The Best Year Yet

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My alarm sets off at 5:45 in the morning. I didn't sleep that well that night because I was thinking about this year. I got up and went into my ensuite bathroom. I brushed my teeth and got into the shower. I washed my face and threw on a pair of jean shorts and a stripped short-sleeved shirt. I slipped on a pair of sandals. At five foot nine, I usually wear the flattest pair of shoes I own. I continue by finishing a light coating of make-up on my tanned skin. I then finished styling my dark-brown loose-curled hair.

I walked downstairs and I see my twin brother, Elliot in the kitchen making breakfast.

People, including our parents, say that Elliot and I are a splitting-image of each other. We each have naturally tanned olive toned skin that by growing up in a beach town only results in a deep tan over the summer. He is six foot three and has the same facial features as me. We both have dark brown eyes, with curly dark-brown hair. Our noses are the same shape that helps people realize we are not only siblings, but twins. 

"Hey, El! Are you ready for the first day of senior year?"

"Hell yeah, Nic. I'm so ready to be done with school!" He said, laughing.

It was almost 6:30 so I made sure I had everything for school today.

Our mom came downstairs a few minutes later and grabbed a cup of coffee. Our mom and dad are successful lawyers in our part of North Carolina. They work at the same firm and our mom just recently became a partner. Our parents have been having some problems lately. To Elliot and I, it seems that they are more involved in work than they are in each other. They both spend a large amount of time around us, but when it comes to their relationship, I feel that they don't enjoy time with each other as much as they used to. This resulted in him moving out almost a year ago and my mom starting on the process of filing for divorce. 

My best friend, Lily, texts me and asks if I'm getting coffee this morning.

Lily is the epitome of a Carolina beach girl. She is about five foot five with bright sun-highlighted blonde hair that goes half way down her back. She is an only child so she was always around Elliot and I growing up. The three of us were always very close. She has been surfing all of her life. Her family owns one of the houses on the pier so she always had access to the ocean. Her parents on Oak Island Time newspaper along with some of the surrounding town's papers. She has been my best friend since kindergarten and we plan on going to University of North Carolina Chapel Hill next year together. 

"Of course! When am I not?" I replied back

One fun fact about me: I am practically addicted to iced coffee.

I start to finish up around the house and head out to my four-door blue Jeep Wrangler. 

It was around 6:45 and seniors had an assembly that started at 7:30, so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to get to school.

There was a cute little coffee shop on my way to school which I hit almost every day before school. The name of the place is OI Coffee and it is the best coffee in Oak Island by far.

I went over to the pantry and grabbed a granola bar along with a banana.

I walked over to my mom, who looked great, by the way, and kissed her cheek and said bye.

I walked over to my goofball of a brother and ruffled his hair as I headed for the door.

I closed the door and hopped into my jeep and turned up my country playlists while I pulled out of our driveway and onto the backroads of Oak Island.

I hit OI Coffee at 7:05 and when I went in, I saw Lawrence. He is a sweet older man who owns the coffee shop. He already had my usual ready. A medium caramel iced coffee with skim milk and two sugars.

"Hey, Nicole! Lawrence said when I walked in the door, smelling the sweet distinct smell of coffee and hearing the sound of the cute bell on the door.

"Hey, Lawrence! How are you this morning?" I asked as I handed him $3.00.

"Oh, it's been fantastic. Nothing to complain about when I work at such a wonderful place with such a beautiful view." He said, smiling.

Outside of OI Coffee, you could smell the beach. There was always sand in the shop. It was such a beautiful place.

He handed me back twenty-five cents and I dropped it right in the tip jar, just like I did almost every morning.

"Have a good day at school, Nicole!" He yelled as I started walking towards the door,

"Thanks, Lawrence. Have a great day!" I yelled back as the door shut,

I got back into my Jeep, blaring my music and excited for what this year will bring.

Once I got to school, it was 7:20 and just as I pulled into my customized parking spot in the senior lot, Lily pulled right in next to me.

The senior class had the opportunity to paint their own parking spaces this year. My parking space is a nice sky blue with a huge sun that reads "Life is better in the sun". Lily's parking space is of a coral surfboard with a deep blue background.

Lily hopped out of her yellow Volkswagen convertible buggy.

"Hey, Nicole! I see that you went to see Lawrence this morning." She said, nodding at the coffee cup in my hand.

"Yep, I did. When am I not drinking something that has caffeine in it?" I asked as I grabbed my backpack and water bottle out of the passenger seat.

"You're very right." She said

Just as we were about to walk out of the parking lot, Elliot pulled in the parking lot in his Blue Ford Tacoma truck.

"Hey Nic and Lily!" Elliot yelled as he got out of his truck.

We waited for Elliot and we all walked in together.

We all entered the auditorium and waited for it to start.