The Time I Spent Loving You

Chapter 1

I am awoken by the sounds of my blaring alarm clock, the usual annoying shrill that happens, signalling the start of a new day. Lazily making my way out of bed, I groan and stretch, seeing myself in the mirror. Seeing my hair tousled and tangled I laugh at myself and take a picture, editing it so I look decent enough, but keeping my crazy hair. I post it to Instagram and giggle at my own quip of a caption, "I woke up like this", quoting a song I find annoying, but it fits. I set my phone down and get ready, hearing the quiet ping of notifications every so often, knowing people were paying my silly post attention. I smile to myself as I do my regular morning routine.

Once I'm finished with my hair and makeup, I turn back to see myself in the mirror once again. My usually wavy hair is perfectly straightened, the length of it falling midway down my back. I continue to glance over myself and see my lightly tanned skin, noticing my freckles peeking out of the light layer of makeup I had put on. My outfit today was simple, a light pink skater skirt, accompanied with a white long sleeve top, tightly fitted and tucked into the skirt. I slide on my low top white converse and grab my bag. As I rush down the stairs I grab an apple and bite into it, not having enough time for a full breakfast. Everyone had already left for work in my house, my older brother and parents already setting out to start their day, leaving me behind to drive myself to school. I didn't mind it though, I like the quiet that washed over the house in the morning. It was a stark contrast to what I would arrive to at school, and almost comforting. Being alone suited me better, especially as I was almost constantly on edge with my anxiety. I try to force myself to seem easygoing to others, it works apart from the one person who knows me the best; Grace. Grace has been my best friend since middle school, and she's probably the only person I trust with my whole life. We're like sisters, undeniably close and most of the time its as if we share a brain.

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As I pull up to my school in my small silver Toyota, I sigh and take in the crowded atmosphere of the front of the school. I don't want to get out, I think to myself. Crowded areas typically overwhelm me, and it takes me a few seconds to collect myself and slow my breathing before I enter one. It also did not help that this was the first day of school, everyone is loud and excited for the new year ahead of us. I step out of my car, grabbing my bag and locking it in the process of walking toward the main entrance of the school. As I pass by flurries of energetic students, I catch snippets of each conversation, most talking about the classes they have or the new freshmen students.

I walk briskly toward my locker and as I open it, I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding in. Suddenly I jump, startled by the voice that comes from behind me, "You okay babes?" It was Grace.

While nodding I shakily reply, "Yeah, just crowded places ya know." She knows me all too well, seeing the expression of worry on my face, and my tensed muscles, she can tell I'm feeling anxious. She nods at me and smiles, asking me about classes in an attempt to distract me. I half heartedly answer, telling her the mundane classes I have for the year, only really excited for Ballet class.

After I collect my books for my first few periods, I shut my locker and lean back against the cool steal taking in a few deep breaths. I look up at my tall best friend, seeing her bright Auburn hair, tied up into a messy bun, her green eyes shining with excitement, lined with an immaculate black wing and fluttery long eyelashes. I was always somewhat jealous of the long lashes she was blessed with, feeling that mine were lackluster in comparison to her own. She wore a black leather jacket, over a tight maroon tank top, that was tucked into a pair of dark washed skinny jeans, ripped as per usual. She hardly ever wore jeans that weren't distressed in some way. Completing her outfit with her signature black, bulky Doc Martin boots.

Snapping out of the daze I was in I hear the concerned question coming from Grace, "Em?"

"Yeah? Sorry I guess I spaced out for a sec," I shake my head and smile up at her, "What were you saying?"

"I was talking about the new kid, he transferred from New York I think," she rambled on about him as we walked toward our first class, Literature. Apparently while I was spaced out she had compared our class schedules, informing me we had most classes together, all except Biology and History. I frowned at the thought of not having a class with her, knowing that I'd be on edge without my best friend there. There was something comforting knowing that I had someone I was close with in classes with me, it kept me calmer rather than being in a class full of strangers or people I hardly talked to. Before I could think too hard about it, we had reached our first period.

The classroom was a typical one, with a dark green chalkboard and about thirty individual desks lined up in rows. Grace and I had gotten there when about half the class was already there, waiting to be assigned their seats. The teacher called out one by one, who sat where. Grace sat in the far corner towards the back of the classroom, and I was assigned a seat a few rows away from her in the middle. I took out my notebook and favorite pen, a white skinny utensil, that ended in a ball of white fluff at the top.

Once everyone was seated, there were a few empty seats, one behind me and a couple more in the very back of the class. The high pitched ring of the bell sounded, and class started. The teacher looked around, surveying her new students. "Is that everyone?" she inquired softly, still looking around at the empty desks, frowning down at her roster while doing so. Just as she was about to speak again, she cleared her throat as the door was pushed open. A tall boy entered, sauntering to the teachers desk with a pink notice, excusing his tardiness. He was tall and buff, with broad shoulders and defined muscles hidden underneath a white v-neck shirt. He had wonderful blue eyes that shone mischievously, and a defined, strong jawline. It was clenched as he walked in, running his hand through his seemingly golden hair. He dropped his note onto her desk and greeted her, telling her his name quietly. She responded kindly smiling at the boy, telling him where his seat was. I looked up wide eyed as she pointed to the seat directly behind me.

He walked slowly toward the desk, looking me up and down as he did so. I looked down and picked at my notebook, trying to hide the blush that rose to my cheeks with my cascade of dark brown hair. He sat behind me, and the class filled with noise as everyone got to work on the worksheet the teacher had dropped onto our desks before we had arrived. I lifted my notebook just now noticing there was a worksheet underneath and placed it on top. I jumped and squeaked quietly, startled by the sudden tap on my shoulder. I heard a deep chuckle from behind me as I turned my head toward the boy that sat there. "I'm Trevor, what's your name?" he smiled at me, a wide goofy smile that showed his perfect smile.  

I cleared my throat, half heartedly smiling back at him, and answered, "I'm Emma, it's nice to meet you." I tucked a strand of my long hair behind my ear and asked, "Are you new here?'