far too young to die

when the day met the night

it was a typical california day, hot, dry, and boring. my mom dropped me off at the highschool early for the first day of school, so i'd have a chance to find my friends and talk before the first bell rang. i smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles in my striped shirt, grabbed my backpack and practically jumped out of the car.

"byemomgottago!' i mumbled as i stepped over the curb into the front courtyard. tall palmtrees cast long shadows on the terracotta pavers. i jockeyed my backpack strap and the "Arizona" keychain on the handle jangled. i ran a hand through my wavy brown hair as i started walking towards the doors, looking for anyone i knew from last year. finally i spotted the right group, and quickly walked to them.

"eMILY!' screeched henri.

"hey guys. how was summer?' i asked as i took my place in the circle.

kinda like a cult? i thought, and laughed a little at my own joke.

"summer was cool. kinda boring." sighed cat, sipping a coffee and pushing up her glasses.

"says you. didnt you get your own apartment and go to australia or something?" scoffed henri.

"i beat the kardashian game. twice." i added, my tone flat. everyone laughed.

"what? im serious." i smiled.

"still getting rides from your mom i see." noah smirked.

"shut up. you know they wont let me drive till im 30." i punched him playfully on the arm.

"looks like everyones in their groups already, huh?" cat observed.

henri asked, "what do you mean?

"jocks. skaters. nerds. stoners. populars. losers. alt girls. metal heads. surfers. average kids. and then.. us." she motioned to each clique with her coffee cup.

"us? what exactly are we then?" i wondered outloud.

"we're just..us." said henri.

"speaking of groups, who's that?" noah tipped his head in the direction of a burgundy haired girl walking towards the doors, we all turned and watched as she stepped onto the curb, walking past the bikeracks.

"cool hair." said henri.

"cool shades." said cat.

"cool car." said noah, looking at the teal convertible she had gotten out of.

"cool everything." i said, as i watched her walk past. i noticed that on her bag there was a tiny captain america emblem, as well as the welcome to nightvale logo. she glanced up from her converse for just long enough to make eye contact with me, and i gave her a smile that probably made me look pained to be alive.

once she was out of earshot i added,

"she's built like one of the characters in the kardashian game, i kid you not."

everyone looked confused.

"long legs, tiny waist, curves?"

"if weve never seen her before shes probably new here. my guess is just moved." cat provided.

"does it even matter?" sighed noah. "you guys are boring. first bell is any second and you just wasted like 5 minutes staring at some girl."

some girl? maybe not just some girl. i thought. something about her is.. different. i watched out of the corner of my eye as she practically strutted towards the doors, head high, shoulders back. shes probably some kind of model or something. shes dressed like she just stepped out of an urban outfitters advertisement.

the first bell snapped me out of my thoughts. i waved goodbye to my friends and hurried towards my first class, hoping to avoid the crowded halls.