You Again

The News

"Bye Stella," he said for the eighth time, clinging tightly to the girl just a little shorter than him.

"Bye Alexander," she replied, her tears soaking up his nice grey sweater.

"Promise to wear it, okay?" he urges, shoving the little "put a quarter in and get a prize!" ring into her hand.

"It's too big," she cries, but Alexander stays cool.

"You'll fit it one day." He promises.

Suddenly, Stella panics. She realized she does not have anything for her best friend, who at the moment, had to leave to a far away place that she didn't even remember the name. She pulls the red ribbon from her hair, causing the braid to undo itself. She doesn't care. "I know this isn't for boys," she says meekly, offering the satin strand to him.

"It is now, because it's a gift." Alec tells her. She giggles amidst the tears.

"Alec, honey," Mrs. Smith calls.

"Time to go forever?"

"Time to go forever."

"Oh no," Stella says, and cries until her mother has to take her away and comfort her.

"I'll never forget you!" she yells to her friend, but he is too far away to hear.

11 Years Later.

'GOOOOOOOD MORNING!' The radio screams, blaring the news channel. An ungodly word escapes my mouth as I'm suddenly jolted awake. I slam the snooze button, but I think I turned the volume up too loud, because Chad Bryans' voice is still echoing in my head.

"I'm guessing you're awake, Stella." My mom chuckles from the door. I roll my eyes and flop back down onto the pillow.

"C'mon, silly girl. We're preparing for a big day today!"

"Mom, school isn't a big deal," I groan loudly.

"Not that! Its-" she puts a hand over her mouth. "Just come down to the table for breakfast and I'll tell you. Big news, big, big news!" She sings as she shuts the door.

Another ungodly word exits my lips as I get up and get ready for the day.

After a hot shower, and debating what I was going to wear to school today, I decided upon a regular sweater and jeans paired with my Dr. Martens. Nothing. Special.

Slumping in my chair at the dinner table, I raise an eyebrow and my parents, signaling to tell me about the "big news." My mother seems the most excited, so my dad gives the floor to her.

"Remember Alexander Smith?" suddenly, my thumb instantly flies to the underside of my ring finger. On it is a cheap metal ring, that I've covered with clear nail polish in the hope it'll help it last longer.

"Of course I do," I reply, my voice coming out a lot smaller than usual.

"Well, his father is retiring in a couple years, so they want him to head some of the workings going on and around back home. Home is here." she says.

"They're coming back?" I repeat, sitting up straight.

"They're coming back," my father finally pipes up.

I blink once. Twice. I blink until my mother asks me if I'm okay.

I don't know how to feel. It's been eleven years.

Alexander Smith is coming back.

What the hell do I do?

"I hope you'll be nice to him," my mother continues, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. My hair used to be the same color, until I had it bleached to a light brown. "You look better with that kind of hair" everyone told me.

"I wouldn't think anything else," I say, trying to believe my own words. Eleven. Years. What was I supposed to say? "Hey, you were my best friend when we could barely make it to the toilet. How have you been?"

He's probably way different. I mean, I am too. We must now like so many different things. I wonder if he's all dorky now, all studies. Oh god, what if he got incredibly hot? I don't know what I'd do.

"Time for school!" My dad announces, snapping me out of the jumbled mess that is my mind. I grin, and then get out of the house, walking the few blocks to school. My breath comes out as a fog, and my fingers are again worrying the ring around my finger. It's become a habit, rubbing this cheap ring. It may not mean much to others, but for some reason, it means a great deal to me.

It's too big I told him.

Don't worry, you'll fit it one day. He promised me.

The snow falls around me, making the tip of my nose pink, and my ears cold. I tuck my hands under my arms as I continue walking. The sound of my boots on the sidewalk is interrupted every once and a while by parents wishing their children goodbye's as they're ushered onto the school bus. Or occasional "hurry's" from a mother or father as everyone piles into the car.

The school looms in front of me. Alexander will be going here too. He will see this view. He and I might have to walk to school together. I'll probably have to show him the way.

I spend the entire day preoccupied by thoughts of him.

Why didn't we keep contact?

What happened?

Why didn't he ever try to find me on Facebook? I mean, sure, no one uses it anymore, but come on!

Why didn't he try?

Then again, I didn't try.

I should've.

Now, I'm left sitting in my last period of the day, not knowing what's going on, thinking of a boy I used to know. It eats me up, and I don't know why my parents only remembered now to tell me about my childhood friend. 

I wonder.. does he still have my ribbon? The satin strand of red.

I groan as the bell rings, signaling we go home.

I should be happy I'm going home, I mean, I get to escape school, yeah?

I sigh, and lean against my locker. What if Alec doesn't like me?

This is too much. I just want to go home.

HIIIII. I've written stories before, but they're all flops and it's depressing. I hope you guys like this. Any sign of approval whatsoever would mean the world to me. I'm not even joking. If my writing sucks in this chapter, I'm sorry. I just wanted to introduce Stella and her view on everythaaaaang.

Okay, if you've gotten this far, I love you and I'm grateful. Thank you again.

xoxo

Denise

p.s vote, follow, fan comment etc? I'm awkward sorry