X-Kid

Carpe Diem

My alarm clock blared, waking me up from my deep sleep. I groaned before turning it off. It was 6:30 am, and today was the first day of my Sophomore year of high school. I walked out to the kitchen and grabbed a can of soda from the fridge, hoping the caffeine would wake me up a little. I went back to my bedroom and got ready, brushing my hair out and throwing an outfit on. I wore a black Green Day t-shirt and a pair of holey capris even though it was September. I checked Facebook and sat around for a bit until it was time to go, and then I grabbed my backpack and shoved off.

My grandpa drove me to school today, which I was thankful for since I wanted nothing to do with my mom. We talked about what might happen, but the rest of the drive was filled with a comfortable silence. I thanked him for the ride before getting out of the car and walking to the school patio, where my best friend Luna was already waiting for me.

“Hey girl,” she greeted with a laugh. “Are you excited?”

“Oh hell yes! This year is going to be so much better than the last,” I replied.

“Yeah, because you’re not stuck with Drake this time. You’re a free woman now, and who knows what might happen,” she said.

“I’m not chasing after someone anytime soon, if that’s what you mean. If an opportunity arises, then I will take it, but otherwise, I’m a single pringle,” I explained. “Anyway, I’m bummed we don’t have any classes together for the second year in a row.”

“I know, it’s so lame! Good thing they can’t really separate us,” she commented.

“Yeah. What’s your first hour again?” I asked.

“Biology. You?” she wondered.

“AP European History. I don’t have biology until 5th hour, but oh well,” I said, briefly unlocking my phone to check the time. “It’s about time to head to class, but I’ll see you at lunch at the usual spot, okay?”

“Sounds good. See ya later,” she replied.

I walked inside the building and up the stairs to the class I was looking forward to the most this year: AP European History. I had a thing for history, and I wanted to try out the challenge of Advanced Placement classes. After all, those looked good on college applications, and I definitely wanted to get into a good college.

I listened to the teacher go through the syllabus before the bell rang, and I moved on to Health, then French 2 following that. Since it was the first day, we weren’t really learning anything, so I wrote down lyrics to my favorite songs in my note book. Finally, it was lunchtime, and I met Luna at the lunch spot we had claimed the year before. When I finally arrived there, I saw my best friend standing with 4 boys, and I sighed.

“Hey,” she greeted. “I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a guy from my Geometry class and his friends to sit with us.”

I did mind a little, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “No, it’s fine.”

“Nora, this is Alex, Rian, Zack, and Jack,” she introduced, pointing to each of them. “Guys, this is Nora. She’s my best friend.”

I set my backpack on the ground and looked at all of them. Alex had fluffy brownish hair, a bright smile, and his eyes seemed to float towards Luna a lot. Rian and Zack were both rather shaggy haired, but Zack was more muscular and had a skateboard in tow. Last, there was Jack, the lanky one. He had dark hair with blonde in it and goofy sort of smile.

“Nice to meet you guys,” I said, my eyes lingering on Jack a little too long.

“Hey, don’t you have French with me 3rd hour?” Rian asked.

I paused. “Oh yeah! I do. Sorry about that. I was kinda spacing earlier I guess.”

We all went to the vending machines, saying hello to the people we hadn’t seen over the summer and conversing with one another. We were walking in pairs, Alex and Luna flirting in the front, Zack and Rian in the middle, and me and Jack in the back.

“I like your shirt,” he said. “Green Day’s a good band.”

“Thanks. You’re a fan too?” I asked.

“I prefer Blink, but yeah,” he replied.

“Blink’s pretty good too. I like them,” I mentioned.

It was silent for a second. “So what classes do you have the rest of the day?”

Jack seemed just as awkward as me, which made me kinda happy. “Um, Geometry, Biology and then English Honors. You?”

“You have Biology 5th hour? Is it with Johnson?” he wondered.

“Yeah, why? Do you have it too?” I questioned.

“Yup. Hey, maybe we’ll be lab partners,” he smiled.

I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “I’ll cross my fingers.”

By the time lunch was over, I had already grown to like the boys. It turns out, the four of them were in a band together, which is awesome. Alex and Luna did not stop flirting the whole time, but I got in some good conversations with the others. Zack and I were even taking photography together in second trimester.

Fourth hour dragged on and finally it was time for fifth. Mrs. Johnson had the seating chart posted on the board, and I quickly found where I was and laughed to myself. Sure enough, I was sitting next to Jack.

My backpack hit the floor with a thunk as I sat down at the two person table. Soon, the tall boy wandered into the classroom, and I called him over with a friendly smile. “You must be psychic,” I said. “You’re my lab partner.”

He laughed. “And for my next trick, I predict that I will get an A in this class.”

“I said psychic, not magician you dork,” I commented, giggling.

“Take your seats class. After all, these will be where you sit for the whole year,” Mrs. Johnson said.

Jack and I high fived, then he set his stuff down and sat in the chair next to me. The bell rang and the teacher got up to speak to the class, so Jack and I started passing notes. We talked about music and TV and then we exchanged cell phone numbers. I was kinda sad when the class ended, but Jack and I walked in the hallway until we had to part ways.

Sixth hour quickly became my second favorite class, since it was English of course. Soon, the day was over, and I walked out to find my grandfather waiting for me in the car. Luna texted me by the time I reached it.

“I’m in love <3” she said.

I sighed before tapping a reply. “With Alex? Already?”

“Yes!!! He’s been flirting with me all day and he’s SOOOO cute,” she typed.

Whenever she got a crush on someone, Luna got a little childish. “He seems to really like you too. You should go for it.”

“Oh, I plan too. You should go for Jack too. I saw you eyeing him today ;)” she mentioned.

“I just met him, Luna. I have to wait it out a bit,” I stated.

“Okay, but I think he’s totally into you..” she commented.

“I’m still waiting,” I said.

“-.- fine,” she responded.

I laughed and locked my phone, beginning to delve into the story of my day to my grandfather. I had had such a great day, I couldn’t stop smiling. This year was definitely going to be beautiful, especially with my 4 new guy friends.