the boy next door

4

MACKENZIE ZIEGLER
tuesday, december 11

today's my first day at a new school.

i've done this zillions of times before, but i still have a little sense of anticipation and nervousness threaded within me, making my heart beat fast.

i shower and do my skincare and makeup and then change into my outfit for today— a plaid skirt and a short sleeved white button down. i head downstairs and grab a granola bar for breakfast, then call johnny.

"what's up?" he asks when he picks up.

"is that offer to carpool today still valid?" i ask, smiling even though he obviously has no way of knowing.

"of course. come over before 8:10."

"can i come over now?" it's 8:00.

"yeah, sounds good, kenz. see you." johnny says somewhat sleepily and hangs up. his casual use of my nickname shocks me for a moment. it rolled off his tongue so easily, like we've been friends since birth rather than a few days.

i grab my backpack and lunchbox, text my mom that i'm getting a ride with johnny and lauren, and walk over to their house. i ring the doorbell and i'm greeted by meredith, who welcomes me politely. we make small talk in the kitchen for a few minutes until johnny runs in.

"oh, hey, kenz." he stops when he sees me, grinning widely. he does that guy thing with his hair where he runs his fingers through it and somehow it flops right back to it's normal position. he looks like he just rolled out of bed, explaining his tired tone on the phone, but also manages to look put together and presentable.

"hi!" i smile.

"sorry, i didn't know you were here." he says, slipping into the seat next to mine. meredith gets up, telling him that she's going to go get ready for work, and he nods. "so, by the way, a few other people are coming with us."

"oh, okay." i say. "how many?"

"like..." he pauses and counts on his fingers, which i almost make fun of him for, but it's so strangely adorable that i don't say anything. "four or five."

"cool." i respond.

"nadia's one of them, just so you know." he looks a little embarrassed.

"okayyy." i draw out the word, raising an eyebrow at him. "you good?"

"yeah." he rearranges his expression quickly, and i can't help but wonder what he was thinking about.

"hey, kenzie!" lauren's in the kitchen now too, bending down to give me a hug. "love the outfit. are you excited for your first day?"

"thank you!" i grin, and then add sarcastically, "i can't wait." i stand up and sling my backpack over my shoulder, since lauren is wearing hers. johnny puts his on, too, and we all head outside to their car.

lauren gets in the divers seat, and johnny climbs into the back with me.

"okay, so we're picking up nadia, hayden, annie, and emily." johnny reads off his phone.

"pretty much the whole group." lauren observes. johnny shrugs.

"isn't hayden..." i start, then mentally punish myself. why would i ask that?"