No Man's Land

01

The First Last Day

On the morning of her first day of senior year, Rosella Andrews had been arguing with her mother over song lyrics.

"For the last time, those are not the lyrics!" Rosella, or Rose as people became accustomed to calling her, gaped at her mother. Her smile hidden.

Not having a witty comeback, her mother just smirked and began to shout along side the radio.

Rosella, trying to hide her smile, turned her head and crossed her arms; the corner of her mouth inching upwards at her mothers horrendous singing.

"Oh come on sweetie, sing with me! It's your first day of school!" She smiled, trying to move into her daughters line of vision.

"Exactly- it's my first day of school and it's 7am. I should not be awake, never mind singing my heart out incorrectly, may I add, to an over played song." She tried to sound cynical, but the amusement was evident in her tone.

"Alright, Debbie downer." Her mother joked, heading back towards the counter.

"You want another pancake to go with my horrible singing?" She smiled.

"Yes please." Rosella smiled, drawling out the word.

The two continued to talk over breakfast, before Rosella checked the time and got up to leave her dishes in the sink.

"I should go. I don't want to be late on my first day and, Cam is going to be here any-"

She was cut off by a familiar car horn, confirming that she was right.

"Speak of the devil, I'll see you later- Oh before I forget." She paused at the door, bag slung over her shoulder. "Are you working late tonight?"

Her mother had gotten a new job at the police station down town and as proud as Rosella was of her mom, she couldn't help but be disappointed by the limited time they got to spend together.
Breakfast was practically the only time she got to see her- they cherished it.

"Yes why?"

"Just curious, I didn't want to sit by myself so I was going to ask Cam over if that's okay?"

Her mother smirked. "Cameron, huh?"

"Mom." Rosella groaned. "You know it's not like that, Cameron and I are just friends."

"Whatever you say." Her mother conceded, although the sly smirk on her face suggested otherwise. "But, that's fine with me."

"Thank you!" Rosella called out as she made her way to the door.

Before leaving, she heard her mother's faint call, "Have a great day at school!"

"Have a good day at work!" She reciprocated as she closed the door. Rosella made her way to Cameron's car and sat shotgun.

"Hey." He smiled, glancing over at her as she replied mirroring his expression.

"You ready?" He asked, referring to their last first day at East Bridge High School.

Was she?

It had been the topic of conversation amongst her friends on numerous occasions, but talking about it and actually doing it were two very different things. Although, both seemed to erupt an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
There was no denying it; she was scared.

Regardless of her lack of enthusiasm for school in previous years, Rosella found herself frowning at the thought of leaving. It's not that she would miss the place, hell she couldn't wait to see the back of it, but the memories made inside? Those she would definitely miss.