Above Ground

Chapter Two

school, school, school

I made my way to first period, as I'm tackled to the ground with a familiar laughter filling the air around me. Skylar. I get up as fast as I can and wrap my arms tight around her shoulders as hers are wrapped around my torso.

"F-ck I missed you like crazy, baby" Skylar squeals releasing her grip and staring into my hazelnut eyes.

"Oh my god I missed you like crazy!" I stare right back into her electric blue eyes, I didn't notice it earlier on but she has hints of green in them and somehow they change everyday. Some would call it mesmerizing but I call it art.

I loop my arm through hers, "Tell me all about Bora Bora, baby." I say walking to our lockers.

"It was incredible but you should have been there. Oh! And I got you this." She slides her backpack off her shoulders, unzips her pocket and pulls out a brown paper bag.

"Every time I missed you I bought you a gift" She prides her self with compassion and hands me the bag filled of goodies.

"Nawww Sky, you honestly shouldn't have, I love you endlessly." I take the bag and lace her into a hug. I unravel the creases to see what's inside.

"Oh my GOD!" A squeal escapes my lips because inside are Tiffany and Co. boxes, a pair of the most gorgeous pair of tanned bathers, expensive branded clothes and a bunch of anklets.

"Yeah, so everything was fake there so I might have gone a little bit over- board but I hope you like them.." She smiles at me.

"Like them?" I boom "I love them! Thank you so much, bestfriend!" I practically jump on her because this is so sweet. We continue to catch each other up on our current life status and I tell her about Jake and this morning's incident.

"Oh my god it's actually MEANT to be! You totally have to get with him and if you don't, I will because he sounds perfect." She advised with a smirk placed on her lips.

"Trust me he is perfect. I'm hoping he lives on my street though because he was walking to school this morning and it didn't exactly seem like he had been walking far." Somehow this conversation that started off as innocent boy talk has turned into a investigation.

"That would be perfect though, you know you could see each other everyday, practically live at each others houses, you know? I wish that could happen with me and Blake but no of course not, even if he did my parent's don't like him." Skylar pouts.

"Hey, don't start feeling sorry for yourself now, it's the first day of school be excited!" I start to pump my fists in the air when really, I want to go home and live in my bed because frankly I don't want to learn this early, better yet never. Just at that moment the bell to first period ends, and due to school rules, if we aren't there in the next thirty seconds it's immediate detention. But luckily we are right next to the classroom. Skylar and I take our seats, next to each other of course as our other friend, Ellie strolls into the room with confidence. 

"Hey girl!" Skylar shouts making the 'i' sound like a 'u' and extending the 'l' as long as possible, as Ellie walks toward us.

"Wassup my bitch?" Ellie laces Skylar into a hug and I get out of my seat, walking up to them.

"Hey babe" I extend the 'y' on hey.

"Oh my god, Riley!" Ellie pulls me into a tight squeeze just as our teacher walks in.

"Good Morning, class. I am Mrs Harper, some of you may know me from previous classes over your years at Ridgewood High. Welcome to 2017, I hope your year here is filled with knowledge, wisdom and nevertheless... fun!" Her words traced with excitement.

Our familiar bell chimes as Mrs Harper finished her little speech.

*Ding Ding Ding*

"Good morning, fellow students. I would like to welcome you to, yet another year here at Ridgewood High. I wish you a knowledgeable and enjoyable. Go Ridgewood Bears!" Our principals booming words fill the classroom and gets my athletic classmates fired up for the upcoming game tonight.

                             _______________________________________________________

My first two periods are mainly filled with trying not to fall asleep among my teachers extremely boring lectures. Yet finally, it's lunch. As a normal person I start to walk to my locker to put my books and laptop away when i tumble to the floor, flat on my face.

Good on you Riley, you really nailed it.

"Are you OK?" A familiar voice fills my ears as heat rises into my cheeks. I quickly turn around to see Jake standing before me holding out his hand paired with a worried look on his face.

"Oh hey, yeah I'm fine, just clumsy." I giggle along with him. I take his offering hand as he lifts me to my feet. I dust myself off and grab my books.

"I'm glad." He smiles "Do you want a hand with that?" He smiles gesturing to my books. 

"Oh um..." I feel bad for saying yes but surely he means it if he asked, right? "Yes please." I replied. Almost instantly his crouched down picking up some of my books and his walking back to my locker with them.

"Thanks a bunch." I say looking at my feet, feeling nothing but hopeless.

"It's OK, I wanted to help.' He gives me a reassuring smile, which makes me feel a lot better.

I smile back and we lock eyes for what feels like a century.

There it was.

The sparks.

"RILEY, THERE YOU ARE!" A booming voice coming from down the hall, snaps me out of my train of thought and Jake whips his head to the voice almost instantly. It's Skylar. Thanks for that. She slightly jogs toward us.

"Oh Skylar, hi, sorry I had a little.. Trip I guess you could say." That makes Jake laugh, good job Riley. "Oh, Jake this is Skylar."

"Oh you're Jake, I'm so sorry did I interrupt something." She nudges into me and winks at Jake. Jake starts laughing so I awkwardly join in.

"Um no, not really." I say giving the her the look so she knows I'm lying.

"Ok, well I'm starving so I'm going to get some food, you're both welcome to join." Skylar exclaims giving me a somewhat discreet wink.

"I have football tryouts but I guess I'll see you later. Bye Riley, nice meeting you Skylar." Jake gives us one last smile and catches my eye. God he's hot.

"Oh my god! Good job Rils, he's so frickin hot!" Skylar whisper shouts, her mouth dropping in awe. I giggle and we start walking toward the cafeteria.

With the image of Jake in my head, I get my food and sit down with Skylar and Ellie, draining out all of the gossip and giggles I keep on thinking about Jake, with the position I'm in it's hard not to.