Softly

Chapter 1

I walk into the school building that's on the next small island over in the middle of Mi-Wuk. The airplane seriously just dropped us off and everyone is just now filing inside the small building. Hayden is leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette.

"ARI!" He shouts at me, dropping his already gone cigarette. I frown at him.

"Hay, dude, you are eighteen. No need to be smoking and smelling like smoke all day, it's not cute at all." I scold him. He nods.

"I'm sorry Ari, my nerves are shot!" He smiles softly before handing me his bag. Anna's car just pulls into the driveway- she has her own house around here and her father says you need style kid- and I instantly know she is in a good mood. Anna is that type of person. She waves at me just as Hayden pulls out cologne and mint gum. He sprays himself and pops the gum in before offering me a piece. I take one and give him back his bag. I quickly adjust my black wedges and smile as Anna runs up to hug me. Her black hair is natural- wavy. She hugs me softly before reapplying her lipgloss.

"You know they probably test that on animals," Hayden says, laughing in the process. "I think I read that somewhere." I smile softly.

"You are so stupid. They don't test on animals anymore, trust me I would know!" She argues back. I roll my eyes as they fight for the next twenty minutes. When I get to my first period, Hayden and I walk into Mr. Goddard's math class. Hayden swearing that this fight will continue when lunch comes. 

"Please do the homework on the board, and if you have any questions feel free to ask your partner first then me." Mr. Goddard sits at his desk and begins to grade papers. Hayden whips around and slams his book onto  my desk. 

"'Sup partner!" He bats his eyelashes at me and I frown.

"Please, get off my desk. I have work to do and you distract me." I say nicely. He mocks shock and turns to help me with the math problem I'm on.

When the bell rings, I only have two problems left. Hayden waits by his desk for me and walks me to my next class.

"Later, alligator." I roll my eyes at him and he bows before backing up into the line of traffic, which wisks him away from my sight. Okay, maybe not really, but it sounded really cool. 

I walk into Mrs. Knoblaugh's class for English. She's a short woman, about five feet even I would assume. I smile at her and take my seat next to Anna. She's pulling out her lipgloss again and smiles at me.

"OMG, Ari, you cannot believe this. So, like, Eric asked out Molly but Molly likes Phil. Everyone knows Phil and Eric are best friends right? Well, Phil found out and he punched Eric. Long story short, Molly and Phil are together and Eric is bruised. I could SO be the rebound girl. Upgrade!" She gushes. I smile. Anna is very into gossip. She's not a whore she just thinks every guy will stay with her if she puts out. Her last relationship lasted two years before the guy tried to get into her pants. She gave it to him and he left. So ladies, save yourself from players.

I smile as she continues to rant about nothing. I missed being close to her, she is my best friend after all. We haven't been on good terms lately some drama between teenagers, nothing cool or interesting.

After lunch, Hayden stopped by my locker.

"Hayden Christensen, I swear if you don't move, I'm telling everyone your secret." I threaten him lightly.

"Arianna Korea," he says pulling my middle name like I did him. "There is no secret," he smiles, but moves. I pull out my kindle and my journalism notebook for the next class. Journalism is what I LIVE for. I love going into such a supportive class environment. Minus a few people, I enjoy everyone and their opinions.

"Is that an Ari I see?"  Camila shouts over Ashlynn. Since neither Hayden or Anna is in this class with me, I needed to make some friends and these two girls are perfect. Cam is very laid back and more Tom boyish where as Ash is super girly. Between the two of them I never run out of things to say.

"Is that, no it can't be," I start off.

"But, it is!" Ash joins in. I smile and hug both of my friends. I missed these two so much!

Right before we could begin talking about our summer's, Mrs. Donaldson calls the editors from last year over. Setting down everything but my kindle I begin to walk her direction.

"This year is a very important year. Many of your editors are leaving, due to graduation," as soon as she says that many of the underclassmen look at Kody, Lauren and I. "So we will need the sophomores and seniors to work together to get me some awesome editors for next year!" Her excitement causes me to smile. This is why I live for journalism. She has a way of presenting new ideas for everyone in such joy.

"I can Tuesdays and Thursdays." I say opening my calendar app.

"Great, if someone can take Monday and Wednesday and Wednesday and Friday that would be helpful." She says looking at Kody and Lauren. They nod and say that they will look at their schedules for her. She smiles and tells the underclassmen the new ideas for the paper. I head back to my seat next to Camila and Ashlynn, and hope that this year we will be sucessful.

At the end of the day, I walk out with Hayden and Anna and wave goodbye to her before turning to Hayden and following him into the airplane. I can't wait to get home and relax on my laptop and kindle before going to softball. The joys of working hard on something you love.