I Promise You Always

Chapter 1

Autumn

Today was like any other day. The only thing different about today is that it is my first day of Freshman year of High School. I lay in bed thinking about what the year was going to bring. School has never been an easy topic for me, socially at least. I would be a complete outcast if it weren't for Skyler. People always found new ways to bully me. Kids my age are brutal at least the ones in my grade. I blame it on their frontal cerebral cortexes not being fully developed yet or at all. It is a new building and it's a lot bigger than our previous school because middle school was only 7th and 8th grade but this building is 9th-12th grade. I love learning new things though. I am excited for my advanced drawing class. I've heard that a model comes in every year to pose. I'm not great at drawing people yet so I'm thrilled to learn more to better my art.

I sit up in my bed, my head still groggy. I lifted off my quilt and got out of bed to stretch and rub my eyes and walked over to the mirror, I saw my blue eyes, and long copper hair messy from sleep.

I went to get ready for school. I showered and styled my hair. My new outfit for school was folded on my dresser. It was a plaid skirt with a white blouse and skinny black necktie and to top it off a fresh pair con high top Converse. I got dressed and started towards the door but I paused in the middle of my room for a moment minute. My walls were blue and filled with posters and photos. I had a nook in the window looking down to the street below. This is my favorite place to read and draw. I had large bookshelves filled with books, manga, and anime figures. My fluffy cat Roo lay on the bed sleeping. I take it all in because I know after today everything is going to change, for better or worse. I wasn't sure.

I walked downstairs, mom was already cooking breakfast for everyone. I don't quite know how she does it. Getting everyone ready, cooking breakfast and leaving to go to work herself on time is a magic I have yet to learn. I sat down at the table. Dad was reading the newspaper and about done with his breakfast. Dad had brown hair with dashes of gray in it and a burly beard. He also had bright blue eyes like me. Dad works as a pilot for a local shipping company. It must be amazing flying all the time and seeing everything from above. A feeling of freedom that nothing else could ever compare to. I would always pretend to be a bird when I was little so I could go with Dad and fly.

"How are you doing this morning?" He asked.

"Fine." I say, feeling the knot begin to tighten in my stomach as the nerves start settling in. "Mind passing the comics section?" He smiled and handed it over to me. He had already taken it out of the newspaper knowing I'd ask for it.

He got up from the table and grabbed his bag. "Have a good day everyone." He said and then kissed me on top of the head and mom a kiss on the lips.

He then left for work. Mom looked at me and smiled. She had light auburn hair, brown eyes, and freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose.

"Eat up." Mom announced as she set a plate of fluffy pancakes in front of me. "Ready for your first day of freshman year?" She asked.

"yeah." I replied half-heartedly.

"Why so quiet? You are usually more talkative in the mornings." She asked.

"I am nervous about what my freshman year is going to be like. I am not the most popular kid." I replied. I have always been a bit of an outcast at school. I have a hard time making friends. When I was little, all the other kids would call me weird because I was always reading and by myself. So it's caused me to put up a lot of walls. I was so grateful when I met Skyler. She always stood up for me. I don't know what I would do without her.