HIRAETH

ONE

My alarm goes off and its the "feeling good" song.
I pick out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and get ready for school.
My mom isn't home as usual and my dad and sister don't live with us.
I leave for school with a dark chocolate bar and my skateboard.

"Hey Sky!"
I turn around. It's my neighbour Max.

A couple of things about Max..
Max is a girl, she is the most popular kid at school (I have no idea why she bothers talking to me even after all the friends she has), she is a basketball player and an honour roll student and she is pretty much good at everything else ranging from her looks to curricular activities to her social life.

"Hey Max."
"I'm wondering if you know what "enthusiasm" means or are just that ignorant."
"HEY MAX!"
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT, SKYLAR!"
I laugh.
"It's the last day of school before summer break! I can't believe this!"
I can.
"I'm so excited!"
I'm not.
Another thing about Max is that she doesn't really mind if people don't reply. She can go on talking to herself for hours without caring if people are listening or not.
"So when are you coming over for that sleepover you promised?"
Oh Lord. I promised that four years ago! I had a life back then Max.
Before I can even reply, she says, "There are so many things we could do together! Hit on hot guys, go to the beach, watch movies, go to parties! I'm so excited!"
Why tiny human? Why me?

I don't want to break her heart or spirit right now so I just offer her my dark chocolate bar.
"Thanks babe! I love dark chocolate!"
"You're welcome. Take it. I have another one in my bag."
"Thank you so much! I owe you another kidney."
"So I heard that a fancy restaurant opened downtown."
She smiles and her smile is brighter than my future. "The food there is amazing! Let's go tonight to celebrate!"
I nod excitedly. If there is anything that truly makes me happy, it's food... and shoes!

We finally make it to school.
As soon as she enters, the whole corridor goes wild. "M! What's the plan tonight?"
I wait for her to cancel on me but she just says, "I'm going out to dinner with my best friend."
Oh yeah. I forgot to mention this. We are best friends since kindergarten.
So how am I not popular?
Because I don't really like people. But the few that do stick around even after all my bitchy attitude... I can die for them.
So I don't exactly remember how we became friends but I vaguely remember talking about food.
I think it was, "Hey do you want a bite of my pizza?"
And I replied by saying something like, "PIZZA!"
I'm not really sure. It was fourteen years ago.

My other best friend somehow finds me in this hugeass crowd and runs over.
He gives me a hug.
"Hello my sunshine!"
A few things about Mark..
He is in the school football team, an all rounder, a hopeless romantic and he has a really good personality. His looks are just a bonus.

I know Mark since kindergarten as well and I don't exactly remember how we became friends but I vaguely remember talking about shoes.
I think I was staring at his shoes and he was staring at mine and then we realised this and laughed and he is as close I let any guy get, except that kid who has the misfortune of dating me.

"Hey babe!"
"Someone is excited today," he says.
I smile. "Max is taking me out for dinner to that restaurant downtown I always talk about!"

Another thing is that Max and Mark  are twins.
Yeah so basically my best friends are twins who happen to be my neighbours.
They are the coolest and the best people I have met in my sixteen years of existence.
"How does my sister get to take you out more than your boyfriend?"
I laugh.
"Which reminds me, that kid has been looking for you ever since he walked through those doors. Go meet him! He is hyperventilating!"
I am so busy laughing my ass off I can't breathe and I'm just standing there in the corridor gasping for air.
"Skylar. Go."
And then I go to find my hyperventilating boyfriend.

He is standing with his locker open and as soon as he sees me, he drops everything he is holding and runs over to hug me.
"I missed you so much, ace!"
I kiss him on his cheek and he smiles like an idiot.
Then he just stares at me for a minute and I ask him if something is wrong.
"Oh Lord... you are so fucking beautiful!"
It's been four years and this kid still makes me blush like a moron.
I help him pick up his books. He reaches in his locker and gets a toblerone bar out.
"Oh my God! I love you!"
"I know babe. I know."
He tries to hug me but I just take the chocolate and start eating and I love how he looks at me even when I'm so mean.
I offer him some and he declines.
"You look like a thousand times more beautiful when you are happy."
I smile.
"Skylar?"
"Yeah?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to say I love you."
I stop eating and pull him closer while blushing.
Max walks closer to us and goes, "Now you may kiss the bride."
I literally bang my head against the locker while laughing.