Chapter 2
August 4th
The first Monday of August I have quite frankly been dreading and looking forward to all in one. The first Monday of August means the first day of school each year, and the first time I will see Mickey again face to face since May. That son of a bitch, sweetheart hasn’t texted me back in three weeks. I’m too nervous to see him, what should I say? What will he think about my new hairstyle? My face seen by his face for the first time in over two months, what would he possibly be thinking? On top of that going through my mind, I’m wearing a dress. I don’t think he’s ever even seen me in a dress. He could be thinking it is grotesque; I wouldn’t blame him if he did.
“Aww, look at little Sylvia!” big sis, T, exclaimed excitedly at my outfit, “my little poom, poom.”
“I promise you it’s not that serious, I’ve gone through this process 11 times. Tenth grade including kindergarten,” I merely explained as I gave a half assed smile, “past first grade it’s not cute anymore and it is just an outfit.”
“Shut up and turn around,” a spike of attitude but still a hint of joy sounded in her voice. “That is so cute!”
My face couldn’t have gotten even straighter as I turned in a circle for her. I swiftly exited the room afterward and headed for downstairs before my mom could request the same of me, where I drank a bit of water, stuffed my lunch into my bag, then stood at the door, looking for other peers to stand at the bus stop, which was a little down the street from here. It felt good to know that I wasn’t a freshman anymore, until I go to college that is, where Freshman Friday hopefully won’t be taking place. I dodged the bullet last year, I don’t really want to have to dodge it again, but I would if I had to.
Three bodies stood at the bus stop, and it was currently 7:24 a.m. I shouted a see you later then made a graceful exit, shutting a locked door behind me. One, two, three, down the brick porch steps, careful with my step.
I tried not to spew the non-existing vomit from my butterfly filled stomach as anxiety and excitement overtook me all at once. Breathe. In. Out. Deep breaths kept me going throughout the past few months whenever I felt a heavy weight on my chest. Four, five, six, minutes late the bus was. Miss Tanya, the same bus driver as last year, said her Good morning’s as my bus stop population of almost ten loaded onto the bus. A few seats back and I sat with Maki, behind my former bus buddy, Josiah.
Throughout the bus ride to school, we three conversed about my new brown dreadlocks, that are in fact not real, but the “faux locs” and how Maki should’ve been the person people expect to have them first based from her African background and how we were all excited to see some people, and weather we were ready for this first day or not. Conversation continued until I split away from them to retrieve school breakfast, a super donut with mozzarella string cheese, my usual.
I walked over quickly, yet trying to look casual toward the group. Mickey was nowhere in sight. Jennifer ran up and gave me a hug with a squealing voice.
“Sylviiiiaaa, I missed you so much!” Jennifer looked exactly the same. Pudgy cheeks, brunette hair, winged eyeliner, silver eye shadow, and a big smile. If she was ever on celebrity look-a-like, she could pass as Maia Mitchell.
“I missed you too, girlie,” I responded while I followed her back toward the table where the group was sitting, and there he was, standing behind one of the the white brick columns that was either there for decoration around the cafeteria or to hold up the ceiling, either or. I hid a bit behind Jennifer, to make it less and obvious all at once to him, as well as trying to hide my outfit, face, and existence.
