Purple

    When I pulled up on the first day of high school, it was bustling with activity. Buses were dropping off students and the seniors were hanging out on the front steps where they always did. Every year, the seniors changed, but their hangout spot didn't.

    I bid my mom goodbye and went inside to the front office to get my schedule. I was ready to tackle junior year head on. I already had college tours planned and SATs scheduled. I went to my classes, and at the end of third period, I went to the bathroom. When I came out of the stall I saw another girl I didn't know, probably a senior. She was touching up her makeup. I went to the sink next to her to wash my hands when the other girl pulled out a perfume and spritzed herself. The flowery scent was overwhelming, but amazing.

    "Oh my god," I said. "That smells so good, what brand is that?"

    The other girl grinned. "Right? I don't even know. It doesn't have a label."

    "What? Where did you get it?" I asked, confused.

    "Um," the girl hesitated, "a friend gave it to me."

    I could tell that was a lie, but I didn't really think twice about it. I just nodded. The silence was a little awkward, but the other girl broke it.

    "I'm Jenna, by the way. What's your name?"

    "Emily."

    "You could try it, if you want. Since we don't know what brand it is." Jenna held out the bottle. I shrugged and took it. I sprayed it on my hand and rubbed it into my neck, then gave it back.

    "Anyways, I should get back to class," I said. "Thanks." We both picked up our bags and left, heading in separate directions. By the time I got back to my class, the bell had rung, so instead I turned and went to lunch. At lunch I had a bit of a headache, I figured it was from the stress of the new school day.

    After lunch, I went to my fourth period class, Human Anatomy. The teacher, Mr. Holland, was new to me. He only taught the upperclassmen so I had never seen him before. He was a doctor, he told the class. Apparently he went to medical school but now he did independent research, whatever that meant.

    When the bell rang and I got up to go to fifth period, my last class of the day, Mr. Holland stopped me.

    "Excuse me," he said, "what's your name?"

    "Uh, Emily Willis, why?" I didn't know why I had been stopped. I only had two minutes to get to fifth period, I noted as I checked the clock above the door.

    For a moment, Mr. Holland just looked at me. I squirmed, unsure why he was doing that. He stepped closer. "Look, I have to get to class-"

    He shook his head. "No, I think you should go to the nurse. You have hives."

    I shook my head, and took out my phone to use as a mirror. All over my neck were big purple patches. I noticed my hand was discolored, too.

    "That's weird. Thanks." I left the classroom to head to the nurse.

    The nurse took one look at me and said I needed to go home.

    "Are you allergic to anything?"

    "I don't think so."

    "Are you itchy? Does it hurt?"

    "No."

    "Go home, get some rest, if in a couple of hours they still don't go away I'd call a doctor. What's your mom's number?"

    I gave the nurse my mom's cell number, and she called to get permission for me to walk home. Just as I was getting ready to leave, Mr. Holland walked into the nurse's office, and looked at me while talking to the nurse. I shook off the uneasy feeling I got from that and left the building, signing out at the front office. The receptionist looked at me like I was from another planet when I told her I didn't need to go to the hospital.