ethereal

crazy

Amara's POV

This was the beginning. The beginning of something I didn't realize at first, the beginning of something I never knew, and the beginning of something I've never experienced. This was the beginning of something ethereal.

It was my first day of senior year, and the school was buzzing with the sound of busy teachers, girls gossiping, and nervous freshmen opening and closing lockers. When I finally made my way through all the chaos and to my locker, I decided to text my best friend, Shawn.

Amara: Hey
Amara: Where are you? Class starts in 10 minutes.
S: Running late. Jasmine spilled her food all over the carpet. Tell Ms. Jones I'll be a few minutes late?
Amara: Yeah of course... just hurry up.
S: See you in 15.

With that, I turned off my phone and decided to meet up with a few of my friends in the cafeteria before class. I caught myself looking around, smiling at all the people I haven't seen all summer, wondering if their lives had changed at all over 3 months. I know... I zoned out.

"Amara! Snap out of it!" My friend Natalie says, as she takes a small sip from her water bottle. "Yeah we're gonna go upstairs... I know we're seniors but I still don't want detention." Stephanie adds.
"Okay okay I'm coming. It's just that everyone looks so different, I wonder if they changed at all." Natalie took another sip, "If we don't know them, we don't care. Now let's go."

We started walking towards the staircase to make our way to period 1, when Shawn came out of nowhere, wearing black jeans, a black and white flannel, converse, and his brown hair messy. He was out of breath and carrying a chemistry textbook. I was so happy to see him, even though I saw him basically every day during the summer. I gave him a huge hug before yelling at him for being late.
"Look I'm really happy you're here, but we need to get to class." I said, pulling away from the hug. "I know I know, let's go." We walked around the corner, and into our first class of the day. I had no idea that a bunch of my friends from last year were there too, so I went over to talk to them.

"Oh my gosh! Amara I love your outfit!" "Oh thanks! I love yours too." I said smiling. I was wearing a pair of dark wash ripped shorts, a black sweatshirt, my white converse, and my hair straight. I turned to Shawn and whispered, "Do you know her?" "Nope" he replied. We both giggled. I was eager to meet new people and get involved this year, since it's my last one with everyone I've known for as long as I can remember.
The rest of the day was good, I joined Drama club, and met so many new people in all of my classes. But now it was the end of the day, and all I wanted to do... was just crash on the couch with Shawn, watch Disney movies, and eat popcorn. So I texted him.

Amara: Hey loser
S: What do u want moron
S: JK cutie what's up
Amara: Want to come over and watch Disney movies??
Amara: I'll be over in 10 with snacks.
y/n: 🙈

I changed into a pair of black leggings, and an oversized sweater. Then I picked out a bunch of possible Disney movies to watch. As I was looking through them, my eyes landed on Sleeping Beauty.

I fiddled with the sleeve of my sweater as a tear rolled down my cheek. With that same sleeve, I wiped it away fast, as if it never happened. We used to watch that one when we were kids and had sleepovers. He always jokes about me being the princess and him being the prince to this day. We used to act it out and always had corresponding Halloween costumes. I missed the days when everything was so simple. When we could say whatever we want, and nobody could judge us for it.

See the thing is that I have liked Shawn as more than a friend ever since middle school. We have always gone back and forth, talking about if we'd actually become something, and we have, but we haven't talked about it in a year. These past few days I've been debating telling him how I really feel once again, because we're so close. My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. I got up and opened it to see a wide awake, eager Shawn, carrying a bag of food. He walked in.
"Heyyy! Let's get this party started!!" He said putting his hands up in the air. I laughed as I took the bag of snacks and sat on the couch. "Uhhhh not so fast Mendes. What do you want to watch?" I said, biting my lip, hoping he wouldn't say Sleeping Beauty. I didn't hear anything, so I looked up from my phone slowly, just to see him standing in front of me holding that exact movie. I sighed as he took a seat beside me.
"Why do you want to watch this one so bad... we can literally quote it, there's no point Shawn." "Oh pleaseeeee!" He whined and tried to hug me. I agreed and got up to grab blankets.

I promised myself that I would tell him tonight. I walked back into the living room to see him ripping open a package of muffins.
"Shawn Peter Raul Mendes! I see you" "I wanted one!"

I sat on the couch beside him, spreading the blankets over our legs, and he put his arm around me, letting me slip into his warm embrace, my face nuzzling into the crook of his neck. The movie started.

Halfway through the movie, I picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

"Why did you turn it off?! That's the best part, Amara." Shawn said. "We need to talk." Tears started filling up in my eyes. I stared at the floor. "What? Hey, hey what's going on? Why are you crying?" He said, assuringly. "Shawn,
I-I- I'm still crazy in love with you." I spit out, as one tear rolled down my face, and i looked right at him. He was looking at me with reassuring eyes, but not saying anything. Once I said what I needed to, he looked away and down at the floor. My heart broke, and I clasped my hands together, holding them tight until my knuckles turned white. A few tears dropped onto my sleeve. I couldn't handle his reaction at the time.

"Why aren't you saying anything..." I choked out. "What is there to say?" He said quietly, still locking his eyes on the hardwood floor.
"Yeah actually you're right. It's fine, Shawn you don't have to say anything. It was stupid, I just, I guess I just thought it was a good idea sorry." I said, almost as if he couldn't hear me. I sat on the opposite side of the couch after getting my own blanket, and turned the TV back on.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, when suddenly he got up, put on his shoes, and walked out the door. I was left in shock, watching as princess Aurora pricked her finger on the spinning wheel, and fell into a deep, deep sleep.