2 years ago (Age:14)...
It's the first day of freshman year and I am ready to start my academic career at a public school.
High school.
This new school is going to be great! I don't have to wear a uniform, there's a variety of electives and clubs, and a new sea of boys to admire from afar. I have a feeling high school is going to be way better than middle school especially because I already have a friend at this school.
No, I'm not talking about Zeke Danvers.
I'm referring to my friend Paige Finnegan. She and I both attended St. Raphael's until Paige's parents pulled her out of private school to place her in public school for the seventh and eighth grade. Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan wanted Paige and her older brother to switch schools so they wouldn't find a public school to be a complete shock when high school rolled around.
I don't think high school will be an outright traumatic ordeal.
Or will it...
Even though we live close to the school, my dad insists that he drives me on my first day. I don't mind, but I am definitely walking home after school. There's nothing wrong with taking the bus, but I will enjoy the daily exercise.
I cheerfully voice a 'goodbye' to my dad as I exit the car in a semi-calm and orderly fashion.
For today's attire, I decided to pair my dark wash jeans and well-worn black converse with a lace periwinkle camisole and a quarter sleeved gray cardigan. Oh, and I can't forget the silver hoops my parents gave me on my last birthday.
Making my way to the main entrance, I admire the mass of buses pulling up to the sidewalk one by one; including the one in the middle that's my assigned morning bus. Not bidding the transportation vehicle too much attention, I notice a tall and tone Zeke getting off of the bus. Failing to act as cool as a cucumber, I begin walking toward the front door to the school. Faintly, I hear someone calling my name. I turn around and see Zeke swiftly walking my way.
He flashes me that same boyish smile I've grown to know and I grin back. He comes closer and we start walking in step time toward the school. He's sporting a pair of jeans with some blue Nike shoes and a plain gray t-shirt that hugs his muscular arms in the right way-
"So, you're going to public school now?" Zeke finally asks, holding the door open for me and interrupting my ridiculous girly thoughts about his arms.
"Thank you," I show a quick smile. He nods his head.
I glance over at him as we continue down the hall, "Yeah. My parents figured I could go to a public high school to get out 'into the real world.'"
I utilize finger air quotes around 'into the real world' because let's be honest, high school isn't really classified as the real world. College, maybe. But not much from high school connects to the real world other than dealing with difficult people and recalling some of the things you were supposed to learn.
It feels weird to be talking to Zeke again, but maybe we could become good friends again someday.
Whoa, Braelyn.
I wouldn't mind giving him another chance. I mean he's being really sweet talking to me right now.
You're getting ahead of yourself.
Act cool.
A few yards away, I can see Paige waiting near the water fountain outside of the gymnasium with some other girls who look just as confused with this new and gigantic school as she does. They must be Paige's other friends who are in the same grade as us.
I stop in the middle of the hallway, keeping my focus on Zeke. Talking to him feels kind of weird since we haven't talked in a few years, but at the same time, it feels kind of like old times and like we never stopped.
Not wanting the conversation to end, I quickly think of something to ask Zeke.
"So, how was your summer?" I ask, knowing that he spent most of his summer in the in-ground pool located in the Danvers' backyard.
I didn't gain that information from peeping out my bedroom window and watching him and his friends enjoy the sunshine by the water.
Okay, maybe I did slightly. But I'm not a stalker.
The guys were being so loud that the whole neighborhood could practically hear every cannonball and belly flop surpassing the chlorinated water.
"Good. I was just chilling with some buds and enjoying the freedom. What about you? Did you do anything fun with Raleigh?" Zeke says with a genuine grin.
Raleigh is my little ten-year-old sister. She's like a mini version of me, but way sassier.
As I'm about to answer Zeke about how my summer went, a white paper plate with some putrid mess on it smacks against my face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello readers! First of all, I would like to say welcome and thank you for taking some time out of your lovely day to read my story.
Head on over to Chapter 3 to find out how the rest of Braelyn's first day at the same school as Zeke goes and what was just thrown at her while she was talking to Zeke. What do you think hit Braelyn's face?
Enjoy! :)
Image: Google Images
YOU ARE READING
Splattered Affection
Romance"A boy and a girl can be just friends, but eventually one of them will fall for the other. Maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or just maybe forever." + + + "Zeke, you can't go around acting lik...
