1. Room 96

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     It was the first day of school after summer break ended and I was ready to start my junior year with my 3 best friends, Nick, Brandon and his girlfriend Lorraine, which was also my only girl-friend. It was just Brandon, Lorraine, Nick and me, and Lorraine did have more girl-friends, hence she belongs to the cheer squad, but she considered me her best friend, hanging out with me every day. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Julianna Meyer, currently junior at Ellington High, pretty much the only high school in town. I come from a small family, only my father and my little brother.  I'm captain of the dance squad since 7th grade where I met Nick. 

I woke up late to the first day of school. I checked up my phone to find twenty messages from Nick trying to wake me up and then saying he was "already leaving without me", obvious lie. He would never start his first day of school without his best friend. I got up from bed, took a shower did my quick routine and went downstairs to find my three favorite guys seating by the table. 

"First day and you're late?" My dad asked serving me eggs and a piece of toast.  

"It shouldn't be news, Mr. Meyer. Your daughter is known for that" Nick said eating a piece of bacon and I rolled my eyes at his statement.

"How funny is that boy? you're also pretty late" I said to my brother eating some mentos and grabbing my backpack to go. Nick stared at me disgusted by my actions with the mentos. 

"Are you not going to-" 

"Nope. We're late, let's go" The school wasn't far from our neighborhood but it wasn't very near to get there quickly. We hoped in Nick's Honda, given to him in his 16th birthday. 

In five minutes we were already taking our bags out of the car and as for being the first day of classes we needed to find our classroom. I went straight for my locker. 

"First class?" Brandon asked placing his head and body on the left-side locker from mine. 

"AP Psych with Aldrin" I said suprisingly apathetic, he nodded slowly.  

"Look at the bright side, we have the class together" Brandon said. "We'll both suffer!" 

"That makes me feel way better!" 

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      "Welcome everyone, this is AP psychology. I'm your teacher Mr. Aldrin and if you expect this year-" There was a knock on the door that interrupted the class and woke me up from my deep-sleep dream involving Zion Kuwonu the hottest of the hottest from the basketball team. A guy entered the room looking at his schedule confused. Amazing eyes, amazing hair, amazing smile. Just everything about him made him amazing. "You must be the new student." 

"Is this room 96?" The boy asked, I cleaned the slobber falling from my cheek and lip, Brandon looked at my laughing. The guy look up at the classroom and noticed I was staring at him, he just weirdly smiled at me, I turned away from the stare.

"This is room 69. And I suppose you are not my new student. Mr....."

"Honoret. Edwin Honoret."

  "Well, Mr. Honoret this is AP Psychology and unless you have this class on your schedule, I shall proceed with my class.Good luck on your first day!" Mr. Aldrin said closing the door in Edwin's face. I raised my hand I wouldn't lose one second to get out of the classroom and help the new kid sort out his classes.   

"Yes?" Mr. Aldrin said irritated from all the interruption. "Julianna, just go."  me and Mr. Aldrin kinda have some history way back from when I was in 9th grade. He was the English teacher, I hated his class, but somehow I bonded with him through the years. He then became the Psychology teacher, and to my luck, my teacher. I sprinted to find the new kid completely lost outside. 

"Juls!" I heard the voice of a guy behind me screaming my name. Giovanni Loch also none as Loch, Glow Kid, Vanni Loch, G, etc... but I just called him Gio. "Girl I missed you! My other half!" He hugged me. 

"I missed you too. I gotta go now, see you at lunch!" I said but he didn't seem to care or listen to what I said because he followed me with the new guy. 

"Who is  that?" Gio asked. "Freshmeat?" 

"He is actually a junior, Gio I was-" But Gio ignored me completely. 

"Hello!" Gio said, startling the guy. "I'm Giovanni Loch, it's Italian for John"

 " And I'm Julianna Meyer," I simply said smiling at him. 

"Girl, that's just simple. This bitch right here, she is captain of the swimming team, head of the theatre company, and captain of the dance squad. If you wanna join anything, just talk to her maybe I can help in the arrangement" Gio winked at him and Edwin stood awkwardly there. "Well, I better get going, see you later, J"

"Edwin Honoret. The new kid, I guess." He extended his hand for me to reach it. 

"Welcome to Ellingwood High and welcome to Ellingwood Town. The most boring town in the whole US country." I said chirpily smiling. 

There was a really awkward silence between us for a few seconds before I spoke again. 

"So...your classes?" I said extending my hand to look at his schedule. He gave it to me and it was all wrinkly and full of stains.  "Well, you have first period with Ms. Quintana, AP Spanish, impressive." I said eyeing him, he shrugged smiling. "And that would be over there around the corner. Room 96" 

"Alright, well, thanks..." Edwin said trying to remember my name. 

"Julianna" 

"Right! Thank you, Julianna" As I was turning to go inside Mr. Aldrin's class, he said something that made me smile. "Where do you sit at lunch?"

"Show me your classes again" He took out the paper and I took a picture of it. "I'll wait for you after 4th period" 

"Alright, see you then" Edwin said flashing me a smile and my cheeks flushed when I got back into the classroom.  

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At 4th period there was an emergency assembly for the whole school, so as we all got out and into the gym, we saw police patrols surrounding the school area. 

"Everyone settle down. Settle down" Principal Turner said into the microphone. There was still some noise until he said the next horrific thing. "Something tragic has happened to one student of this school. Ryland Waynes' body was found this morning by the Peak Point Falls. We don't have much detail and it won't be soon revealed, but to what the police can conclude this was a suicide act. We'll pray for Ryland and his family, may he rest in peace, our beloved linebacker" Silence hit the room with everyone shocked about the news. 

Just two months ago it seemed Ryland had everything figured it out about his life, why would he want to end it? He was an incoming Senior, he had already booked a scholarship for football, and he was also planning to get into an IVY league, but now every plan was gone. He's gone. I could only spot Nick who stood up and went out of the gym, followed by the school psychologist. Nick and Ryland were very good friends since they met in elementary school. Was Ryland really planning his death or did someone planned it out for him?  




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