My Ammunition

Chapter 1

*Author's Note*

Hi everyone. It's Erika and I thought since I haven't written/updated in a VERY long time, I would start a new story. I want this to be a fun experience for not only you guys, but for me. I don't want this to feel like a job or that it's obligatory to update on a schedule (although I'll try to update as much as I can, hopefully at least once or twice a week).

Anyways, this is not a One Direction fanfiction, as the past stories that I've written are 1D and I have been unsuccessful in updating regularly. I want to apologize for that, but also this is a new chapter of my life, so to speak.

I hope you're just as pumped about reading this story as I am for writing it. I love you guys so much.

Let's get right into it.

***

Ariella heard her phone playing her alarm song and she grunted. Today was the first of many agonizing school days. Nonetheless her first day. Going back to a school with the same people as always, except for a new freshman grade. But being a junior meant being upperclassman. Which of course meant power. Not that she had much impact on anybody. She scrolled through her twitter feed, which of course was a fan one because how much more cliche could she get? She was so close to 1,000 followers. She tweeted a few things and went on instagram. She liked a bunch of pictures and finally lifted her heavy body up from the bed. Tying her hair with a cute scrunchie, she grabbed her face cleanser and went to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and was sort of satisfied for the first time ever. No new pimples. She considered the chance that maybe she was still dreaming but washed her face and did whatever else. She looked at her newly dyed hair and couldn't possibly imagine the looks she would get. Did she feel a little insecure about it? Yes.

She practiced reactions and greetings in the mirror. Everybody does that. She made her way back to her room and saw out of the corner of her eye that her little sister's room light was on. She tiptoed over and saw her sister choosing an outfit for the day.

"You know you don't have to get up for at least another hour?" she said and her sister nodded enthusiastically.

"But I'm so ready for today. I'm finally going to start my last year of middle school." she said and Ariella couldn't help but smile at her excitement. Her last year of junior high. It feels like just yesterday they were watching teletubbies together on the sofa.

Outfit. Light wash denim shorts. A baggy white t shirt with grey sleeves. She tucked the shirt in. Did it look like effort was put in? No.

Breakfast. Cereal and granola. Effort? None.

Ariella basically ran down the stairs realizing the time. 10 minutes left. She brushed her teeth and asked her sister to take the dog outside because she was on a time crunch. Although in a rush, there was always time for makeup. Moisturizer, light mousse foundation, powder, matte light pink eyeshadow, brown eyeliner, curling lashes, light mascara, and nude lipstick patted on to look natural. Seems like a lot of makeup just to look natural.

She grabbed for her backpack. 4 minutes left. Since it was her first day she didn't need much. A folder, notebook, pens, pencils, and all her 'essentials' along with her phone. She put on her white shoes at the door after putting on a few simple, gold rings. She waved to her mom after realizing she almost forgot her lunch.

***

Ariella walked to her locker, texting her friends to meet her. She didn't need to be at her locker, it was just an instinct. She smelled cologne and looked up. It was her grade's badass, Cooper. She wasn't attracted to HIM; she was attracted to his SMELL. Or so she thought. She saw her friends and practically ran to them.

"When you said you went all out with your hair I didn't think it was THIS much." her friend Beth said while touching her newly dark and light purplish-blue hair.

"I thought maybe I would switch things up a little bit. I'm completely shocked that my parents were okay with it. I thought my mom would kill me for it but something changed this summer; she's so much more laid back. Do you think she discovered weed?" Ariella said half-jokingly and Beth and her other friends laughed.

"God Ariella. Your sense of humor has NOT changed a bit." Beth said and they compared their schedules for the 4th time. They had English, Trig, and US History together.

"English, Trig, and Chemistry today." Ariella said and scanned her schedule.

"US History, Italian, and Child Psych tomorrow." she said and looked over at Beth who had her mouth shut.

"What's wrong?" Ariella asked and looked in the direction Beth was looking in. There was Cooper and a freshman.

"Oh dear god." Ariella said and tried to look away.

"Ew." Beth said and they walked towards English. They entered the room which was filled with people Ariella did NOT like. A bunch turned their heads to look at her hair.

"Oh my god. Ariella?" a girl asked and she nodded.

"I am in LOVE with your hair." another girl said and Ariella politely smiled and said a bunch of thank yous and she played with her curled hair.

She sat towards the back with Beth and was so glad that she had someone who she could tolerate and that she liked. Cooper soon walked in and she averted her eyes. It wasn't a lie that she was slightly disappointed about the whole freshman thing. She thought that that was a phase for sophomores. She turned her head to Beth who was staring at Cooper intently. He walked by Ariella and stared at her hair.

"Why did you do that Ariella?" he asked and she looked at him with a straight face.

"Because I felt like it. I wanted to change it and I did. And I like it." she said and Cooper did a slight smile.

"So different from last year." he said and she sighed while rolling her eyes. All her friends had told her that Cooper had had a thing for her last year.

"Guess you and your dating habits haven't changed though." Ariella said before realizing what was coming out of her mouth.

"Oh really?" Cooper was amused.

"Freshmen, Cooper? I thought you were done playing with little girls." she said and felt her face become warmer from her sudden courage.

"It's okay, Ariella. I always have time for you."