𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘸.𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭

001 - Teenage Dirtbag

Annika Parkins was a force of nature, a whirlwind of messy hair, ripped jeans, and an attitude that screamed rebellion. She wasn't the kind of girl who cared about fitting in or following the rules; she thrived on the chaos she brought wherever she went. Her life was an eclectic mix of late-night adventures, loud music, and the kind of friends who didn't give a damn about what anyone thought.

This morning was no different. Annika's alarm had blared an hour ago, but she only rolled out of bed when the third snooze went off. She grabbed whatever clothes were closest and didn't bother with breakfast as she headed out the door. Her beat-up Converse slapped against the pavement as she walked, earbuds blasting her favorite band, the smiths, the noise drowning out the world around her.

When she reached School, she was greeted with the usual stares. Annika was known for her defiant streak and her penchant for trouble, which didn't exactly make her popular with the teachers. She loved the reputation she'd built—an enigma wrapped in a mystery, with a bit of dirt under her nails.

As she pushed through the school doors, she caught sight of her best friend, Maria, leaning against her usual spot by the lockers. Her grin widened as she approached, already sensing the mischief in her eyes.

"Late again?" Maria asked, tossing her a can of soda from her backpack.

Annika shrugged, cracking it open and taking a swig. "Overslept," she replied nonchalantly, though the truth was she'd been up until three watching old horror movies.

Annika Parkins walked through the crowded hallways with her head down, lost in her own thoughts. She found solace in the music blasting through her earbuds, a mix of gritty guitars and raw vocals that drowned out the chatter around her. Her backpack hung low on her shoulders, heavy with textbooks she rarely opened, and her Converse sneakers were scuffed and worn from countless days of wandering.

School had always been a necessary evil, a place she had to endure rather than enjoy. Teachers' voices droned on like a dull hum in the background, their words often lost on Annika as she scribbled in her notebook, more interested in sketching her latest art ideas than in algebraic equations.

Art class was the one place where she felt like she could breathe. The smell of paint and charcoal was comforting, a reminder that there was something beautiful amidst the chaos of her life. Annika often spent her free periods in the art room, headphones on, lost in the process of creation. The art teacher, Ms. Ramirez, was one of the few people who seemed to understand her. She gave Annika the space she needed, offering quiet encouragement without prying into the details of her life.

Annika's home life was complicated, to say the least. Her parents were perpetually busy, wrapped up in their careers and oblivious to the storm brewing inside their daughter. Dinner conversations were sparse, often reduced to quick exchanges of words about school and schedules, never venturing into how she really felt. The disconnect left Annika feeling like a ghost in her own home, her presence acknowledged but never fully seen.

Her bedroom was her sanctuary, a refuge from the world where she could shut the door and be alone with her thoughts. Posters of bands covered the walls, and a stack of journals filled with her sketches and writings cluttered the desk. Late at night, when the city was quiet and her mind wouldn't let her sleep, she'd write about her feelings, pouring everything into those pages as a way to make sense of the turmoil inside her.

Weekends were spent in the same pattern—sleeping in late, meeting up with Maria and their small circle of friends, and escaping into the city. They'd roam the streets, visiting thrift stores and record shops, finding little pockets of joy in their aimless adventures. Annika loved the city at night, the way it transformed under the glow of neon lights and street lamps, offering a sense of anonymity that was freeing.

Despite her tough exterior, Annika longed for something more—a sense of purpose, a connection that felt genuine. But for now, she navigated life like a ship without a rudder, drifting through each day with the hope that maybe, someday, she'd find her way to something better. Until then, she'd keep her head down, her music loud, and her heart guarded, finding comfort in the little things that made the chaos bearable.

—————————————— Authors Note!!
hiiii!! Very first chapter, i hope this is good, i have never written a fanfic before :/ I'm gonna make the first two chapters about annika and maybe (just maybe) I'll add walker in the 3rd chapter :))