you're not alone [k.q]

*chapter 1*

"Kellin!" I squealed.

He spun me around, gripping me tightly. He acts as if he hasn't seen me in years.

"Anna!" he yelled right back.

I chuckled at his dopey facial expression as he grabbed my hand and we walked into Payne High School's large front doors.

The first day of school. The day you figure out who you want to befriend. The day you start a new school year. "New Year, New Life," my Aunt Sarah always told me. It's my senior year, and I plan to live it up.

Kellin Quinn has been by my side for three years- since freshman year. I am so glad to say he is still here, right by me, walking me through the crowded school hallways.

"Anna, how were you this summer?" my old friend, Austin, asked me as Kellin and I turned a corner.

"It was great," I tell him truthfully. Kellin and I spent most of the summer together. We spent many nights on the beach, talking about our future. As I'd lie in his arms, he'd rub his hand up and down my shoulder, telling me how much he loved me.

I was drawn from my thoughts because I was lifted from the ground in a strong embrace. I smelled the familiar, strong scent of liquor and Polo Red. Mitch!

When I was placed back on my feet, I grinned widely at the tall, tattooed figure standing in front of me.

"Mitch, how have you been?" Kellin asked beside me.

"Dude, I partied hard, and I even got myself a new bike. Wait, I told you about that." Mitch laughed at himself. "Man, Kel, have you gotten taller?" Mitch laughed again, and tugged on his white T-shirt topped with a leather jacket thing.

Kellin glared playfully at his life-long best friend. He flipped his hair and the first bell rang, signaling that everyone had to be in class within five minutes.

"Anne, I'll see you in Biology later." Kellin kissed my cheek and walked in the opposite direction.

"I'll see you soon."

As I walked to my first period classroom, AP Literature, I couldn't help but notice there was something different about Mitch Lucker. I think he had gotten another tattoo. Or maybe it was something else. Maybe it was the fact that I missed him. I hadn't seen Mitch since the end of May, when he got kicked out of school for his excessive tattoos. Eventually, they let him in for Summer School, and here he is, I guess.

I checked the time on my iPhone. 8:13. I had two more minutes, and I was almost to the door.

When I reached the classroom, it was 8:14 and a large woman was standing in front of the door. She stared at me with judgemental, pale blue eyes. I smiled at her and she slammed her meter stick in front of the doorway as I tried to walk through.

"Excuse me, can I get through?" I asked politely.

"Summer reading list?" she questioned.

What summer reading list? I shook my head and tried to walk through.

"Ah, ah, ah. No list, no entry," she stated. What kind of rule is that?

"So everyone else had that list?" She nodded her head. I groaned loudly. "Can I just get the list and read the books over the month?"

"Would you like me to drive you to school everyday too?" she asked in a sarcastic tone.

No thank you.

I looked down at her name tag. "Miss... Helgadore. I apologize for not picking up the list over the summer, but I had no idea there was one. Otherwise, I would've gotten it."

Miss Helgadore glared at me, then she moved the stick. As I entered cautiously, I looked around the classroom for an empty seat. The only empty seat was next to... Vic Fuentes.

Great.