Second Chance

Second Chance Part 1

You know when you really want to say something, but you know it is going to come off cliche? Well that is how I feel right now getting ready for my first day of my junior year of high school. Here it goes, I'm not like most girls. Ugh that physically hurt for me to say out loud. As ridiculous and pretentious as my last statement is, just know that in my case it is actually true. While all of my friends have been texting in our group chat about coordinating outfits and securing our lunch table, I have been frantically looking at myself in the mirror to see if the change about myself is able to be seen from the outside, or if it is merely a change from within. I know it sounds complicated and perhaps even a little philosophical, but it isn't how I intend it. This past summer has been a whirlwind. I've been gone from my home town, from my friends, and from my family. I just got back and I had been hoping things had stayed the same here, but I can tell I've missed out on a long three months. I wouldn't be worried about being gone for the summer if I had been doing something cool like going to Paris or even helping build homes for habitat for humanity. I am worried though, because even though I have carefully orchestrated a string of lies about my whereabouts this summer, I'm not sure how long I will be able to keep it all under wraps. The only people who know the truth about my summer is my family, and luckily for me they have all been sworn to secrecy. My friends think I spent the summer with my grandparents at Virginia Beach, while that isn't a complete lie, it is quite far from the truth. I was supposed to meet up with my friends before the first day to try and catch me up on all the gossip I've missed, so I'm not like a fish out of water at school. I cancelled last minute. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep it together. I made up a lame excuse about having to help my mom with a work thing. I think they bought it, but they know me so well, I'm afraid once we are face to face they will see right through my façade. "Sweet heart?" My mom calls from the other side of my bedroom door. "Yeah, what's up?" I shout back pulling up my high waist jeans and slipping on my black booties. "I was just wondering if you had time for breakfast, I made us omelets." She says back in an endearing tone. I roll my eyes. I love my mom more than life itself, but since the events of this summer she has almost been too much to handle. As bad as I hate to say it, I'm looking forward to going to school to get some time away from her. "Uh, I'm really sorry mom I'm supposed to run through Dunkin on my way to school and pick up breakfast for the girls." I say. I throw on a green flowy peasant top and grab my bookbag from my desk chair. Before my mom can respond I open my bedroom door. She is still standing there. I startle her when I come out. "Oh its okay babe, are we still on for dinner tonight?" She asks giving me a kiss on the cheek. "Uh, yeah sure thing. I'll text you at lunch and we can make some solid plans." I say grabbing my keys off the ring. I close the front door behind me before I can hear my moms response.

When I pull into the school parking lot I suddenly get a bellyache. It happens every year on the first day of school. I'm totally fine and relaxed until I get onto school property, then it's just like something inside my body turns on and I become a huge ball of anxiety. What makes it worse is I know just about everyone who goes to my high school. We aren't exactly a big school, and I've gone to school with most of these kids since kindergarten. Nevertheless, the first day of school has always been a stress-inducing event. My high school this year let the juniors and seniors paint their parking spots. Apparently this was a big thing in Texas a couple of years ago, and thanks to social media it has spread to all parts of the country, including my tiny town in Virginia. All of my friends painted theirs on Saturday, they invited me to go with them, but I had just got home that morning from Virginia Beach and I just didn't feel like going out and being social. They went ahead and bought my spot for me that way when I did decide to decorate it, it would be beside all of theirs. I am the last one of my friends to get to school. When I pull into my spot my friend Noel is grinning at me and waving like a crazy person. Noel, Ari, and Jade jump out of their cars and barge towards me before I can even grab the drink tray with our coffees. "No pictures no pictures." I tease getting out of my car pretending as if they are paparazzi. "Very funny Kennedy." Jade says snatching her large vanilla iced coffee from my tray. All of the other girls follow suit grabbing their designated coffee. We exchange hugs and compliments. As we start walking up the sidewalk to the front door my bellyache turns into sharp shooting pains. I take a big sip of my coffee hoping it will calm my nerves. Which yes I know makes no sense considering coffee is caffeine, but just roll with it. "We have so so much to catch up on." Ari says nudging me as we walk into the lobby. "I know! Kennedy has missed so much! I started taking notes on things to tell her, but it was already three pages at the end of the first week so I eventually gave up." Noel says. "I know, I'm sorry I was MIA, I hated it as much as you guys did, but with my Grandpa having that major back surgery my grandma had to have some help around the house, and plus it wasn't bad spending my summer at the beach." I say plastering on a smile. "Must be nice, I spent my summer serving popcorn at the movie theater like seven nights a week." Jade says toneless. "Well I will have you know that I had a really nice summer lifeguarding" Ari says winking. "What was that wink about?" I ask. We make our way into the auditorium. "Well, as some of you know I kinda had a crush on that lifeguard Jake who goes to Northwest, well he asked me out on Saturday at the big end of summer bash!" She says grinning from ear to ear. "That's great Ari!" I say giving her a side hug. "You go girl he is hot as hell." Jade says biting her lip for affect. "Agreed, and you deserve to find someone." Noel says. "Well Noel, how was your summer?" I ask. We set down in the middle of the auditorium waiting for the back to school assembly to start. "I worked all the time as well, at that program for at risk youth. It was a lot going on, but I really did enjoy it. It also doesn't hurt that it will look great on a college application." She says playfully taking a jab at me. "Attention students." Principal Rigby says as he walks onto the stage and takes his place at the podium. "I know you all are so excited to be back in school. For some of you this is your first day at Northeast and to those students I just want to say welcome, and I hope the next four years are everything you could ever want them to be. Also today is some of your fourth year walking into school here, and to you I just want to say that your senior year is so crucial, try not to waste a single second of it, but also make sure to make plenty of memories that will last you a lifetime. For everyone in between I also hope this year brings plenty of fond memories and essential learning lessons for everyone. When the bell sounds I would like everyone to go to their assigned home rooms where you will be given your schedule for the semester. Thank you guys so much and Go Badgers!" He says before waving like a presidential candidate and exiting the stage. "That guy is too extra" Jade says rolling her eyes. "I for one think it is really nice that he takes time out of his day to address all of us at the beginning of the year." Ari says annoyed with Jade's tone of disrespect. As we walk out of the assembly and head our separate ways to homeroom, I can't help but to feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was so worried things would be different and I would freak out, but it feels like we are all just picking up where we left off. When I walk into homeroom I see my friend Luke. He waves over to me and I go set down in front of him. "Where have you been all summer?" He asks as I slide into the desk. "Virginia Beach nerd." I say jokingly. "Ahh so that's why I didn't see you out with your friends, I thought maybe there was trouble in paradise." He says scoffing. "Ha ha very funny, no I had to go spend the summer with my Grandparents, my Grandpa had major back surgery and my Grandma needed help around the house." I say feeding him the same lie I've fed to everyone else in my life. "Ahh, well I'm having a big back to school party this Saturday if you want to come. It's at my parents cabin and they won't be there." He says flirtatiously grinning. Luke has kind of always had a thing for me, but since the feeling isn't mutual we both just try to ignore it as much as possible. "What kind of party? Because you know how I feel about those ridiculous ragers you throw sometimes." I say slyly. "No this isn't one of my quote on quote ragers, it's low key, juniors and seniors only." He says whispering the last part. I roll my eyes playfully. "I'll check and see what the girls are up to, but more than likely, I'll be there." I say. "Good, wear something hot." he says winking. "And just when I was starting to think you had grown up, I'm disappointed in you." I say shaking my head disapprovingly. "I have grown up, I swear!" he says protesting. Our homeroom teacher Mrs. Kay walks in. "Sorry, class is starting." I say hushing him