Fractured Echoes

Chapter one

" Old habits new consequences "

The first day of senior year should've felt like something, right? Like, a big deal or whatever. But as I stood at the edge of the school parking lot, cigarette dangling between my fingers, all I felt was a rush of indifference. I'd already ditched first period. Math. Ugh. I could already hear Mr. Whitehead's nasally voice lecturing the room about algebraic equations, and the thought made me want to set my own notebook on fire.

"Pass me one," Leo muttered, nudging my arm.

I handed him a cigarette from my crumpled pack, watching him light it with one swift flick of the lighter. Leo had this perpetual look of someone who just rolled out of bed, with his messy brown hair and wrinkled t-shirts. His long fingers curled around the cigarette like he was born to do this. He exhaled a long drag, eyes half-closed, the smoke blending with the rising sun in a lazy haze.

"You guys are terrible influences," Alda chimed in, though she didn't hesitate to snatch a cigarette from Leo's hand. She leaned against the back of the school's dumpster, her ripped jeans and faded band tee making her look effortlessly cool. Her dark curls framed her face, and her sharp eyeliner practically screamed don't mess with me. She always said she wasn't a regular smoker—just did it "socially." But hell, if this wasn't the least social thing we could be doing.

"Yeah, yeah. Like you weren't the one who suggested we sneak out here," I teased, taking a deep drag and feeling the familiar burn in my chest. It wasn't that I was addicted or anything, but starting the day with a rebellion felt... right.

"I didn't suggest shit," Alda shot back, smirking. "I just hate school as much as you do. Anyway, who the fuck needs math?"

"Not me," Leo mumbled, leaning against the brick wall, exhaling smoke like a goddamn chimney.

The smell of nicotine filled the air as the three of us stood there, hidden from view. First period was only halfway through, but we knew better than to linger too long. This little corner of the world, just behind the dumpsters, was our secret spot. But nothing stayed secret in this place for long.

"You think they'll finally expel you this year, Iris?" Alda asked, smirking around the filter of her cigarette.

"God, I hope so," I said, flicking my ash to the ground. Expulsion wasn't exactly something I feared. Not like I had some grand plan after graduation anyway. College wasn't my thing, and I wasn't interested in sitting behind a desk for the rest of my life. Give me a shitty apartment and freedom to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted—that was the goal.

But before I could dive too deep into my daydream of getting kicked out for good, Leo stiffened, eyes wide.

"Shit! Campus security," he hissed, his cigarette flying out of his hand as he stomped it out with his boot.

I heard the familiar clanking of Mr. Davis's keys before I even saw him. That guy took his job way too seriously. We scattered, cigarettes crushed underfoot as we ducked low behind the dumpsters.

"Iris, go!" Alda whispered, her eyes darting around. "We're gonna get nailed if he catches us."

With my heart pounding in my chest, I bolted. The thrill of almost getting caught was the only thing that made mornings like this tolerable. I ran through the back alley of the school, slipping in through the side entrance that led to the science wing. The hallway was empty except for the faint echo of my footsteps. I barely had time to catch my breath before I rounded a corner and slammed straight into someone.

Books and papers went flying, scattering across the floor like fallen leaves.

"Watch where you're going," I snapped, not even bothering to look up. I bent down, scooping up the books, already thinking about how I was going to bullshit my way through second period.

But then, I saw the name written in neat cursive on the notebook I'd just picked up. Violet Eloise. My blood ran cold.

I glanced up, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes locked onto hers.

Violet Eloise. The one girl I had spent the last two years avoiding like the plague. She was standing right in front of me, her wide hazel eyes staring down at me like I was something she couldn't quite place. I hadn't seen her since... well, since everything went down.

I froze. My mind went blank, all the witty comebacks, all the confidence, everything just... gone. My fingers shook slightly as I shoved her books back into her hands, refusing to meet her gaze again.

"Sorry," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible. The apology tasted bitter on my tongue, but I couldn't muster anything else. My heart pounded in my chest, but not in the way it usually did when I was about to get in trouble. No, this was different. This was... her.

She didn't say anything. Just stood there, watching me, probably waiting for me to make some sort of sarcastic comment or throw an insult her way. But I couldn't. Not to her.

I straightened up, books clutched tightly to my chest, and without another word, I turned and walked straight into my second-period class. I didn't dare look back at her.

The classroom was half-full, students droning on about their summers. I slid into my usual seat in the back, keeping my head low. The chair felt harder than usual, or maybe it was just me. Maybe it was the fact that Violet Eloise had just reappeared in my life like some kind of ghost.

Mr. Abrams started his lecture, but I didn't hear a word of it. I could still feel her presence from the hallway, her name echoing in my head.

Violet Eloise.

Senior year was about to be way more complicated than I'd planned.