Prince in a leather jacket

First day

TWO WEEKS BEFORE.

First day of senior year, already. The time runs fast here in the city I live!

Long history cut short, my vacation went quite dull. As my family didn't travel this time I spent most part of my days thinking about life, reading and playing games with my little sister Katie. Everybody says that she looks just like me when I was her age: petite, with big brown eyes, pale skin and brown hair. Her way is kind of clumsy, and honestly, I think we are quite the same in this subject.

I'm Ella, and I have two siblings besides Katie: Thomas, that is the oldest and lives with his wife in Boston, and Desmond, that is already in college. I and Katie used to live in Boston too, but it was before my parents' death. They died in a car crash, two years ago. It has been hard for all the family to overcome that, nevertheless I think I might say that we are getting better as the years go on.

I and Katie moved here a little after mom and dad died. It's a small city with lovely people and a lovely weather. Everybody knows everybody, and we have just two high schools: St. Louis's High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. I study at St. Louis's, and it's quite good.

But well, let's go straight to the part where I meet Ryan McCauley.

I've heard about him before, of course. My grandpa used to curse him whenever he accelerated his motorcycle in the calm streets, making a deafening noise and laughing with his squad. "You see, Ella, this kind of lad will end up dead before the thirties if he keeps like that" he prophesied and my grandma scolded him.

Ryan lives a few blocks after us and his parents own a fancy restaurant with an also fancy name: skyline. It is the only building in the town that had more than three floors. In there you can buy wines, go to the dance floor and eat an amazing food. The tourists and the residents love it.

His mother is such a great person, and his father I never met, just seen. About Ryan, we just heard about him: how he almost broke someone's car, how he invaded an abandoned private property, how he went to an illegal race with his motorcycle... The list goes on and on.

Anyway, I wake up late in my first day of senior year. Isn't that just awesome? I run to the bathroom and take a fast shower, brush my teeth and choose a regular jeans and yellow T-shirt before putting my hair in a bun and applying a little of concealer and mascara. Everything is so fast that it takes less than fifteen minutes.

I rush downstairs, feeling that wonderful smell of pancakes that I won't have enough time to eat and as soon as I enter the kitchen I see my grandma.

"Hey sweetheart, I was going to call you right..." She tries to say while drying her hands in a towel, however I interrupt.

"Hey grandma, bye grandma!" I greet hurriedly, kissing her cheek and getting the car keys. "I have to hurry, I'm late."

Grabbing a cereal bar, I tell her goodbye and clumsily run outside, going towards Hank.

Hank is our car: it's an old Ford, almost falling to pieces. The left back door is stuck and I have to turn the keys almost three times so it works, not even mentioning his outstanding speed that a turtle can overcome with a bit of effort. The traffic is good as always and unfortunately I don't have enough time to enjoy driving, as I'm late. Even though my car is quite crappy, I love driving since I took my license, just few months ago.

St. Louis's High is already crowded, with a lot of students rushing to their classes. It's hard to find a spot in the parking lot, but I manage to find one quite far from the front door. The hot sun will fry my car and it will fry me too, as I have to walk to the school's door. I sigh deeply and get out. While I'm walking a blonde hurricane gets in my way and gives me a crashing hug.

"Ella, dear!" Angela finally let me go with a huge smile in her bright face.

Ange is my best friend. She has long blond hair and a face that makes her look some years younger than she actually is, and that would be sixteen. I love her a lot, and I missed her during this vacation, as she traveled to Europe with her family.

"Ange!" I hug her back. "I missed you. Where have you been? You didn't answer my texts."

"Oh, yeah. My cellphone felt in the bathtub last night. I tried to get Jay's phone, but this dead weight was already sleeping". She rolls her eyes.

"Little sis, how lovely." I hear Jay's voice behind me and turn in my heels to face him.

There he is with his beautiful grin, windswept blonde hair and open arms, as inviting me for a hug.

"Jay!" I pretty much jump to him and feel his strong arms turning me into Ella's juice. "Ugh, you're killing me".

"Sorry, Jella." He lets me go, mentioning the embarrassing nickname he gave me when we met.

Jay is Ange's brother and they're fraternal twins, what means they don't look the same. I'm in love with him since last year, and since then I have to deal with the dark, numb and cold friendzone. Anyway, Ange is the only one that knows, and now she is looking at me with that oh-so-embarrassing look that she does whenever I and Jay have these cute moments.

"I'm still here" She mentions and I stick my tongue to her like a kid.

We go to the class and I take a seat near to Angela and Jay takes a sit in front of her. I grab Les Miserables out of my backpack and open it on the page I stopped last time. It's the book I'm reading and I'm just in love with it. Putting my earphones on, I lost myself in the music and the story. That is, until my best friend poke me painfully on the ribs.

"What?" I ask hurt, placing my hands on my ribs. "You almost pierced my lungs, you brute!"

"Look!" She whispers loudly, pointing somewhere, completely ignoring what I've just said. Frowning, I look at where she's telling me and I have a big surprise.

Coming into the room, Ryan McCauley is attracting everyone's eyes.

Wait, what?