After Midnight

Chapter 1

This is it. Today is the dreaded day. The day I've had anxiety over for months. The day I've had so many sleepless nights over.

It's the first day of school. My first day at a new school. This year, I'm keeping my head down, getting good grades, making new friends, and no matter what, never going to any party, ever. I'm going to study on the weekends, not drink. I'm going to read during my free time, not drink. I'm going to go to the movies with friends, and stay sober. Look at me, I'm a mess and I'm only seventeen.

I'm currently in the middle of getting ready, and having a mid life crisis. All the thoughts and plans I've been having since the whole accident seem to be hitting me full force this morning, and I really don't appreciate it. As if moving to a new school, a new state, isn't hard enough.

I focus on my breathing, willing the near panic attack away, and try to find something to wear. I settle for a pair of ripped up black skinny jeans and a light grey knitted sweater. Simple enough. I rush to my bathroom and brush my teeth. I quickly glance at the mirror to make sure that my dirty blonde hair looked presentable. I have to go back to my room and grab my glasses. I used to wear contacts, but I prefer having the thick black frames to hide my blush green eyes behind.

Once I'm all set, a grab my backpack and head out the door. I slid into the drivers seat of my old silver car, I'm so clueless when it comes to cars, I can't even tell you the brand. My parents still let me drive, not that they're happy about it, but I needed a way to get to and from school. They both leave for work before I even wake up, so obviously they can't take me. I refuse to ride a bus as a senior, so that was out to. Driving is the only other option. I'm probably even less happy about driving everyday than my parents are. It scares the crap out of me now.

I carefully make my way to the high school. I didn't have a reason to rush, I left early for this exact reason. I haven't driven in months, I didn't want to be speeding the first time I'm back behind the wheel I'm so long. I pull into the parking lot and find an open spot towards the back. The lot was pretty empty, no one but teachers were here this early, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself up front.

I grabbed my bag and headed to the main entrance. I was looking for the office, that's where I was going to get my schedule and hopefully a map, when a short girl came up to me. I was a little surprised to see a student here this early.

She looked to be about five three, only an inch or two shorter than me, with short brown hair. She was one of those girls that were short and curvy. She was wearing a plain pink shirt tucked into a white skater skirt that bore a floral pattern. She seemed... sweet.

"Hi! I'm Claire, you must be Noah?" She introduces herself with a bright smile. Her good mood was just a little bit infectious, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Yeah, that's me." She didn't give me anymore time to talk, as she grabbed my wrist and started to drag me down a hallway lined with lockers. She came to a sudden stop in front of a locker number forty six, and started to put a combination in.

"This is your locker. Mines just two lockers down." She explained pointing to the locker that I assume is hers. "Here's you class schedule. If you need help finding any of the rooms, feel free to ask me." I took a look at the paper in my hand. At the top it said my locker number and combination, the rest of the sheet was my schedule.

"Can I see?" She asked me just a little hesitant. I nodded while handing her my schedule. She looked at it for a couple of seconds before squealing a little bit. I laughed at her behavior. "We have the exact same schedule!" She said jumping a little bit.

"Really? Is that even possible to do?" I asked her confused. Usually you can get a max of three or four classes with any one person.

"Here it's pretty common. Every year has about two different main schedules for classes, most kids are separated into those, and then there's a few handfuls of kids that get 'special' schedules do to the different electives and languages they choose to take." She explained to me.

"That's really weird." I mumbled to myself while looking over all the classes I'm going to be taking this semester.

"I guess it is a little weird, but what can you do really?" She said with a little shrug. I hadn't meant for her to hear that, but she didn't seem offended. "If you want, I can show you around the campus a little before school actually starts?" I looked back up from the paper and saw her hopeful face. I actually liked her, so I agreed.

Claire spent the next half hour showing me around. She took me to the gym, saying that I'd never catch her in there on her own free will, we went to the cafeteria, the art room, the music hall, then to all of the classrooms I'd have to visit daily. She told me a little bit about herself and her friends. She has a small group, just her boyfriend, Zach, and her best friend Echolynne.

"I think that's everywhere worth visiting." She said once we made it back to the cafeteria. She plopped down in to a chair at an empty table. By now, a lot of students had started to show up, the bell was going to ring in ten minutes.

"I hope you know I'm not going to remember any of that." I said with a chuckle. She just dropped her head onto the table in defeat, making me laugh harder.

A tall boy with brown hair and a sweet smile, sat down next to her. He wrapped one arm around her waist. She lifted her head up and smiled at him before kissing him. They both looked so happy.

"I assume you're Zach then?" I asked looking between the two. Claire nodded her head.

"That would be me. Not trying to be rude, but I have no idea who you are." He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

I just smiled at him. "It's fine. I'm new, Noah. Claire showed me around this morning and wouldn't stop talking about you and a girl named Echolynne." I smirk at Claire while her faces turned red.

"That's not what happened! I didn't talk about you guys that much." She said while crossing her arms and pouting, causing both Zach and I to laugh.

"Aw babe, that's adorable." Zach cooed, kissing her nose. She swatted his face away.

"Jesus, you guys are fighting already?" A new voice said from behind me. I turned to see a tall girl with long black hair and lots of piercings. She sat down right next to me.

"Echo!" Claire cheered. So she's Echolynne. Definitely not who I was expecting. Echo was wearing a black leather jacket, ripped skinny jeans, and high heel boots. She looked totally bad ass, not who I was expecting to be 'besties' with a girl like Claire.

"Hey Claire, miss me?" She said with a teasing smirk at the shorter girl. Claire nodded enthusiastically. Zach rolled his eyes at Echo.

"Can you please stop subtly flirting with my girlfriend?" He whined at the smirking girl. I couldn't help but laugh at him. That seemed to remind everyone that I was here.

"Who's the newbie?" Echolynne asked the other two. Claire quickly introduces me.

"Oh! That's Noah, he's new this year." She said with the same big smile.

Echolynne faked a gasp with her hand over her heart. "No, really? I had no idea!" She teased.

"Rude." Claire said under her breath.

Echolynne rolled her eyes playfully, then turns to me. "Hi, I'm Echolynne, but you can call me Echo." She said with a small smile.

Maybe this year won't be that bad.

Hello people!

So this is my first book on this account. I actually have two other accounts, some of you probably came from one of them.

I really hope you guys liked this chapter.

Hope you guys have a great day!💚