A Few Miles on Our Souls

Chapter 1: The Beginning

*buzz buzz*

iMessage from Grayson

-Hey Alex, I'm outside your house-

I groan and roll out of bed. Why is Gray here so early this morning? I glance at the clock and my heart misses a beat when I realize I'm thirty minutes late getting up. I throw my hair up in a messy bun, grab my glasses off the night stand, and sprint out the door.

"HEY MOM IM LATE FOR SCHOOL I LOVE YOU BYE," I yell in one long stream of words as I bound down the stairs, grab an apple, and am out the door.

"Morning sunshine," Grayson says with a smirk as I climb in his truck cab. "Nice outfit."

"I was kinda in a hurry," I say between bites of my apple, "and since when are you a fashionista?"

"Girl, I've always been a fashion icon," he says in a sassy feminine voice, making me laugh so hard I almost choke on my apple.

"Turn on some music, Gray, and drive a little faster if you plan on getting there before lunchtime."

Grayson and I have been best friends since I can remember. When you live in a town with only one school, you know everyone from the time they can walk.

As we pull into the school parking lot, I see my other two best friends, Skylar and Zoe, getting out of the car. Skylar's car is an old baby blue corvette that she loves so much she named it.

Skylar is wearing her classic outfit: a white crop top with overalls and white vans, with her hair half pulled up in a messy bun. Zoe's wearing the same outfit I swear she wears every single day: a black low-cut t-shirt, a black leather jacket, and black jeans with sky-high over the knee boots. Her hair is pulled back in a messy black ponytail.

Skylar moved here three years ago. I don't know exactly what her dad does, but it sounds fancy. Brings plenty of cash home anyways. I don't know what Sky would do without that money though because she lives for shopping like I live for  books. Sky and Zoe are complete opposite personalities. Zoe is quiet and serious when you first meet her, but once you get to know her, she's a great person. She does drama and is always the star of the show because of her amazing voice. Zoe and Sky moved here around the same time, so I guess they bonded over both being a new kid, but they've been best friends ever since.

"Sky! Zo!"

They turn towards me in synchronization and smile. "Hey Alex! Hey Grayson!" Sky says cheerfully. I smile just a little bit wider; I'm the only one that gets to call Grayson Gray.

We walk to the school doors chatting and laughing, but have to disperse when we get inside because it's so crowded. I turn and walk down the hallway towards my locker, almost getting run over by a football player. I dodge him, and when I look up, I scowl. My sister, Ariana, is walking towards me, her god-awful boyfriend's arm around her shoulder.

"Well you look fantastic today, Al," she says jokingly. I give her a shove with my elbow.

"I agree," Gatsby says with a smirk, lazily looking me up and down. God I hate him. He got his name from the legendary party he threw two summers ago, and it stuck. I don't even know his real name.

"Piss off Gat," I say, and shove past them to my locker and open it up, shoving my English books in my bag.

"He was just joking, you know," Ariana says coming up behind me, without Gatsby this time.

"I know, but jeez Ariana, don't you see how awful that guy is? You could do so much better."

"Maybe, but you know I love him, so try to act like you like him- or at least stand in the same room as him without rolling your eyes."

I lift my backpack onto my shoulders and turn back to her "For you, I'll try." I waved at her without turning around. "I've got to get to class, one more tardy and I'll have detention."

"Alright, I'm hanging with Gat after school today, but I'll see you for dinner tonight. I'm making spaghetti!"

She turns and walks towards Gatsby. I start to roll my eyes, but remember my promise. I dash off to Biology and get there just as the bell rings. I slide into my seat and pull out all my books. Which are all English books. I curse Gatsby in my head for distracting me. I glance at my shoes for a second, which causes me to realize something else- I forgot to wear a bra. And Gatsby noticed that. Well shit, this is going to be a great day.