Dear High School

August

August 18, 2015

Dear High School,

Tomorrow is the first day of my freshman year. I am not sure what to feel. Am I supposed to be excited? Am I supposed to be nervous? Am I supposed to dread it? Fear it? How do I prepare for this? The only preparation I thought to do was to charge my phone. It's near midnight now and I suppose I should go to bed as I have to get up in five and a half hours.

Love,

Jo

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August 19, 2015

Dear High School,

So I have successfully made it through my first day of high school. It's four thirty and I should be asleep but I feel I have to document my first day.

I woke up at five after very little sleep. I made myself breakfast, well I made a piece of toast, and drank three cups of black coffee. I threw on my favorite pair of jeans and one of the hand-me-down t-shirts my sister had given me when she moved out. This one happened to be from a concert of one of the obscure rock bands my sister likes but it was so faded you could barely read it. I hoped that no one would ask me questions about it because I didn't know anything about the band. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and put a little mascara on. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.

It was a ten minute walk to the bus stop and I got there at six oh one. The bus wasn't supposed to come until six ten but I liked to be early. When the bus came, I was the only one at the stop. I climbed on and took a window seat on the right side of the bus. The bus was only half full and most people were asleep, leaning against the window. Those who didn't have window seats had headphones on. I wished I had thought to bring my headphones. I leaned my head against the window.

Three stops later, I was nearly asleep, when I heard a voice. "Hey Freshie, you're in my seat."

I looked up. A tall boy was looking down at me. He had shaggy brown hair that fell over hazel eyes. He looked like he was well over six feet tall. He was wearing jeans with a leather jacket and black Vans. He looked pretty intimidating.

"I'll...I'll move." I stammered reaching for my backpack. I dropped it as soon as I stumbled to my feet. He held up a hand and pointed at the seat.

"I'm joking. You don't mind if I sit with you?" I shook my head and he sat down. He grinned at me, showing perfectly straight, white teeth. "What's your name, Freshie?"

"I'm Jo. Who are you?" I was still slightly scared.

"I'm Ty, short for Tylerson. That's my last name but my dad thought it would be cool to give me a girl's name so my mom nicknamed me. I know I'm scary but I promise I'm harmless." He looked up and down the bus. "You are a freshman, right?"

I nodded. "Are you a senior?"

"God, no," he laughed, at me or with me I couldn't tell. "I'm a junior. Let me see your schedule."

I pulled it our of my pocket and handed it to him. He looked it over and laughed again.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just...your English teacher." He pointed at the second period spot. "She's a... I'll let someone else tell you. Your P.E. teacher is nice enough, I'm her assistant, and you're in my science and math classes. How many people do you know?"

I held up a big zero. "None. I just moved here with my family this summer."

"Stick with me kid, I'll be your first friend. They say if you make three friends on your first day, you'll be successful, or something like that. Joe likes to say that, actually. But it's good advice nonetheless."