Claire and Josh grew up together. Always there for each other. But everything changed once they started high school. Claire's feelings for Josh only grew even more over time. One day, something changed. Knowing their relationship will be complicated...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ONE
CLAIRE
Today is the big day, and finally the senior year. I will not lie when I say that I cannot wait for it to be over. And it did not even start yet. Being in high school is not always easy, especially for me. I am not a popular girl or in any academic club or sports team. I am mostly known as the shy nerd. This label satisfied me for a while. The reason people would talk to me was to ask questions about our classes, homework, etc. But now that I am in my last year, my reputation tends to bring me trouble; unbelievably. The popular groups and the jocks tend to find it amusing to torture me. But Stella takes real pleasure in putting them in their place especially Josh, her brother, and captain of the football team. I know, what a cliché. Stella is my best friend. She is very a beautiful girl. You can say she is amongst the popular kids like her brother since their dad is the mayor. But the Parkers have always been welcoming to my mom and me. Even though their social status in town and the fact that they are super rich, they have never excluded us. Stella, Josh, and I grew up together. My mom and I moved to Acorn Hills, New Hampshire when I was five. Since my birth, she has been a single mother. She had me when she was sixteen. My dad died when I was just a baby, during a robbery at a convenience store that turned bad. Wrong place wrong time, I guess. But that is something I do not talk about. And Stella knows better than to ask me about it, even though she knows everything. Well, at least what my mom told me. It is a subject she also hates to discuss. Too painful. So I don't ask any questions. But I must admit that growing up without a father was not always easy. It often made me feel like I was an outcast for some reason. But that was before. Or is it?
I have been procrastinating from getting out of bed for a while now. Even if I am not, pleased to start school again, I do not want to end up late. Especially on the first day. So, I get up and go straight to my bathroom to take a shower. After I'm done washing myself, I go to my closet to choose my outfit. I decide to keep It simple by taking a pair of light grey skinny jeans, a white tank top, and a black cardigan on top. For shoes, I simply go with my black high-top Converse. I decided to let my ginger hair down, letting my natural curls and waves free. And for makeup, I just add a touch of blush and mascara. I do not feel like wearing my contact lenses today, so I just put on my glasses. I look at myself in the mirror, making sure I look presentable -not that it matters-, grab my bag and go down to the kitchen to pick up an apple. I see that my mom left a note.
"Have a good first day of senior year my love."
She must be at the hospital by now. She is the head nurse. Since her job Is so important, she spends a lot of time at the hospital. But it does not bother me much. Because I know that she cares about me and wants to give me everything in life. I tend to get lonely. All of a sudden, I hear the honk of a car. Stella. So, I hurry up and leave the house, making sure the door is locked, and run to her car. As always, she looks fabulous. Her clothes, hair, and nails were perfection. I go inside her car, buckle my seat belt, and sigh.
