Withered {Major Editing}

Chapter 1: Senior Year

That Night

The good memories fought the bad as I laid down in bed, crying, feeling a weight upon my chest and the struggle to breath...

Before: First Day Of School (Senior Year)

Liam's P.O.V
Another-- and my last--year back to highschool. I'm surely not excited. I've thought of dropping out this year but I figured that getting a high school diploma would make getting a job easier. I lean up against the large, green bus stop and run my fingers through my hair. Near the bus stop was my elementary school, Maria Grey Elementary. It was about a five minute walk away from my house while my middle school, Benevante Jose Middle, was a ten minute walk away. For years, this made where I lived very convenient including the fact that there was a gas station, a laundry, stores, a basketball court, and so much other things nearby.

The air was cool and filled with smoke, from a group of vaping students, smelling of cotton candy and fruity pebbles. I inhale the smoke and let out a long sigh. I haven't vaped for a while.

Moments later, everyone gathers in a big crowd on the road, just in front of the spot where the bus usually stops. The bus arrives around 5:40am and seeing the crowd tells me it's almost here. I figured I should get into the crowd as well.

There is no line for entering the bus. Everyone, from the time I was a freshman, just gathers in one crowd and pushes each other to get through the door. I know it's stupid, but that's how it is-- though it would be easier to line up.

•••

The pushing begins as the bus comes to a full stop in front of us. With an elbow to my side and an uncomfortable feeling of someone touching my butt, I'm one of the first people to step through the door.

I find an empty two-seater and I slouch into it. The bus shakes slightly as the aisles fill up with students and seats are taken. On the first of school of every school year, the bus is usually crowded. This time, however, there wasn't much people in the bus. It was probably because most students drive to school now but as I said earlier, the bus stop was only a five minute walk away from my place. Walking to the bus stop saves me a lot of money on gas. Once everyone's inside, the bus driver, Mr. Manibusan, shuts off the lights above us. I was alone in my seat and for some reason, I felt strange.

I look at the empty space between me and the window. It felt like someone needed to be there. I then realized who was missing, my ex-girlfriend Iris. I broke up with her at the end of our junior year and haven't seen her since. I didn't feel like we were working out. We used to ride the bus together, all the time. I would always let her go into the seat first so that she was besides the window.

She had her own car at the time as well but she wanted to ride the bus with me. Because she still lived with her parents, her dad would always be the one drop her to the bus stop in the morning. It wasn't that far from her house.

I place my bag in the empty space and pull out my earphones. I slide my hand in my right pocket but don't feel anything inside. I check my left pocket but don't feel anything there as well.

"Shit," I whisper. I forgot my phone at home. I left it on the nightstand besides my bed. I groan slightly and place my head on the seat in front of me. With nothing to do, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

•••

By the time I wake up, we've arrived to school. When it's my turn to get up from my seat, I walk down the aisle and out of the bus. I look up at the green bold letters painted at the top of the white painted school reading,"Regine M. High School". The building was two stories high. I imagined the inside of the school to be much more large than it really is. The structure was still quite big.

I head towards the entrance of the school and see my friend, Nash, standing at one side of the front gate. Me and Nash have been friends since middle school. We met at the school's outdoor basketball court.

"My nigga!" he shouts once he sees me. An aide standing at the other side of the gate turns towards him.

"Hey! Don't use that word!" she shouts back at him.

Nash replies, with a grin on his face,"Oh, sorry miss!" I chuckle a bit and reach my hand out to shake his.

He takes my hand in his-- no homo-- and he pats my back.

"How was your summer?" he asks me.

"It was alright," I shrug. "Yours?"

"Same, same," he sighs. We walk into the loud, crowded halls of the school. I feel nervous. Our semester grades have to add up to 120 and if not, we don't get credit. Last year, I failed about two classes and almost didn't credit. I don't want that to happen again this year. Nash seems to notice my nervousness on my face because he taps my shoulder.

"Dude, you good?"

"Yeah," I nod my head. "I'm okay. I'm just thinking about what'll happen with my grades this year."

"Are you thinking of Iris as well?" he smirks, putting an emphasis on 'Iris'.

"No," I roll my eyes. "I'm just worried about my grades." Nash tilts his head slightly and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Well if it's about Iris, I'm sure she won't murder you or throw you off the second story of the school," He says in a joking manner and I send him a glare. In reality, however, Iris wouldn't do that. She was a big sweetheart. She wouldn't hurt a fly.

We walk towards the bulletin board where homeroom classes for juniors were listed to find Nash's class. He was two years younger than me so obviously he wasn't with the seniors. Afterwards, we walk to the bulletin board for seniors to find my class.

I scan for my name and find my homeroom number, A203. Nash and I didn't have the same homerooms, though it's possible for different grades to have the same classes. Only the freshmen don't get classes with the other grades, though they do get mixed in elective classes. For regular classes, freshmen stay within their grade level just to get used to the people around them first. Once they become sophomores, they can have classes with upperclassmen.

I turn around to walk away from the board but as I do so, I bump into a girl She was about five one, wearing boots, a cropped long sleeved shirt, shorts with small chains on them, and stockings in a fishing net style. She was dressed all in black. Her hair was black as well with dark blue streaks in them. Immediately, I define her as an emo.

She pushes past me quickly, not giving me time to see her face, and says,"Watch where the fuck you're going asshole." She says nothing more and walks towards the board. There's something about her voice. It sounds so familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.

Nash sends me a confused look and mouths,"What's got her panties in a bunch?"

I smile and shake my head, mouthing back,"I have no clue."

With that, we make our way to the cafeteria.

(Last edited: March 11, 2019)