I HATE YOUR GUTS ☆

Chapter 3 ☆

this is where i start to get a little dialogue heavy but i promise it gets better 😭

song #3: Scott Street by Phoebe Bridgers

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Despite Colorado being really boring, those five days flew by way too quickly. I spent most of my time watching tv, reading, unpacking, and exploring the town. One of the few pros was that everything was within walking distance. One of the many cons was how little there was to do. As I walked around, I couldn't help but reminisce on what I used to do in New York. All I could think about was laughing hysterically with my friends as we walked the full two miles home from school. I guess having each other's company was enough entertainment. God, I missed them. I missed them so much, it hurt.

Now, here I was walking towards Clover High School with music blasting in my ears. Music was a great coping mechanism for me; it helped me separate myself from the world; reality. It isn't such a great mechanism when you already feel like you're on a completely different continent to everyone else. It had been less than a week and I could already feel myself losing it.

Loneliness is a bitch, but it's also a coward. It presents itself as one thing, and shifts when you're most vulnerable. It sneaks up on you. I suppose it's more of a con artist than a coward; that's even scarier.

There had been an orientation for new kids a month back, but we weren't able to get here on time. In fact, we weren't even aware we would be here. Funny, right? I'm not laughing.

The school was average. It seemed focused on sports, but what school isn't? I've never been very athletic, but I did play volleyball in freshman and sophomore year. My mom was determined to have me join this year, but I'm not so sure.

We were forced to sign up for two classes not a part of our core classes; I chose Ceramics and Journalism, but I'm also taking French. I was on the school paper last year, and I really enjoyed it.

"Hi."

"Shit," I said, flinching, "Hello."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"You um, didn't."

"You must be Audrey Miller," she said with a huge grin, directing it straight at me. It was a sweet gesture, but made me severely uncomfortable. I mean, who is this happy to be at school?

" Yes I am, who are you?"

"I'm Rachel."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Rachel. How did you know my name?"

"I'm your buddy."

"My what?"

"All the new kids have one, we're here to help you around."

I'd never been followed around by a lost puppy, but I was pretty sure this was as close to it as it was going to get.

"Huh, okay."

"You know, help you to your classes, eat with you at lunch, just get you settled in."

"Right, okay."

"Okay so," she walked towards a wall of lockers, "This is your locker."

She flung a top locker open and gestured to it like I'd won the lottery. I wanted to slam my prize in her face.

"Great."

"You're allowed to bring your bag to class if you prefer. You need to keep your lunch in here though."

"Oh, I was just gonna buy lunch."

She made a sour face, "Oh.. the food here sucks. Don't worry though, you can share with me and my friends."