Like the ocean

Ripples

The frigid water passed between my lips, refreshing my dry mouth. Echoes of mixed conversation bounced off the cafeteria walls. The distinct chatter of my populated lunch table twisted with the others. Amongst my friends was mere gossip, like how one of the notorious hotshots in school just broke up with Edgewood highs, top chick.

"Athena!"

I whipped my head towards Kaylene.

"What?" I asked, distracted.

"You spaced out again. We were talking about how you totally want to jump Carter William's bones all the way to tomorrow." Kaylene replied teasingly.

"Lene! I never said that." I exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Yeah, but you thought it," she remarked back.

My face flushed, and I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.

The whole table snickered.

I rolled my eyes and continued discussing the godly figure of Carter.

Suddenly, someone slapped my arm.

I looked to my left as Daniel, Kaylene's cousin, nodded behind me.

I shifted my body to look as Carter walked through the doors.

Everyone who cared stared.

Michelle, his arm candy and girlfriend, sauntered with him hand and hand. She was the fakest girl at my school, from her falsetto voice to her bubblegum pink acrylic nails, to her cakey makeup, almost as thick as her lies.

Everyone called her this town's Blake Lively because she's so perfect. The only thing perfect about her is her nose, which was perfectly and newly constructed by her obviously talented surgeon.

She was the girl everyone wanted to be, only because she had Carter's attention. Otherwise, she would have no friends.

I don't dislike her because of the way she talks or dresses. Hell, I'm wearing a great outfit right now, myself. What I don't like is her character. She's shallow, selfish, dishonest, and straight-up disrespectful, and to be frank, I don't get what Carter sees in her.

I soured as the couple walked past my table, sitting down with all their friends at the loudest table in the cafeteria.

Crystal Williams, Carters' younger sister, walked through the doors, teary-eyed and bleak-looking. It's obvious the rumors about her and Ben Gilinsky were very much true.

Michelle walked over to Crystal, putting a consoling look on her face, as easy as putting on a mask.

Ben never even walked through the doors, but his name could be heard from every curious presence in every direction.

Just another day at Edgewood High.

☼

As I walked to my 3rd period, I recognized a tall, lean figure slimmed through the doorway.

"Elise!" I yelled out. Her head whipped towards me, smiling excitedly.

She took me into a tight embrace. Her strength compared to her skinny body, always took me off guard.

Her complexion was soft, with barely any imperfections and her golden hair still looked glossy in the artificial lighting.

"Athena darling, how've you been?" Her accent was subtle but noticeable.

"Good, I can't believe you transferred here, and so late in the year, too. It's almost summer, El." I said in confusion.

Elise laughed a bit, red tinging her face. "Well, I didn't exactly want to transfer, they kind of made me...".