backpack to me, which lands in my arms and almost makes me topple over again. I frown. She closes the door and rolls down the window, smiling brightly. "Love you, too, El! Have a great day!" She starts to drive away, and I can hear the One Direction music still playing as she drives away. Her car is bumping up and down and I can see it wavering on the lane, moving side to side. I shake my head. She's going to crash herself. Maybe I should call someone... The police, maybe?