Lovestruck (EDITING)

31: No More Cracking

My last few classes seem to pass me in a blur of distraction and I'm relieved when the bell rings to save me from my almost hour long streak of rhythmic pen clicking in study hall. I grab my bag and just about leg it out of the school's front doors. Deciding I'm not up for talking to Tasmin about how brilliant and unreal her first day has been, I pass Jayden's car and head for the bus stop which is completely surrounded by students, unlike how deserted it has been for the past week. I spot Veronica sitting with a group of other senior girls and start to head towards them.

"Skye!" I spin around to see Dani trotting towards me, a wide grin painted on her face, and I can't help but smile back at her.

The bus pulls up to the school and a stampede of teenagers push their way onto it. Me and Dani sit together and I smile and shake my head when she offers me one of her headphones, hearing the high-pitched boy band music blasting out of it. The bus trip to my house is short, so I don't mind the silence of sitting next to Dani. I climb off the bus with a few other sophomores when it pulls up to my stop and thank the driver as usual before crossing the road to my house and swinging the front door open. Finally.

***

"How was school?" my mum asks me without looking up from her phone as we sit at the small kitchen table to eat our pasta.

"Yeah, good," I give my usual answer without thinking, and eat a fork full of ravioli.

"Did you look out for Jayden and Tasmin? They're such lovely kids," her eyes light up at the mention of the Youngs.

"Yeah, I guess," I mumble, "I showed Jayden around for a few classes, but he kind of found his own way after that."

"He's a nice boy isn't he?" she smiles, still looking at her phone.

"Sure," I eat the last few pieces of ravioli from my bowl.

"No girlfriends yet?" she asks playfully and I cringe at where this conversation is going, deciding to stop it before it can go any further.

"I mean, mom, if you want me to set you guys up on a date or something..." I start, whilst standing from my seat to clear the table.

"Very funny," she doesn't look amused as she hands me her bowl and I place both in the dishwasher before climbing the stairs up to my bedroom.

I struggle to read a few pages of my book for lit class but give up quickly and get in the shower. The hot steam relaxes me and I struggle to get out, even after I've been standing under the water for way too long. I pull on my usual yoga pants and baggy t-shirt and climb between my sheets, letting sleep find me.

***

I wake up surprisingly before my alarm goes off and take the extra time to get ready. No more exercise shorts and t-shirts, I decide. I dig through my dresser and find some comfy printed shorts, pairing them with my favorite black off-the-shoulder top and some combat boots. I let my hair fall naturally and put a little extra effort into my makeup, adding some winged liner and a berry-tinted chap stick.