Dear Diary

Chapter 5

"Lizzy ... wakey, wakey. It's the first day of school."

I groaned and turned over in my bed. Why did my mom have to remind me? "Elizabeth..." she warned and I sighed.

"Fine, I'm up," I croaked and threw aside the covers.

Dobey, my pet Doberman, was already up and alert sitting on his continental pillows while I staggered like a drunkard to find my uniform. It consisted of a plain white blouse, black skirt and shoes, along with a black blazer. We only wore stockings and ties in the winter.

Once I was dressed and had pulled my blonde hair into a ponytail, I made my way to the kitchen with Dobey pattering along behind me. After a bowl of cereal and a cup of pellets for Dobey later, I made my way to the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I slumped.

"Why?" I cried silently as I took in the numerous red dots that appeared on my face.

 Why did my body always do this to me the day of something important? First day of school I wake up with pimples, but the whole holiday I'm clear as a bell. 

Five minutes and a considerable amount of concealer later, I deemed myself ready to go. "Bye, boy," I patted Dobey's head and yelled goodbye to my dad before making my way to my mom's car.

My dad owns his own mechanic shop and the saying that a mechanic's wife drives the worst vehicle runs true in this family. And it's amplified even more with him being a bit frugal. I secured my backpack on my shoulders and bracing my left hand on the door, my right holding the handle, I kicked forward with my right foot while simultaneously shoving against the door to open it and sat down in the passenger seat. Seriously, we didn't even bother locking the doors because it was an art just to open them.

The ride to school was quiet as usual, only a bit of conversation here and there. My mom and I both aren't very talkative in the mornings and I can also get a bit grumpy if asked too many questions while half-asleep.

My mom applied the brakes and the car squealed to a stop outside the school about one hundred metres away from the gate. Now I know that everyone has flaws and mine just so happen to be my insecurity and shyness. However, I don't have a low self-esteem. I just get embarrassed easily - especially with our car. My mom knew this, hence her stopping so far away from the front entrance.

I rolled down the window and stuck my arm out to grab the handle with my left hand while I jerked the door with my right, allowing it to open - the inside handle no longer worked. I grabbed my bag and said goodbye to my mom before making my way into the school grounds.

It didn't take me long to get my schedule and books from my locker and soon found my group of friends sitting in the school quad. "Hey, guys," I greeted and there was a succession of greetings in response as I sat down next to my best friend Anne, and my two cousins Tyler and Amy. "So, what do you guys have first?"

"Maths," Anne stated. 

She was an average height girl with light brown hair and vibrant blue eyes. We knew each other since kindergarten, but only once we entered high school did we become close friends.

"With whom?" I asked.

"Mr Tuttle," she replied and I looked at my schedule. Maths with Mr Tuttle.

"Me too!" I exclaimed and we high-fived. Amy and Tyler both had different teachers to us for maths.

Amy was also a tall girl who once had blonde hair like mine, but dyed it to a dark brown. Like Anne, she too had blue eyes but hers were more along the grey line. When we were smaller and still the same height, people often confused us as twins.

Tyler was the tallest in our group with very long brown hair and eyes that matched my own. She was a bit on the larger side, but that never once worried me or my group. But to be honest, I never would've thought that I would've become such close friends with Tyler.

Amy and I were always close as cousins, but Tyler ... we could barely stay in the same room together and we always ended up making each other cry. It wasn't that we bullied each other, more like our personalities were just too different.  And yet look at us now.

I glanced at my watch and my eyes widened. "Okay, we have to get moving. There's five minutes left."

Everyone groaned and I gave them a cheeky smile as I stood. Everyone sort of had an identity in our group and I happen to be considered the 'mom'. I'm always the most responsible, punctual and have anything and everything on standby: deodorant, hairbands, band aids, pads .... You get the picture.

Anne came up next to me. "Race you there?"

I grinned and we both tore off down the corridors. I am quite a prim and proper person in nature, but when I'm around certain people (like my best friend) that tends to fly out the window.

Now, don't ask why we were racing towards imminent death - also known as maths - because I honestly haven't a clue. Maybe I was just happy to see my friends again?

When we were half way to our class, it became increasingly obvious who was going to win. Who was I kidding anyway? Anne's been to world champs for running more times than I can count and I only just started running last year.

Anne sprinted around a corner and I followed when something suddenly crossed my path. I didn't have enough time to react, causing me to tumble into it. I shrieked in surprise and the disgusting smell of garbage filled my nose, making me gag. I blinked and, to my horror, I realised I just fell in a trashcan.

I could hear Anne collapse in a fit of laughter as I tried to get out, but my extremely short body wouldn't let me as I was in up to my hips and my feet couldn't find the ground. "Anne! Get me out!" I yelled and the rubbish bin amplified it as I thrashed about. Luckily this specific corridor was empty.

Her laughter came to an abrupt stop as I felt a pair of hands firmly grip my waist and hoist me out of the horrible hole before placing me squarely on my feet. My head felt weird for a moment from the blood rush, but I pushed the feeling aside.

"Wow, Anne. Did you start going to the gym extra in the holidays?" I asked and turned around to face her. 

But, to my utter horror, I realised that it was not Anne who helped me out but rather a very, very good-looking guy.

He had dark brown hair styled to be slightly messy and parallel brown eyes that seemed to stare right through me. I couldn't help but gawk at him and noticed a small piercing in his right ear and swirling tattoos run up his left arm, only to be covered by the sleeve of his school shirt. 

Normally piercings and tattoos were a turn-off for me, but he was just too good-looking for them to feature. My face flooded with colour when I realised I'd been staring and the horror that my skirt could've flashed with my wild kicks. I suddenly wished to become invisible.

"T-Thanks," I squeaked and he stared at me for another moment before walking off without another word. Even the way he carried himself made me weak to the knees.

"Who's that? I've never seen him here before," Anne said as she came up next to me. I was at a loss for words for a moment, but when I turned to look at her my eyes instinctively narrowed.

"Thanks for your help," I scowled, making her smile.

"What are friends for? Oh, and you've got a little something ..." she trailed off as she gestured to my hair. 

My hands instantly flew to the spot and my face twisted in disgust when I touched a chewed piece of gum.

"Ew!"