PINK

Chapter 1: Gray

   Poppy looked in the mirror, as she did every morning, and fussed with her unruly bed head, however it was no use. She'd have to just pull it back into a ponytail and hope for the best. Usually she wouldn't try too hard with her hairdo, but she thought she should put some effort in for her first day of her junior year. She put on a pair of jeans followed by a striped shirt. She slipped on her socks and worn converse. She looked in the mirror again.
   There was only one word she could thing of: boring. That was the only word that described Poppy. She had always had boring brown hair and wasn't particularly good at any one thing. However, the most boring thing about herself, she thought, were her eyes. They weren't blue or brown or green, but instead they were gray, and she hated the color gray. She always had because it was just, well, boring.
   She walked to her bathroom and brushed her teeth. She then took off her glasses and put in her contacts. Next she put mascara on as to make an effort. Finally she applied under eye concealer to hide the fact that she was up late watching Netflix.
   Poppy walked downstairs to grab her backpack. It was pink, her favorite color. Most everyone her age "outgrew" their pink phase, but Poppy never did. Pink had always made her feel less boring. She grabbed the keys to her car off of the counter and kissed her mom on the cheek as she made her way out the door.
   As she drove to school, Poppy considered turning around and going back home. It's not like anyone but the teachers would notice her absence. She thought life as a run away circus performer couldn't be that bad. No matter the thought, Poppy kept driving until she pulled into the parking lot of Glenview High School. She took a deep breath. She once again entertained the idea of the circus and then she grabbed her pink backpack, locked her car, and walked toward the school's quad.

   The ten minute warning bell rang as students remained huddled in their groups. Poppy gripped her backpack straps a little tighter and she passed the massive group of popular students. She always walked alone, well not always, but she had been for the past year.
   She used to walk with her friend Oliver until he moved to the rival high school for a better chance at a football scholarship. She remembered what it was like to be with the popular group, but she was never truly one of them. She never dated Oliver despite the constant nagging of the other girls to "get on it." Oliver was her best friend, and she couldn't stand the idea of dating him and now she wouldn't have to. Oliver and Poppy texted regularly and Oliver had met a girl this summer and things were going pretty steady. Poppy was happy for Oliver, but she did miss having someone to talk to in person.
   Poppy continued walking along until she reached her first period class which was chemistry. She was the first one there. She chose a seat at the front, but in the corner. Always a safe bet on the first day, only one person could sit next to her and no one liked sitting in the front anyways. As the five minute warning bell rang people began flooding in, taking seats in the back. Poppy sat there and watched the clock tick. She was startled when someone tapped her shoulder. It was her teacher, Mrs. Hayes.
   "Poppy, is this seat reserved for anyone?" Mrs. Hayes asked.
   "Um, no." Poppy replied as she looked back down.
   "Fabulous! Poppy I would like you to meet Tallulah. She just moved here from out of state. Since you're one of my best students I know you'll make sure Tallulah is well adjusted during our labs." Mrs. Hayes explained and then she walked off to reprimand the students in the back who were making out.
   "Hi, I'm Tallulah, I suppose that makes us lab partners."
   Then the tardy bell rang.
   Poppy looked up and her eyes met the most striking pair of blue eyes she had ever seen, but that was the most subtle thing about Tallulah. As Poppy looked at Tallulah the most stunning thing about her was her long wavy hair because it was pink.