1986 [harry styles au]

II. SENIOR

CHAPTER II. SENIOR
Senior year speedily approached, and it was soon the first day of Autumn term, August 25th. I had tried to get an early night's sleep but failed, getting to sleep at 3am. The night before was spent straightening my hair and prepping the small supply of makeup I had received for my 17th birthday. I hoped to impress, being an A+ student back in Pennsylvania meant that I was yearning to have the same kind of friendly teachers and peers. But all I could do was wait.

'Adriana! Time for school!' My early-bird mother shouted from the bottom of the staircase at 7am. I merely turned over and shut my eyes again. 'Are you awake?!'

'Yes! Yes! I'm awake!' I pushed myself up from the mattress and felt a wave of sorrow wash over me as I looked back at the comfortable bed. My bare feet took me to the bathroom where I washed my face, brushed my teeth and brushed my hair. I applied my makeup in no less than ten minutes before I reached for my new striped jumper, a moving present from my father. It was colourful, a mixture of primary colours, so represented my father easily.

I stepped down the stairs in my worn-out converse, lugging along my backpack at my shoulder.

'There she is!' My father stood up from the sofa as soon as I came into view. I could hear my mother in the kitchen. 'Helen, get in here with the camera!'

'Oh no, is that necessary?' I ask with an awkward smile.

'Of course, it's necessary. My baby is growing up.'

'Oh wow, you look so studious!' My mother shrieked with glee once she had stepped into the living room from the kitchen; polaroid camera in hand. 'Smile for the camera!'

I awkwardly stood as the bright flash of the camera was set off before me. My dad soon moved beside me with a thumb up.

'Come on, Helen, let me get a picture with her.' Another flash.

'Okay, my turn!' My mother called and swapped the camera with my father.

'I really should get going.' I said but my mother just shushed me as she put her arm around my waist. Another flash.

'All done. Hold on, let me get you your lunch bag.' Mother rushed back into the kitchen. My father placed the camera onto the sofa, looking delicately at each polaroid with delight.

'These are going on the wall.' He said as he retrieved a permanent marker from the back pocket of his jeans and began to write at the bottom of one polaroid. 'Adriana Loomer's first day in senior year.'

'We still need to get some more groceries but, this was the best I could do.' My mother said once she had returned, holding a small clear plastic bag. I could see a tin-foil-wrapped sandwich inside, along with a banana and a 5-4-3-2-1 chocolate bar.

'Thank you, mom, you didn't have to.'

'No worries, sweetheart. Now go! You'll be late for your first day!' She said, grabbing my arm and gently leading me to the front door. I stepped outside and over to the garage entry, where my silver bicycle was leaning.

Once my lunch had been put inside the back pack, I sat onto the seat and began to ride away; not without one last wave to my parents who were still standing on the front step.

My new high school was called Foundered High and it thankfully wasn't too far from my new home. I noticed that Bridgemont Valley seemed very green and colourful as I cycled my way down each street, noticing some neighbours in their front gardens who would send a small wave my way. It was when I was about to turn into the school's car park that I was cut off by a Mercedes-Benz, loudly blaring Prince's 1999 from its interior. I stopped my bicycle from moving further as I heard obnoxious laughing immediately afterwards.