Shattered Asylum

Chapter 1 part 1

Okay, I didn't realize how long the first chapter is... The rest aren't this long...

Hopefully you can get through it... Enjoy?

The heavy doors of Lakewood High creaked open, welcoming me to a fresh start... or at least, that's what I hoped.

The air inside was thick with the mingling sounds of chatter and lockers slamming shut. Two more years. That's all I needed to get through. Two years to leave my old life behind and become someone new.

Someone unbroken. 

I made my way to my locker, the dull grey metal cool against my fingertips as I fiddled with the combination. It felt foreign, like everything else here.

"Hey, Aven!" A familiar voice broke through the noise, warm and bubble as always. I turn to see Nora, her arms already open for a hug. "How's the first day of your new life?!" She asked, grinning as she squeezed me.

"I'm nervous, but I'm happy we can finally go to the same school again!" I said, hugging her tightly.

This move was suppose to be my fresh start. Over the summer, I left everything behind and settled into my grandparents' house two hours away from my old life.

During that time, Nora introduced me to some of her friends. Most of them seem nice, welcoming even, but a few... not so much.

Nora has always been the kind of person who sees the best in everyone. She's been sheltered, untouched by how cruel people can really be.

Her family use to struggle, just like mine, but then her dad landed a big promotion and moved away three years ago, leaving the tough times behind.

We tried to stay in touch, sneaking emails on the school computers since I didn't have a phone back then. It wasn't much, but we made it work.

"Let me see your schedule." Nora said, snatching the papers from my hands before I could protest. She scans it eagerly, her face lighting up.

"Yay, we have first, third, sixth and seventh together! You also have second, fifth, and seventh with Grayson." She said, wiggling her eyebrows in that teasing way she always does.

Grayson is one of Nora's friends. We met a few weeks before school started at his girlfriend's birthday party. I made the mistake of mentioning he was attractive ONCE, and she hasn't let it go since.

"Stop doing that with your brows, how is he doing anyway? Is he still with Layla?" I asked, trying to sound casual. Layla and Grayson have been dating for, like, two years, and honestly, they're so cute together.

Nora's expression shifted, and she hesitates. "Yeahhhh about that.. Layla has been cheating on him with one of his YouTuber friends. I can't remember his name, though. Grayson didn't want too many people to know." she said, looking genuinely bummed out. My stomach twisted. "Seriously?! That's awful. She seemed so nice."

"Same." Nora agreed, leaning her head on my shoulder as we make our way to our first class, English.

"Maddie! Oh my gosh, I missed you! How was your trip to Paris?" Nora screams in my ear before running over to Madison Bailey.

Remember when I said some of her friends aren't so nice? Yeah, I was talking about her.

The first time I met Madison, I knew she was trouble. She's the textbook definition of a mean girl, perky voice with just enough venom to sting.