HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS ▷ LUCAYA

1

CHAPTER 1 - DARK ALLEYS

I took a deep breath, holding my high school diploma in my hands. I should feel happy, satisfied, like I was on cloud nine or something by receiving this piece of paper. But I didn't. Instead, I felt nauseous. I didn't understand why I was nauseous, I mean I was finally out of the four years of being pushed around, judged and now I was free.

People say that high school is the worst, but I'm not so sure now.

"Congratulations baby girl," my mother hugged me one last time. "I have to go back to the diner now, text me when you'll get home." I nodded and she walked out of the auditorium.

"There you are!" my best friend Riley Matthews tackled me in a bear hug. I was kind of shocked by her sudden appearance as I was lost in my thoughts. I chuckled and hugged her back.

Riley let me go and pumped a fist in the air, "BYE BITCHES!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, and ran around, getting many glares from the teachers around us. I cocked an eyebrow, because Riley was a person who was disappointed even if someone said heck.

Cory ran over to us and stopped Riley and whispering in her ear something about making a scene. "I DON'T CARE I'M FINALLY GETTING OUT OF THIS PRISON!" Riley shouted, and I couldn't help but notice how her words were slurred. My eyes widened in realization and I put an arm around her shoulders.

"She's drunk," I whispered to Cory; who suddenly tensed up. His eyes landed on the refreshments, "Take her home as quickly as you can." he tossed me the car keys and I caught them with my free hand. He ran over to the refreshments table, stopping Mr. Feeny from helping himself to a glass of punch.

I dragged Riley out of the auditorium and towards the bathroom; kicking open the men's room. Over all the shouts and protests, I spotted Farkle looking up from drying his hands with a shocked expression. He got even more surprised when his eyes landed on Riley.

"Someone spiked the punch," I explained, and Farkle put his other arm around Riley. I took a breath of relief as Farkle took half of Riley's weight off of me. We both made small talk about college on the way to Corey's sedan.

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"We're home!" Farkle hollered loudly, as I kicked the door open. Topanga was sitting at the table, with a coffee mug in one hand and People Magazine in the other. She looked up, and took off her glasses and greeted us with a smile.

Her smile soon faded as her eyes landed on Riley, who looked like was dead. We had to put sunglasses on her face in the car so people wouldn't think she's dead or anything while we were on the highway.

"Oh God, is she drugged?" Topanga spoke, her voice laced with panic. She ran over, as we put Riley on the couch. We quickly explained it to her, and she calmed down.

"Oh I've got it from here, you kids can go back school." she said, and we shook our heads. "I'll get an Uber home later and Farkle can take Cory's car school."

We helped Riley to her bedroom, and then Farkle left. I helped Topanga change Riley's clothes into pajamas, and made her soup. It was the least I could do after she carried me around for about fourteen years.

Around 5 PM, Riley woke up with a headache. She kept groaning, and then we talked about graduation. "Feels weird, doesn't it?" she said with a warm smile on her lips, "not getting up on Monday worrying about what's going to happen today. We're all going separate ways." Her voice dropped to a whisper.

I leaned over and hugged her. She quietly sobbed, as tears rolled down my face. Riley was going to Columbia, which meant we would see each other, but Zay got a sports scholarship, and Smackle and Farkle got into Harvard.

I was going to start at New York University. We were all getting separated.

God.

It was actually happening.

I quietly left Riley's place after that and waited outside, as I had managed to steal a free ride from my best friend's iPhone. But sadly, a few moments later my Uber driver cancelled on me, so I decided to walk home.

It would take a lot more time than I wanted it to, as Brooklyn was a little too far away. You could easily tell the difference between New York and Brooklyn. When I'm in New York, it's like I'm filled up with hope. I feel happier, I look forward to what's next, and all that stuff.

But when I'm in Brooklyn, it's like every dies inside of me. Before I knew, I was halfway home. I snapped back to reality, and took a couple of seconds to breathe. I looked around, and found myself standing in front of a dark alley.

I merely glanced towards it and started walking. I stopped. And then it hit me. There was someone lying there.

I turned around, and slowly walked back. I peeked in the alley, and my eyes widened at the sight of my ex-boyfriend Lucas Friar lying on the cold ground, unconscious.

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DUN DUN DUNNNN. hey guys! its mal, and here's my new lucaya book called high school sweethearts. this book is gonna have tons of drama, and it's gonna be super exciting to write. anyway, I'm trying to a chapter for my other book, and I'm failing so I decided that maybe I should upload a chapter of this book.