When hearts race, the downtown teens

Part 1: first day of high school

MAYAS POV

It was my first day of high school, of course my friends dumped me over the summer, typical. They were so mean to me, they would say things like 'your so fat' or 'you already need Botox' I would just laugh it off but go to sleep crying because I believed them and still do.

I managed to get out of bed and get in the shower and let the warm water run down my back and I rub it. I get the shampoo and massage it into my scalp, same with the conditioner. I then use my loofah to clean my body and dry my hair.

I then put on some clothes, nothing formal, lol at all. Just some pajama shorts, and a white silky crop top. This was my favorite outfit. I had my hair in box braids, my favorite African 'trend'. My mom is African but my dad isn't, I'm mixed. I then grab a sweatshirt and throw it on over the crop top.

"Come on maya!" My mom screams from downstairs.
"Coming" i say as I collect my stuff from school and head down the stairs in the foyer (by the front door)
"Come on, don't wanna be late" my mom says as she misses me on the forehead.
"Be careful" she says as she closes the door behind me.

I begin walking looking at the group kicking a rocks out of the way. I run into someone and look up to see a boy, he looks about my age maybe even a bit older.

"Hi" he says waving.
"Oh, sorry" I apologize.
"It's ok" he reassures me.
"What's your name?" I ask him walking by his side as we walk.
"Rowan, what yours" he asks, he seems nice. He's white though, like really white. Is it wired that I life that a bit.
"Oh my name is maya." I smile and blush a bit and I notice he blushes a bit as well.
"So I'm assuming you're a freshman" he points to me.
"Yeah why?" I ask him.
"You look young" he was probably saying that because of my height. I'm 5,2, I've always been a bit shorter than other kids.
"Yeah, what grade are you in?" I ask.
"I'm in 10th" he tells me showing me his ID.
"When do we get ID's?" I ask him.
"Today probably, they might be getting rid of them" he shrugs his shoulders.
"Oh, cool" i rock back and forth a bit not knowing what to say.
"What's your favorite color" he asks, a bit basic but better than walking in silence.
"Probably green or lavender" I answer with a shrug. "What's yours" I ask pointing my finger at him nicely.
"Probably green or blue" he smiles at me making my cheeks flush a bit.
"So..." I say trying to come up tower something as we continue walking.
"Where here" I say pointing to the massive building in front of me.

This building was huge, it had 4 floors. Middle school only had 3 floors. I bet the schools are smaller in other towns, but not in Chicago. In Chicago everything is 3 times bigger than if you were in a normal sized city.

"Do you know where your going" he says turning his hole body towards me.
"No" I say truthfully.
"Let me show you around" he says taking my hand giving me shivers down my back.

He guides me to the front door and opens it allowing me in first, I walk in and see everyone from middle school. I see lily, dawn, and amber, all my old friends but they unfriended me. Why? I don't know.

"Who you sitting with at lunch" he asks me as he guides me towards my first class, algebra 2.
"No one, kinda lost all my friends" I shrug my shoulders sadly.
"You can sit with us, what period is your lunch" he asks, a boy wants to sit with me. Am I dreaming?
"Uh...period 5" I tell him.
"Me too, you can sit with us then" he says walking into the same class as me.
"How do you have this class?" He questions as he sits down nodding at the seat next to him, giving me a signal to sit down and I do.
"I was in honors last year but it was full so now I'm stuck with sophomores" i say upset I have to be with them.
"You have me" he says playfully punching my arm and smiling.
"Stop" i say laughing and giggling slapping his hand away right as the bell rang.
"Hello class" the teacher walks in.
"Hello" i say but no one else says it so they just laugh at me, I turn red from embarrassment.
"It's ok" Rowan says looking at me in the eyes.
"Thanks" i say with a small smile.
"Flip to page 2 in your books, we'll be going over the syllabus today" the teacher states sitting down in her swivel chair.

The rest of that class was normal, everything was normal except it wasn't. I was in high school, it was already stressful and hard. I didn't know my way around the building, it was so surreal for some reason, don't know why it just was.

The bell rang and I walked out to go to my next class, art, that class went normal, so did the rest of my classes but it wasn't until the end of the day that was weird. Last period was English, I had this class with Rowan because I was in horrors for this class too.

"Hi" i said as I sat down next to him.
"Hey" he replies with a small wave back and a smile.

The bell rang again so I took out the book that was required and the teacher kept yapping about the book but I was thinking about Rowan. Gosh why couldn't I get him out of my head.

The last bell was about to ring so everyone stood by the door, 2 minutes and 37 seconds left till I can leave and go home.

"Hey" I look back to see an unfamiliar boy looking down and rubbing his neck.
"Hi?" I say as more of a question than a statement.
"Uh, I think your really pretty" he looks me up and down and smiles.
"Thank you" I smile at his comment.
"Would you ever wanna go on a date?" He asks me.
"Uh, sure. When and where" I ask him but I don't have too much feelings for her, but a boy finally likes me so I take the opportunity.
"Olive Garden at 5 pm?" He asks me to see if I agree.
"Sure see ya tonight, what was your name" I ask the boy, he was a bit short, a red head and very tan, too tan.
"My name is Jake" he sticks out his hand for a handshake and I take it then let go fast.

The bell rings and I wait outside for Rowan.

"Hey" i say to him, he seems a bit mad.
"What's going on" I ask him, we haven't been friends for more than ten hours but I still cared for him.
"Nothing" he says walking fast in front of me but I shortly catch up.
"Tell me" I say grabbing his hand turning him around. He looks at me with his emerald eyes and I feel some type of sadness because I sense something bad happened.
"Nothing it's just, who asked you out" he was jealous I could see it.
"A boy, his name is Jake, but I don't know if I really like him" i say looking down.
"Then why did you say yes" he says pulling my chin up making me look at him. I know we've only known each other for no more than the hours but it felt like it's been a lifetime.
"I felt bad for him" that was a lie, I'm pretty good at it though. I just wanted to go out with someone for once.
"Oh" he says looking more relieved I said that than upset.
"Wanna head home" I ask taking his hand off my chin and holding it tight before letting go.
"Gladly" he says smiling and we walk of the school property side by side.

A/n: please give me recommendations🥺🙏