Returns

Chapter 1: The First Day

The first morning back to school is always a somber affair. Alarms go off early, their shrill buzz instantly amputating whatever joy was left over from the summer. The days begin to get colder and shorter because even the sun can't be bothered with the monotony of public schooling. Everyone sluggishly gets ready for the day, dawning on new clothes that still smelled like the inside of American Eagle, cardboard mixed with cheap cologne. The first morning back to school is certainly somber, and yet it is also comfortable and familiar.

After eleven first days of school (including kindergarten, but not preschool) JJ Connell knew exactly what to expect when she woke up. She knew that it wouldn't quite be all the way light outside when her alarm went off, and that she would be groggy from the sleepless night before, as she had trouble getting her brain to shut down on eves of great anticipation. She predicted that although the new outfit she had chosen and laid out was perfectly fine, she would change a couple of times until she found something more comfortable to wear. All morning, her heart would be fluttering just slightly faster than normal, simply because of all the possibilities and opportunities that a new school year presented. Being a Junior was no small feat, after all. It was one last tread uphill before the chaotic free-fall of senior year.

JJ was fully prepared for all of this as she finally settled into her warm bed the night before school began. She was not prepared, however, for the odd feeling that crept over her the moment she opened her eyes the next morning. There was a light tugging in the back of her brain, like a forgotten loose end that had suddenly frayed. She knew today was important for the obvious reason of school, but there was something else too. Something she couldn't quite grasp. JJ spent the morning with her brows furrowed, trying hard to come up with why today felt so off. As she brushed her short blond hair into place, she searched her blue eyes in the mirror for some indication of what she was missing.

"Maybe mom will know." She whispered to herself.

Throwing on a fitted, striped tee and some denim shorts, perhaps for the last time before the fall weather fully set in, JJ headed out to the kitchen.

"Good morning, love." Her mother smiled from her seat at the bar.

The two had been on their own for a long while, and so they shared a cozy two bedroom house not far from the school. A bar and two stools in the kitchen was perfectly sufficient, no need for a dining table when there were just two of them.

"Hey." JJ answered, grabbing some cereal.

"What's up? No excitement for your first day?"

"Well I feel kind of weird... is there something going on today? Do we have plans tonight?" She sat at the bar and looked at her mother.

"No nothing special today. You did promise to go to Zumba with me on Saturday though." Her mom smirked, anticipating her daughter's scowl.

"Ugh, don't remind me."

Her mother laughed, opening her mouth to speak again, but the front door opened before she could say anything.

"Goooood Morninnng Connellllls!" A voice boomed through the small house.

"Sounds like my ride is here." JJ laughed, kissing her mother on the cheek.

As if on queue, their guest strode into the kitchen. The owner of the large voice was in fact a small girl, about five foot nothing, with sun kissed skin and a killer smile.

"Hey Ryn." JJ said as she threw her backpack over her shoulders.

"Wassup legs." Ryn wiggled her eyebrows, making a point of looking JJ's long legs up and down, "Nice shorts. Morning ma." She added, blowing a kiss at JJ's mother.

"Hey hun, happy first day back. You girls drive safe to school please."

"You got it."

And with that the two were off. They got into Ryn's little hand-me-down car, courtesy of her ever-increasing family, and sat for a moment to prepare themselves for the day ahead. Ryn looked over at her best friend and furrowed her brow, as if searching for something in JJ's face.

"What?"

"...Nothing I just... are you ready to go?"

"Yeah man, you'd better hurry or we're gonna be late."

"Okay, okay." She laughed, and started up the car.

JJ quietly watched the neighborhood go by, continuing to search for what was nagging her psyche. She tried to find some distraction in enjoying the sunny morning by rolling down her window. The air smelled warm and it made her smile. She didn't know how many of these bright mornings were left, but she was at least thankful for this one. She thought back to her perfect summer spent with her cousins in Arizona. It was hot as hell, and she was sad to be away from Ryn, but it was also absolutely gorgeous in the desert, and her cousins were so much fun. She missed them.

The beautiful day and JJ's fading memories were nice enough, but they proved an insufficient distraction. Whatever was eating at her continued to feast, and the odd atmosphere was amplified by the unusual silence in the car. Ryn was trying to be sly, but JJ could feel her sneaking side glances every couple of minutes.

"Dude, what?" JJ finally blurted.

"I just... I didn't know how you were gonna be. You know, today."

"Wait you know what's going on today? I know it's important but I haven't been able to remember why all morning."

"Ohhh shit." Ryn's shoulders fell and her eyes softened a little, "You really don't know what day it is?"

"I mean it's the first day of school..."

"J, it's September 3rd. It's Returns."

Suddenly the world fell away. JJ was frozen, trying to remember how to breath as everything around her was melting from its own insignificance. How could she have ever forgotten? This day had come annually since eighth grade, like a holiday... a very dark and foreboding holiday. Perhaps she had forgotten because she let herself get so wrapped up in summer, or because this year it fell on the very first day of school. None of this mattered, however. What mattered was the tiny black dots that began to cloud JJ's vision, an indication that she probably needed to exhale. She let out a gust of wind that could have toppled a ship in the ocean, and when her sight slowly cleared she realized they were already parked at school.

"Breath J, please just breath." Ryn's voice squeaked.

JJ slowly reached out and grabbed her friend's hand tightly. She needed something solid, something real to cling to.

"It can't be." She whispered. But she knew it was.

As if to solidify her thought, a sea of high schoolers was flooding the entrance of the school, all crowding around a tall, solitary figure.

"He's already here." She said even quieter.

September 3rd was Returns. The day Benjamin Breen came back from jail.