Running From the Boy Next Door

*Claire's POV* First day of 12th Grade

    My alarm goes off at 3:00 AM, aka the perfect time for my morning run because my mom and younger brother are asleep as well as the rest of the world. I hop out of bed and lace up my tennis shoes. I don't feel like changing out of my pajama shorts and minion tank so I don't. After warming up with a couple jumping jacks I head for the front door. As soon as my feet touch the pavement I feel a wave of euphoria wash over my body.

I decide not to take my usual route today, since it was my first day of my senior year I wanted to switch it up. BIG mistake. After running around lost for a hour I find myself standing in front of a random cornfield. "It's time to try and retrace my steps" I say aloud. After retracing my steps for another two hours I finally manage to make it back to my house. When I go to reach the spare key I keep under the rug there's nothing there. I'm officially panicking because I know my mom has already left for work and she takes my little brother to school early. I just need to get in my house before someone sees me. I try getting in through the back door to no avail.     

Unfortunately for me my hot neighbor Aiden decided to open his curtains and look down in my backyard at that exact moment. Crap. I run to the side of the house and try to hide so he won't see me in my minion glory. Peeking behind the side I see him with his back turned putting his shirt on. His back is so defined oh my gosh, I need to get back in my hiding place before he turns around and realizes what a creep I actually am. Looking at my watch I see that it's already 6:30 AM. How did the time get away from me so fast? Checking to see if Aiden is still in his room first, I sprint to my window, undo the latch and take out the screen. I'm breaking into my own room, it's kind of hilarious. Or it would be, if I had more than 30 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, and do my hair and makeup. I finish everything with about 2 minutes to spare which I use to grab a banana and water bottle.

I'm in the car and at school within 10 minutes. When I get there Aiden is waiting for me by the steps. What could he possibly want after what happened last year? "Hey Claire I saw you hiding on the side of your house this morning, what was that all about?", he snickered. "None of your business asshole, hope you enjoyed the view though",I sneered back.

       I may have stormed off but all I can think about are those pink lips of his and his deep brown eyes and...Ugh! I've got to stop this, he broke my former best friend,Emily's, heart. He was one of the main reasons she killed herself. She would be so upset if she knew I was interested in him after that. He doesn't even seem apologetic at all. Right after it happened he missed like a week of school, but then he didn't even show up at her funeral. Her parents were devastated, how could the one boy their daughter loved not even show up to say goodbye. 

     I'm jolted out of my thoughts when Ethan, the student council president, comes up behind me asking if I'm going to buy a yearbook this year. "Maybe!" I say as energetic as I can before walking into government. I get in the door right as the bell rings, probably not the best first impression. "Please take your seat", Mr.Meecha stutters out. There's only one open seat and its right in the middle of Aiden and the Queen Bee Helena. Aiden pays me no mind, Helena however looks disgusted that she will have to sit next to the likes of me today. Once I take my seat Mr.Meecha states shakily that "wherever you're sitting right now is where you will be sitting for the rest of this semester." Some groans and sighs of relief floated around the classroom.

After hearing Mr.Meecha drone on for an hour and half the bell to leave finally went off. I was trying to rush out of class but Helena stepped into my path. "Hey, I know your best friend was obsessed with Aiden, but I had no idea you were too.", she said. "There were no other seats, I would've preferred to sit somewhere away from you and your toxicity"I said as I pushed past her. Why is everyone at this school so insensitive? Emily died less than a year ago and she's already mocking her.

     The rest of the day flew by. It was mostly uneventful other than a fire drill last period. When I step into my house I'm bombarded with the smell of garlic, mom must be making her "Famous" spaghetti again. If I have to eat another bite of garlicky spaghetti I'll cry so I sneak up to my room and don't say anything to anyone. Hopefully I can avoid being called down for dinner and instead I'll just run out and grab something at the Waffle House up the road. A couple hours pass by and I hear my mom tucking my brother, Joshua, into bed and then I hear her get in the shower. Perfect. I'm starving.