Chloe Johnson clicked the “off” button on her alarm clock. She kicked the blankets off of herself and swung out of bed. Chloe walked over to her closet to try to find something decent to wear for her first day of high school. Most girls her age would be wearing borderline- inappropriate skirts or dresses today, attempting to look older than freshman.
Chloe grabbed a sweater off its hanger and found a pair of skinny jeans. She threw some old sneakers on. Chloe had to be sure that her sleeves would cover her heavily scarred wrists.
Tired and feeling defeated, Chloe walked down the hallway to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her thick black hair. She did her usual makeup and walked downstairs to the kitchen. Chloe wasn’t very hungry so she decided not to eat breakfast today.
“Bye mom.” She called, knowing her bed- ridden mother wouldn’t hear her anyway.
Chloe lived in Providence, Rhode Island and would be attending Feinstein High School for the next four years. Until she got her driver’s license, Chloe would be walking to school everyday.
Chloe walked up to the large brick building and let herself inside. There were all sorts of people- cheerleaders and jocks, theater freaks, math nerds, exchange students, awkward upperclassmen- the list goes on. She didn’t see anyone worth talking to, so she walked over to a bench and made herself comfortable.
There was a couple on the bench next to her making out. When their face-battle was over, the boy said “I love you.”
Chloe had a knot inside of her stomach. She longed to be that girl. Not necessarily for the kiss, but the fact that that the girl was loved.
Chloe forgot what love felt like. She thought about her mom being the only family she had left. Her dad left before Chloe was even born. Chloe’s parents had her at the ripe age of sixteen. They were both high school dropouts. Chloe’s sister hung herself only one year earlier.
Chloe didn’t really talk to her mom, except on the rare occasion that she felt like bringing her dinner or something. And yet, Chloe always smiled. They say the saddest people smile the most. This seemed to be true.
Chloe’s thoughts were interrupted when her best friend Evan ran over to her.
“Chloe! Hey Clo!” he yelled.
Evan sat down on the bench beside her. Chloe wrapped her arms around his skinny body.
“I missed you.” She whispered.
He held onto her tight. “I missed you too.” Evan whispered back.
He stared into her emerald eyes. When Evan leaned in to kiss her little nose, Chloe snapped out of it and jumped up off of the bench.
“I should um… probably… get to class.” Chloe said.
Evan looked a little disappointed.
“Oh… okay. Well, I could walk you if you wanted…”
“No, really. It’s alright. Thank you though.”
Chloe hugged him again and hurried off to class.
That was awkward… Did he try to kiss me?
She quickly dismissed the thought and walked into class.
