Sweet & Blonde

Chapter 1

I tied my dirty blonde hair up into a messy pony tail and applied a light amount of lip gloss and mascara as I stared myself in the bathroom mirror.

I didn't know how I had survived high school for so long, but this was finally the last year and I had to admit, that was a big thing for me. I would finally leave the 'birds nest' Ruth liked to call it in about year. Only a year.

I placed my hands on my hips and twisted to the side, looking at every inch of my body.

"This is as good as it's gonna get" I sighed to myself.

I had never been much of a slut or a hottie, like most girls at Limewood High, but today I had been able to scramble a plain long sleeved black top that lied snug against my curved body and a high waisted denim jeans. I slipped into a black and white cardigan that Ruth gave me at Christmas last year and skipped down the stairs into the kitchen.

"Matt is picking me up" I said to Ruth as she was busy making Cameron, my 13-year-old brother some pancakes.

"Nice cardigan" Cameron snorted sarcastically as he glanced away from his ipad to my fashion sense.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed an apple, taking a bite out of it while filling my bag with books.

I heard a beep outside and looking through the window to see Matt in his new, well not really knew since it was his older brother's, grey honda. I also saw a big van at the front house next door to us, with boxes stacked in the back.

"Is someone finally moving into the house next door?" I asked Ruth.

"I think so, I'll have to go and check it out. The cardigan looks lovely by the way" Ruth's eyes glistened. "Tell Matt I say hi, and have a good first day back at school, Annika" she quickly said as she placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Bye" I said to her and waved at Cameron, who didn't even notice because he was too busy playing some game on his ipad.

Ruth is my mom, but lots of people get confused when I call her Ruth. She said she wanted us to call her by her first name because she didn't want us to think that there had to be labels in this house or something like that, I don't really know, but I just stuck with calling her Ruth.

I slung my bag behind my back and walked out to see Matt smiling at me from in the car.

"You ready for senior year?" He asked as I got inside the passengers seat.

"No" I mumbled.

Matt chuckled and began driving off towards Limewood High School.

"How about you? Ready to be at the top of the food chain?" I asked Matt.

"Not really either" Matt ran his fingers through his dark curly hair.

Matt and I had been best friends since the 5th grade. He had been the new kid, but I hadn't really noticed him. Then, one day I found him crying in the school's greenhouse. He told me that one kid had been making fun of him about his dad being in jail. He had been pretty rude to me first actually, telling me to go away and stuff, but eventually, I forced him to be friends with me (since he had been a shy guy with zero friends) and then we just kept our friendship.

"What's even worse is that I'm going to have to deal with Jessica Harris for another year with some new skank clothes" I said to Matt as I rolled my eyes.

"You got that right" Matt laughed.

Jessica Harris was one of those popular kids at school. Annoying, bitchy and all round slutty with a cake face filled with make up. I had never liked her after she painted all over my white t-shirt in the 3rd grade.

What a bitch.

"I've got nothing to do after school today, want to come over?" Matt asked.

"I think so, Ruth might want me to do some stuff around the house, but I'll meet you at the car park after school" I explained.

We rolled into the school's parking lot and I could see the lot of freshman's cowering at one side with a few of their parents. Seniors we buzzing, sophomores were talking and juniors were just being juniors.

I got out of the car and waited for Matt to lock up his Honda as I examined everyone I hadn't seen all summer. I could see Troye Lillith with a new tattoo hiding just underneath his t-shirt on his shoulder. I could see Maria Presley with a new hair colour of lilac and pink and Stacey Lewis now wearing glasses.

And of course, I saw Jessica Harris rolling up in her new black porshe with her tag a long bestie Sierra Phillips in the passengers seat.

"Ready?" Matt stood by my side.

"Yea" I gave another glare to Jessica and her car as every other person drooled over her and walked with Matt to our first biology as the bell rang.

We were the first ones inside the class and I took a seat with Matt at the front as more people came in. I was so glad this wasn't a class with Jessica, I don't think I could survive her strong smelling perfume and make up.

"Good morning class" Mr. Ford, a biology teacher I actually had last year, came into the room and smiled at us. "I hope you all had a good summer." Everybody mumbled yes in response.

"Good, good" Mr. Ford exclaimed. He opened his laptop at his desk and began saying our name through the role.

"Annika Bailey?" I heard my name called.

"Here" I said while doodling in my book.

I hear another few mutters of here and then I heard a new name I hadn't hear before.

"Leonardo Martinez?" The teacher asked.

No voice came.

"Leonardo?"

Still no voice. Mutters of 'who's Leonardo?' reached my ears and I began to get curious myself.

Mr. Ford kept on with the role and after he finished, he began talking about Plant and Animal Responses for the focus of the next few weeks.

I just began doodling and more bored whispers were passing along the class.

Then, a guy with wild blonde hair bustled through the door holding a few books in his hand and wearing a plain white t-shift and jeans.

"Sorry I'm late" He said, scratching his head and looking around the class for a spare seat.

"Ooh, he's hot" I heard a girl, Rebecca Parker say behind me. He definitely wasn't ugly.

"You must be Leonardo" Mr. Ford exclaimed shaking his hands with the guy.

"Yes sir, but Leo will do fine" The guy exclaimed.

"Please take a seat" Mr. Ford gestured to the spare seat next to me.

Leo took the seat and winked to a couple of girls behind me who began giggling hysterically. I rolled my eyes at their girly sounds.

"I'm Leo" he whispered to me.

"Pleasure to meet you" I snorted a bit. I could already tell he was one of those guys who got every girl he wanted.

"Please, the pleasure is all mine" he smirked.