Dear Collin

Chapter 1 (My new home)

As soon as I stepped my foot in Claim High, I knew it was the perfect place for me. This school has had a place in my heart for as long as I can remember. Walking in, the first thing I saw was trophies placed on tall shelves that were barely within reach. There were tons of them and in addition, they had medals hanging on walls. To show recognition, there were also pictures of students in several glass cases, and under it were the student’s name and their accomplishment. Half of the people in this school simply walk by without giving acknowledgement to the trophies. However, I know that these trophies represent half of the achievements this school has had. Starring at all of them heated up my ambition, and I was more than ready to win some awards for this school. 

Considering the horrendous summer I had just been through, I was enthusiastic about beginning high school. I was also relieved that I didn’t have to spend 24 hours every day with my older sister, Julie. Summer with her was a complete hell, and she ruins it for me every year. Basically, she started corrupting my life when she absorbed her life into boys, make up and herself. Aside from her, I knew freshman year was going to be tough and the worst, but I'm going to make mine one of the best. My main goal was to try out for the soccer team and make it. Most girls were looking forward to the school drama, but that was not part of my busy schedule. I didn't want to have any part of it simply because some girls irk me, yes they irk me, as in irritate me.

"Jessie, JE. SSIEE" I spot my friend, Collin, waving at me from the other entrance. I walk the opposite direction totally ignoring him because of his obliviousness with the use of the name Jessie. He knows how much I hate that name, but look at him now, casually blaring it out on my first day in high school.

With the knowledge that I can’t ignore him forever, I stop and turn to face him. As he walks closer, I ask myself a thousandth time why I’m still friends with him. In the end, it always comes back to the fact that this boy is the only friend I can be myself around with, considering the others are girls & girly.

“Hey miss,” he greets, “do you know where I can find Jessie McViel?”

"Are you serious? So you are entirely going to ignore the fact that you yelled that girly name in front of everybody and now they think that’s my name. For the rest of the year, people are going to call me Jessie, Not Jess, but Jessie.” I basically screamed and let out a breath I did not know I was holding. 

“Calm down Jessie.” He says, leaving me with no choice, but to walk away. However, knowing Collin, he holds my hand and pulls me in for a hug. 

“C’mon, I’m just kidding.” He says into my hair and when he lets go, he elbows my shoulder and I betray myself and smile. I reach in for a hug again because till now, I didn’t realize how much I missed him during the summer. 

“So how’s Julie doing, any new crushes lately?" He asks after we pulled away from the hug. Then, we both walk over to a corner after noticing that we’re causing traffic. 

“Don’t even get me started, I’m just glad to be out of that mad house and starting my days in the all too known place called high school.”

“Jess, can you believe it, it’s our first day in high school. A year ago we were in middle school thinking flare jeans with crocs were cool. Well this year, you’re going to be seeing some J’s on my feet.” 

He pokes his feet out like a ballerina; revealing his new sketchers. 

“Wow,” I say sarcastically, “at least you upgraded” I add on earning a dimpled smile from my best friend. 

“Enough about me,” he says, changing the topic, “I saw you looking at them” He sways his hand while looking directly up at the trophies. 

“Oh that, well you know, I just really want to be a reason why another trophy is added.”

“And you will! Jess you are the best soccer player I’ve met, and as much as I’d like to brag about how good I am, you are way better.” His reassurance causes a smile from me and another hug for him. 

“I don’t know what I would do without you.” I whisper into his shirt and smile even more because of his minty smell. 

“I don’t know what I would do without me either.” He says back & with that we both walk together unaware of where we’re going to.
*****
“Here it is” I breathe in a sigh of relief as I get to my 1st period class, which is History. Collin and I parted ways when he got to his 1st period, leaving me all alone to find mine. When I walk in, there is no teacher present and only a few students had arrived. I decide to sit at the back of the class, simply because the front is for people who actually want to learn History.

I’m an all A student except when it comes to history. Yes, I could get an A if I wanted, but I also don’t get why we have to have tests about what happened in the past. Why can’t we just learn it for fun? Either way, I have to take this irrelevant class, so I make it the best as I can by going on my phone before the class actually starts. When I unlock my phone, I’m not surprised to see I’ve got a text from Collin.

Collin: Get it gurl, get it …. Thats if u find a hot guy in that class.
Me: Lol (: Hahahaha no. 
Collin: just mesn with u. ‘nyways, do you have a creep 4 a teacher? 
Me: Heey! All teachers are creeps but no I haven’t met mine yet…. urs can’t be that bad.
Collin: but yes he is … he is wearing j’s, as in actual j’s & something tells me that this man can’t let go of his childhood.
Me: I’ve got to go, have fun  

I put my phone away after realizing the teacher had just arrived. Then, I take out my books and just sit there not caring about making a good impression. Without my awareness, more students had come in and were ready to begin; the others, not so much.
The teacher was late and began settling down, so I sneaked a peek to read a text from Collin. “Fine :p,but if I die in this class, don't cry at my funeral .” it read. See, no one would fully understand our friendship.