Someone Like You

One

My first day at Iliad High, I thought, nervously burying myself into the huddle of books in my arms. The beautiful landscape and rose petal trees distracted me for a second, my mind not fully realizing how beautiful Japan really was. The mountainous land and green grass was enough to take your breath away. I focused on the task at hand, finding my first class. I walked down the wide hallway, glancing down at my paper every now and then, checking I was going the right direction. I took an arm out from under it to adjust my skirt. Stupid thing. I knew it'd be too small. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and I ran straight into a short, blonde girl who's angry expression scared me.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there." I quickly apologized, my straightened mid-back length, caramel brown hair falling in front of my face. I hastily picked up my things. The girl didn't say anything, her blonde hair was pulled back out of her face except for her bangs, which covered a lot of her face. She picked up the last of her things, and still didn't say a word. She left, walking as quickly as she did before. I heard laughter and whispers behind me, obviously talking about me. I gathered the rest of my things, flipped my hair back behind me and turned to face the people talking about me. There were 2 boys standing there, one about 2 inches taller than the other. The shorter one had the brightest blue eyes I had ever seen, with blonde hair and a nervous smile. The taller one had dark brown hair, and almost teal eyes.

"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" I asked, not meaning to be as upfront as I was.

"Oh, no, sorry. We just didn't recognize you, that's all." The taller one explained, adjusting his books in his arms.

"Well, I'm Madi. I'm new here, I used to be...uh, home schooled." I explained, the taller one starting to talk to the shorter one halfway through. I looked at them.

"I'm Ethan, Ethan Mars, and this is Anthony Randos. We're both in 10th grade, I assume you are too?" The taller one introduced, pointing to the blonde one as Anthony.

"Yep. "

"Kinda random question, but you haven't met Jordan, have you?" Ethan asked. Anthony rolling his eyes. Before I could say anything, Anthony spoke.

"Don't answer that. " He told me, then turned to Ethan. "Seriously? We literally just met her! You have to tell her who you hate within the first 5 minutes?" I laughed a little, but changed the subject. I didn't want to be late.

"Hey, sorry about the abruptness, but I need to get to class. Do either of you know where room H-4456 is?" I asked, adjusting my skirt again.

"Yeah, actually, that's where we're going too." Ethan answered, and started walking with me and Anthony to class.

"You'll be introduced to a lot of people there. Most of our group is in that class, but we get more split throughout the day." Anthony said. We approached the classroom in no time, and I walked in. I noticed a bunch of other kids, all the girls in green and blue plaid skirts, black flats and a white button up, the boys in black shorts and a white button up with the logo on it. I hate having uniforms. I thought, following Ethan and Anthony to desks. There were only a few more open, and Ethan and Anthony took the ones up front with a bunch of other kids. There were none left near them, so I found a seat near the back next to a taller boy with a split haircut and lots of freckles. He was talking to another boy sitting in front of him, with dual-tone hair and grey eyes. He was bragging about something, but I could already tell that was probably Jordan. I began unpacking my things, getting out a book to read in the meantime. Suddenly, a loud, bombastic girl approached me, eating a package of candy.

"Hi! You must be the new girl here! I'm Sasha, want to come over and sit with me and Cam?" She was very nice, but so loud it hurt my ears. Her hair was put up into a messy ponytail, her red-brown hair complementing her hazel eyes quite nicely. Before I could politely decline, the boy I thought to be Jordan interceded.

"Sasha, really. Leave the poor girl alone. Let her alone with me!" He smirked, making me want to slap it right off his face. He puffed out his chest, and Sasha rolled her eyes. She walked away though, and I was thankful I didn't have to say no to her. "So, what's your deal?" He asked, sitting back down. His tone was rude and pushy, and I felt obliged to snap back. Everyone seemed to be talking for me today, as the other boy stepped in.

"Jordan! That was so rude." He chided, making Jordan roll his eyes.

"I was just asking!"

"It was rude! You just have to ask her what her name is and where she's from, not 'what's your deal?' and you wonder why you can't get girls to like you." He said, only half-joking. That made me laugh a little, and the boy blushed. Jordan started again.

"I'm sorry. That was rude." He said, insincere. But, it was the best I was going to get. "What's your name?"

"I'm Madilyn, but everyone calls me Madi." I answered, tucking my hair behind my ears, and turning to face Jordan and the other boy.

"I'm Jordan, as Sean already said, and that's Sean." Jordan said, introducing Sean. He smiled, and he had the most comforting, warm smile I had ever seen. I blushed. I realized I thought he was cute, and honestly, he was. Brown hair and puppy brown eyes, freckles all over his face and the best smile I'd seen in a while. No, Madi. This happened with Bryce. It is not going to happen again. I promised myself I wouldn't get involved in boys ever since one broke my heart. When I was home schooled, I had boyfriend named Bryce. He was amazing, I trusted him with almost everything. I told him about my past, my father, and all the crap that'd happened to me since then. Then, we broke up. Apparently, that breakup wasn't the only thing he wanted to hurt me with. I found out a few days he broke up with me he'd been cheating on me with my best friend. It completely shattered my trust of anyone, and I was destroyed. I cried almost everyday, and to make it worse, Bryce and his new girlfriend spread the nasty rumor I had been the one who cheated. I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't have anywhere to go. My parents were divorced, and I lived with my father. My mother passed away, and my father was so strike with grief he started drinking. One drink turned into two, two turned into four, and before I knew it, I was helping him up the stairs to get to bed. Once he was sober enough to even talk, he decided to send me here, and try and get sober before the summer, when he has to take care of me again. At Titan High, we stay the entire year, except for the summer and our parents can visit. It's like college, but a little different.

When my dad made that decision, I finally felt free. From my past, from everything that had happened. I needed to start again, start fresh.

Meet someone like Sean.