Just Friends. (A falling in love with my best friend story)

Chapter 12: All new

 Genna's POV:

I kept my eyes closed, dreading the possibility of opening them and fully waking up. I felt hot and sweaty in my very warm coccoon of blankets, and I didn't want to move. Maybe if I stayed asleep, Mary wouldn't make me go to school. Just maybe.

        "Gen? If I have to face school, then so do you." Parker said, pulling my top blanket off me. I shut my eyes tighter as light and cold air hit my face. I felt a hand remove some of the hair that was plastered against my forehead.

        "Come on. Do it for me like I got a tattoo for you the other day." He said. I sat up, opening my eyes slowly. Parker was sitting on the edge of my bed, giving me a small smile. I quietly told him that it was his fault for pitying the tattoo artist and he hit me lightly with one of my pillows and walking out, shutting my door to give me some privacy.

I sighed and took a few minutes to unravel myself from my blankets and crawl out of bed. My pajamas stuck to me as I made my way across my room and into my bathroom. Turning the water on, I tried to keep my thoughts mildly positive so I wouldn't have to go to school in a bad mood. As warm water poured over me and on my face, I woke up more. I stayed in the shower as long as I could, before Parker knocked on the bathroom door to make sure I was okay. I yelled back that I was and I turned the water off.

I got dressed and squeezed my hair dry, looking at my favorite hello kitty clock. It was only 7:30 and school started in an hour. 

***

        "Have a good day at school dearies!" Mary yelled from the car. I turned over my shoulder and gave her a small wave before following Parker into the school. I was nervous, checking my forearms every few seconds to make sure the coverup was still covering the scars. I don't know how, but I managed to cover the scars on my left without covering up the tattoo, so both tattoos showed proudly. Mary didn't seem to mind my tattoos, and Parker had his hand in his pocket the whole morning.

        "See you second period." Parker said, squeezing my shoulder before walking over to his group of friends who all yelled and gave him pats on the back, embracing him.

I was left to navigate the halls and look for my locker, thankfully the same one I had last year. I set my stuff in and took out what I needed, then shut the door and turned around, only to run into a girl, who caught me as I stumbled.

        "Oh I'm sorry! I really should look where I'm going!" She said, giving me an embarrassed smile. I tentatively smiled back as she held out her hand, which had a bunch of rings on it.

        "Name's Chelsea. Chelsea Bruun. I'm a Junior." She said confidently. I shook her hand, trying to ignore the shaking in mine. It was a while since I've had a confrontation like this, but mom always told me that when someone was outwardly kind to me, I should accept it.

        "Genevieve Skyes, junior as well. Please call me Genna though." I said. She smiled.

        "Will do." She said. A guy came up and yanked on her ponytail. She turned around and slapped his shoulder, laughing.

        "Ouch you bitch!" She laughed. Then she gestured to me. "This is Genna. My new friend." She said.

Friend? Really? The boy smiled at me and shook my hand, nearly shaking my whole arm in the process.

        "Name's Carter. I'm Chelsea's way awesomer brother." He said. I smiled again, nodding.

The bell rang and both grabbed my hand, telling me all Juniors had first period study hall together.

As we walked in, Parker turned to smile at me, and his smile turned to curiosity as I was dragged to a table by Chelsea and Carter. I shrugged and smiled at him before the teacher snapped her ruler against the board to get our attention.

School didn't seem that bad.