Love(less)

First Day Blues

Olivia's POV

It's that time of the year again. The time of the year when I realise how much I am going to miss the late nights scrolling through social media, or the late mornings where no alarm disturbs my dreams. The time of the year when I start my first day of high school.

Everybody I know has been waiting for this moment. New school, new people, new teachers and new subjects. But for me, the anxiety is making my hairs stand rigid on my body.

Everyone in my class promised that we would all stay together through high school, but that will probably only last a month. Until everyone makes new friends in their classes and one by one, everyone will start to leave and then we'll all become strangers in the hallway, passing quick glances at each other as we scurry to our next class.

I never want it to be like that, especially not with Aaliyah. I moved to her school two years ago, and although we hated each other in the beginning, we became really close friends over the time I've known her.

She lives a ten minute walk away but we're not on the same bus. I have to manage the first part of the day without her.

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"Just one picture!" My mum exclaims as my brother, Noah, and I close the door to go to school. It's my first day of my first year but Noah's first day of his last year. If only it was my last year.

"Mum, you know I hate pictures." Noah replies in the same monotone voice I knew him for.

"I know, I know. But this is big for me. I'm a mother. My two babies are in high school now!" My mums excited voice pierces my ears and I cringe at it. It's high school. It's not like I'm moving away to go to university.

"We're going to be late." I say, looking at the time on my phone as if I actually care about going.

"One picture." There's never any point arguing with my mother about this so I pull the same, awful smile I always have in pictures and leave to go to the bus stop.

I see unfamiliar faces with the same tie as me on. They must be older than me. I don't  want to look alone on the first day so I put in my earphones and try not to think of the day to come. I look at the time. 8:20am. the bus should be here in approximately three minutes. I huff and put my phone in my jacket pocket. I decided it would be a good idea to wear a skirt to school. I don't know what I was thinking. I always wear skirts at the beginning of the year, but always end up wearing jeans after a couple of months.

I feel a light tap on my shoulder and I flinch. It was Emily. We were in the same school for two years but we only spoke during the last week before summer.

"You alone too?" She asks. She's a lot shorter than me so I have to look down at her.

"What. Me? Uh- yeah that's me. Alone. Well that's not ME but- Hi." I barely manage to get out but it's fine. My awful attempt at the English language gains me a light laugh from her. I go to say something properly when the bus pulls up next to us and everyone fights to get in first. I sit down near the back and Emily sits down next to me. My hands are trembling and for once I actually want to be in school right now.

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"Olivia!" I hear a loud scream echo through the school as Aaliyah wraps her long limbs round me as a way to show she missed me.

"Aaliyah.." I say in a tone that makes her know I want her to get off me.

"Oh sorry. Had such a long summer I forgot that you hate any kind of physical affection." She laughs as she gives my arm a light punch.