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It's the wailing of a police car that rouses me from sleep. Tiredly, I rub my eyes and squint at the sun's reflection, the light hitting my face like tiny shards of pain. Realising I slept outside in my clothes I groan and stumble inside to get ready for school. Thank goodness it's still warm outside, I'd hate to fall asleep and have it snow.
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On my way out, I grab a mango, wrapping it in a napkin and run out the door, taking the stairs down halfway before giving in and riding the elevator down the rest of the way. My text tone chimes and I lick my fingers clean of mango juice as I swipe it open.
Peter: Who's a pretty flower and is going to be late for school? Peter: You! Me: You think I'm pretty? Btw, I'm headed your way. Peter: K, I'll be outside the library.
I put the phone in my pocket and wait for the elevator doors to open. I get to the lobby and see Tristan leaning against the wall. I keep my eyes trained on the floor and walk briskly towards the door. "Hey Iris!" He calls, running up beside me. "Going to school?" "Yeah, I'm meeting Peter. He waits for me," I say hoping he'll leave. Unfortunately, he doesn't.
"Parker?" He scoffs. "That kid's such a lo-" he stops as I send him a sharp glare. "Lovely person. That's what I was going to say. Really good with his camera of his, always taking pictures for yearbook." Awkwardly, Tristan rubs the back of his neck and checks his watch. "Ah, my car's here! You sure you don't want to ride along? It beats walking." I nod, and head out, turning to go find Peter.
The car waiting for my neighbor sits idly at the curb, a slick, silver Mercedes polished to the point where it looked like a mirror. My sandals clap against the sidewalk as I jog to the library, eager to see my best friend. As I approach the front steps, I see the tips of his battered Converse peeking out from behind the tall stone handrail. Leaning over the structure, I look down and see he's watching a YouTube video about the Blue Jay. "Looking for a superhero girlfriend Peter?"
He jumps up, colliding our heads and sending me backwards to the ground. "Shit! Sorry Iris, you scared me!" He jumps over the stone and pulls me up, dusting me off once I'm stable. "Little warning next time?"
After blinking a couple of times to clear my vision, I check my phone. "C'mon, we're gonna be late again," I sigh, grabbing his hand and pulling him down the block. Once he's proven to be able to walk briskly, I release him. We approach the school and run up the front steps and down the front hall to physics together. The bell rings the second we cross the doorway. "Ah, Mr. Parker and Miss Grant, how nice of you to grace us with your abrupt presence. Take your seats and get out a pencil, the test begins in four minutes," Ms. Harmon says with a sigh. Peter gestures for me to move first and I step over to my seat, getting out the appropriate materials.
The school day flies by and by the time lunch arrives I'm thoroughly famished. After getting lunch with Peter, we find a table with our friends in the corner. "Serious question: Who's hotter, Blue Jay or Black Widow?" Ned asks the table as I sit down. I smile to myself as I shove a forkful of sticky, flavourless pasta into my mouth. Peter drops his tray beside me and blushes as Ned repeats the question. "Blue Jay, hands down. Black Widow definitely has curves but Blue Jay's more our age," he reasons.
