Reflections

Homecoming

I found her under the crab apple tree, a smile painted on her lips and a knife in her back. The blood pooling from her mouth flowed into the earth fertilizing the ground, seeping to the lowest pits of hell where even the devil himself would not dare enter.The apples surrounded her like a halo, like she was an angel. Hayley Davis was not an angel.

Every morning is the same, I wake up, skip breakfast, fight with my mom and then drive the ten minutes to my school. Hillside high school, the epitome of prep. Listen, I don't live in some stupid cliche high school movie like Mean Girls or The Heathers, it's a pretty average school, no scary popular girls that hold vendettas against you or anything, just normal high school students trying to get by. Me included. Today however, was different, today my best friend Carla came to pick me up, because today, September 3rd, 2018, is the last first day of high school. I'd like to think that today will be special, that we'll finally get that crowning moment of being the oldest kids in the school, but then I hear a familiar honk from outside; Carla impatient as always. I grab my bag and headphones and run out the door before my mom can argue that I should take a muffin before I leave. I jump in the passenger side of Carla's jeep, and before I even have time to shut the door she slams her foot on the gas.

"Hey bitch!" Carla says as I buckle up.

"Hi, could you maybe drive a little slower, i'm not trying to die on the first day of senior year" I say grabbing a pen from the side compartment of the door.

I turn to the back and see my other best friend Olivia texting and smiling at her phone.

"You know you're literally going see Liam in approximately 10 minutes right?" I say throwing the pen at her.

"Ow, chill Luna i'm done I swear! Oh, and you know that you're literally going to see James in approximately 10 minutes too...right?" she says mockingly throwing the pen back at me. Carla bursts out laughing, and I fake pout pretending to be irritated.

"Ya we all know that's the only reason she's actually showing up today is so she can flirt with him" This time it's Olivia who laughs, then Carla, then me. Olivia has one of those laughs that just makes everyone else in the room giggle at the very least. Ten minutes pass and Carla pulls into the student parking lot narrowly dodging a grade 11 hurrying out of the lot. We all get out of the car and head to the front entrance. The doors swing open and i'm greeted by the familiar red and yellow colours that represent my school. Olivia lets out a little gasp and runs over to her boyfriend Liam, her black, curly hair bouncing behind her. She grabs his arm and he turns around to look at her, a smile spreads across his face as he grabs her waist and kisses her.

"Oh come on you cant even wait two minutes before mauling each other like animals" James; aka the hottest, smartest and funniest guy in our school says turning to me and Carla with a smirk on his face. We laugh as he comes over linking arms with me. Carla waves as she turns to her hallway to get to her locker.

"So, Callahan how was your summer?" James says, his soft blue eyes glow as he looks down at me.

"Completely average" I say biting my full bottom lip as I smile up at him, our eyes lock and his smile broadens revealing his perfect white teeth.

"I bet I could've made your summer so much better" he says leaning in a little closer, my stomach flips as I examine his angular face his clean shaven jaw a sharp contrast against his soft smile.

"You're right I don't know how I survived without you all summer" I say turning away to face the hall teasing him just a little more. He stops and we unlink arms for a second as I turn around to face him, he's got his hands on his chest mockingly acting hurt by my joke.

"Oh man Luna, here I was missing you all summer, and you're telling me you didn't miss me at all?" he furrows his brows, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a smirk.

"Oh sure, you missed me while you were surrounded by girls at your little camp all summer, I doubt it James" I say turning away from him and continuing to walk down the hall toward my locker. He runs to catch up to me than cuts me off to quickly face me, we're inches apart just staring at each other for a moment before James breaks the silence.

"Are you kidding, not a single girl there compared to you" I laugh again grabbing his arm.

"Ok and which one of them did you use that line on?" I drop my hand and side step him to continue walking.

"Callahan you know me too well" James is walking beside me now.

"What can I say it's a talent and a gift"

"Oh yes the all knowing and all powerful miss Luna Callahan," we stop at my locker "so miss Callahan what classes will you be gracing with your presence this semester?"

"Oh you know only the best, first period - English, second period - Law, third period - Data management and lucky me i've got a free period for fourth" I say opening my locker and putting my bag in.

"Oh look at that we've got second and third period together, looks like you'll be seeing more of my beautiful face everyday" he says as I grab my things for English.

"Wow lucky me I can't believe I get-" I start but suddenly i'm interrupted,

"James baby, I missed you"

None other than Hayley Davis. The one girl in school that could be considered a 'mean girl', she somehow managed to date James for a few months in grade 9 and never managed to let go of it. She walks up behind James whos leaning on the locker beside mine running her hand over his broad shoulder. She looks at me smiling,

"Luna" she says nodding

"Hayley," I say giving her a quick smile and shutting my locker "I'll leave you two to catch up, i'll see you later James" I quickly pass them as James gives me a quick smile before sighing and turning to Hayley.