Bittersweet

Chapter 2

"Liz? Liz why are you asleep on the couch?" The voice belongs to my mother. I open my eyes and stare out the window. It's morning. I must've fallen asleep in the short time I closed my eyes to calm down. I look up at her, "I came down to get a drink last night and this is where I ended up. The funny thing being I never made it to the fridge." She laughs softly and I smile at her as I sit up. "Well breakfast is on the table and you've got to get ready for school. I'm going to go wake up your sister." She says, walking towards the hallway. I get up and walk into the kitchen. Toast or fruit? I grab the toast and run up the stairs. I pull on my usual skinny jeans and a T-shirt and reach for my phone.

-----

From Sarah:

6:53 a.m.

I'll be there in about 20 minutes, I have to drop Keely off at the middle school today.

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Keely is Sarah's little sister. She's 13, the same age as my own. I check the time and see that It's now 7:08. I pull on my sweatshirt and head downstairs. While waiting for Sarah, I stand by the door checking my purse to make sure I have everything I need. Hair brush? Check. Lip gloss? Check. Perfu- HONK! "Bye mom, Sarah's here!" I yell into the kitchen where she stands with my little sister Janie. "Bye sweetie, have a good day!" she yells back at me and Janie sticks out her tongue. With that, I pull the door closed and it clicks shut behind me.

"Don't you look lovely this morning?!" Sarah yells out the window as I walk down the drive to her car.

"Can it Sar, it happened again last night." I sigh and lower myself into the passenger seat.

"That dream about your mystery man?"

"Not funny. It's becoming a real issue."

"Sounds like it. It better not affect your mood tonight."

"What's tonight?"

"Seriously? It's Emily's party!" Sarah practically yells.

"Omg it is!" I laugh.

Sarah rolls her eyes and half smiles in my direction. I feel a smile start to spread across my lips and try my hardest to suppress it. I turn on the radio and stare out the car window at the passing houses. We're still four blocks away from Harland High School. That place is hell and I hate it.

---

"Okay class turn to page twenty-one and---" someone knocks and Mr. Harley stops mid sentence to open the door. A guy with dark hair and a backpack slung over one shoulder strolls into the classroom. He scans the room and comes to a stop, eyes fixed on me. I quickly shift my eyes to the window and hope he didn't realize I was staring.

"We have a new student joining us today so make him feel welcome here." Mr. Harley smiles to the boy standing by the window. "Sit anywhere you like Mr. Mathews."

"I planned on it." he scoffs as he takes the seat right in front of me. Mr. Harley looks annoyed but continues where he left off. I don't listen to him though, I'm too busy thinking and staring out the window. That is, untill the new kid turns around and says something to me.

"What?" I ask him so softly I'm not sure that he hears me, until he replies.

"I asked you what you were staring so intently at."

"Oh. I'm not sure exactly.. I was just.. thinking."

He laughs and turns back around to face the board. There is a video on the screen that depicts some children gathering stones into a large pile in the grass. when did that even start playing? I turn back to the window and allow my thoughts to drift to somewhere better than English class.