Solitude

Chapter 1 (First Day)

CHAPTER ONE

            Fall. Autumn. Start of the school. Whatever you call it, September is definitely Alex’s least favorite month. Wake up at six, go to school before eight, and deal with boring teachers, boring subjects, and jerk schoolmates – September.

            Alex sighed for the hundredth time and look at her mom.

            “Don’t look at me like that, Alexandria. You are going to school and you will finish it. You’re a senior! This is your last year! Your last chance to make friends, to enjoy high school, to attend the prom, you can get yourself a boyfriend for all I care! I just want you to enjoy your last year in high school.”

            Alex rose her eyebrows “Mom, I’m not saying anything. And what’s with that boyfriend thing? I will definitely not have a boyfriend this year. I just want to get over high school and be done with it. And I have friends! I have Chinny and Balsy”

            Her mom looked at her as if she pitied her. “Honey, I know it’s hard to admit that you don’t have any friends, but you have to be honest with yourself. Chinny is your rag doll your dad gave to you when you were five, while Balsy is your stuffed rabbit. I want you to have friends – normal friends – someone you can talk to, share your secrets to –”

            “Share my secrets? Why would I want to share my secrets to anyone?” She interrupted her mom’s ranting.

            “Because that’s what friends are,” her mom held her hand. “And also, I was in my senior when I met your father. Oh! I’m so excited in the thought that you’re going to have a boyfriend”

            “Mom, stop teasing me and you know I’m not interested in boys,” she spat the word boys as if it’s something unpleasant.

            Her mom gasped, “You’re lesbian?!”

            Alex choked on her eggs, “What – Mom – No! Of course not! It’s just, I’m not thinking about it right now. I want to focus in my studies,” she stood up. “Anyway, I’m going.”

            She hurriedly went out and sighed audibly. ‘My mom is crazy. Confirmed.’

            Her name is Alexandria Athena Connor Smith, eighteen years old, and yes, single. Her dad died when she was ten, it was very hard for their family especially on her mom. She’s glad that slowly by slowly, her mom is recovering. It’s been eight years, and in those eight years, it has only been her mom and her. Her mom had to go back to work because she needed to – they didn’t have a choice on that matter. She loves her mother dearly but sometimes she can be a little crazy.

            She was so lost in her thought that she didn’t notice that she already arrived in their school. Goldenrod High School is the only high school in the small town of Goldenrod, Wyoming. The building is quite old but still strong and it has three buildings – the main building is three floors high. The setup of classrooms can be confusing but you’ll get used to it. On the first floor of the main building is the auditorium where students perform, the cafeteria, the library, and the administration office. On the second are classrooms and lockers, just like on the third floor.

            To the left, beside the main building is the Science building. The Science building has two floors – first is for labs (Chemistry lab, Biology lab, and Physics lab). While on the second floor is the greenhouse.

            To the right is the court where basketball, volleyball, and badminton tournaments are being held. It’s almost like the auditorium, except the ring is on the middle of the seats.

            The football field is behind those buildings. Speaking of football, she can see the varsity jerks reuniting with the cheerleaders. Popular people always give her creeps, maybe it’s because of those movies that she watched, but they always have that effect on her. She shook her head and hurried to the Registrar’s Office to get her schedule for this year. Hopefully, she’ll get lucky and be enrolled in those classes with teachers interesting enough to listen to.

            “Excuse me, Mrs. Gordon. Can I have my schedule, please?”

            The registrar gave her a sheet of paper and a key, “Here’s your schedule and your locker. Good luck this school year.”

            “Thank you, Mrs. Gordon.”

            She hurriedly searched for her locker and luckily, it’s on the second floor. She shoved her other things and closed it immediately. Alex looked at her schedule and felt a little good because her first teacher is Ms. Bruines, a teacher she had last year that is pretty interesting for her.

            She was about to go inside the classroom when she noticed other students filing out to the auditorium. Then she remembered that annoying event that happens every first day of school – The Betting Challenge. From all the seniors, someone will be picked to take a challenge and complete it before the finals. Now, every other student will bet if he can or can’t do it. It’s annoying in her opinion but its tradition.

            Alex entered the auditorium and noticed that it’s more crowded that the previous year. She took the seat on the last row, near the aisle. Everyone’s buzzing with excitement that she can’t help but wonder if something special will happen.

            “Good morning, Goldenrod!” the cheer captain, Janie Adams, greet the crowd. “Wow, another year, and another year means another challenge! This year, our challenger, is the very famous Blake Pierce!”

            The crowd roared with applause, screams, and yells, while Alex is in the state of shock. Blake Pierce is the most popular guy in the whole school – the whole town, even. Every guy envied him and every girl wanted him. And believe it or not, though Alex kept on saying that she’ll never like a boy, she silently admired Blake Pierce. 

            Blake climbed up the stage where Janie is. Janie picked up the fish bowl with folded papers inside.

            “Okay, Blake,” Janie started, “here’s the challenges. You need to pick one. Don’t show it on anyone or you’ll be disqualified. You have to finish the challenge before the finals and at the graduation ball, you are going to tell what was the challenge and how did you accomplished it. Ready? Okay, pick.”

            Blake picked a paper and read it silently. A mysterious smile graced his face as he pocketed the paper and gracefully went down the stage.

            “And now, ladies and gentlemen, The Betting Challenge has officially begun!”

A/N: So, here's chapter one, guys. Please read and review. I know it's quite short but this is my first story and I'm still learning the ropes.