Caught Between the Crossfire

Allison

The weather was cooling down here in Seattle, WA. The trees were returning to their autumn colors, as the air turned cold. Senior year was finally starting to feel normal, or so I hoped.
I held my books against my chest as I walked through the gates of hell.

Senior year had only started a few weeks ago, which made me a bit nauseous. It was my last year of high school and everyone around me was freaking out, especially my parents. As I walked into the main building, lockers and students filled the hallways laughing and making plans for the weekend. The popular boys were seen in the corner, a few of them stared at me with mischief in their eyes. I tried walking past them but one of them stopped me.

I rolled my eyes, "What do you want Liam," I muttered, taking my arm from his grip.

Liam Grandy hovered over me and whispered in my ear making me shiver.
"Loosen up nerd. I need you to write my essay for Physics," he winked and walked away before I could protest. I shook my head.

I pulled my sleeve down which had risen up. Dammit, that's going to leave a mark. Of all days, Liam had to bother me today with his stupid workload. Being my brother's best friend didn't help, especially when the guy hated my guts. I continued walking to my locker, trying to blend in with the rest of the students. Posters and announcements covered the walls, pictures of this year's football team hung low from the ceiling, while their trophies and ribbons sat on shelves beside the principal's office. To this day,I still wonder why girls faint at their feet, it's not like they're any good. A few cheerleaders took selfies with each other, others sat on the floor doing homework they didn't finish last night.  Sometimes I hated seeing my twin, his pictures were all over the school, reminding me of how much I hate the guy. I rolled my eyes, even thinking about him makes my blood boil.

I walked up the stairs turning the corner when I bumped into my best friend.

"Hey Cindy," I said, helping her pick up her books. We gave each other a quick hug as we walked side by side heading towards the senior hall.

"How did the whole dress fitting go ?" I smiled at her.

Cindy Smith had been my best friend ever since her family moved here in second grade. We were both on the student body committee and we both ran cross country for the school's team. Last year she came in first place as I came in fourth, I knew eating that ice cream cone before the race was a bad idea. Our friendship was pretty funny, I was the calm and rational one and Cindy comes up with all the bad ideas. We usually got caught, sometimes landing us in detention once in a while. You could say we're like two peas in a pod, or at least that's what my mother says.

"It was boring... my mother and sister drove me insane, I had to go on a run after the dress fitting, plus I never got to finish the assignment Mr. Lopez gave us," she groaned as I chuckled.

"Please tell me she's not thinking about the peach wedding dress, gosh she's going to look like a fruit," I laughed earning a glare from her. 

"Trust me she wants the bridesmaids to wear orange dresses, her whole wedding will be ridiculous," Cindy began rambling about her sister's horrible fashion choices. I laughed.
I grabbed my laptop from my locker and added the extra books I had inside.

"Hey sis, Cindy," my twin brother said as he sent Cindy a nod. She rolled her eyes.
"What do you want Carter," I stated, turning around looking up at him.

"I have practice after school so you'll need a ride or you could wait for me. I don't care," without a warning, he ruffles my head and walks away with his posse.

I groaned. Last year for our birthday, we were given a new Jeep Wrangler but Carter kept taking it. I've only driven it twice. Even though I fought long and hard, my parents took sides with my brother, Greenfield High's golden boy. I mean yes, he has practice and games he has to drive to but he takes advantage of the care, and don't get me started on the back seat. Gross.