Tangled in South Park

The First Day of School

*A Day Later*

I groan as my phone loudly plays some stupid ringtone that I set as my alarm sound an unknown time ago. Even though I rarely hear it, it still makes me want to pull my hair out and chuck my phone across the room. All school has to do is start an hour later, and I think I would be okay with going.

I force my eyes open, flinging the covers off and hopping out of bed. Then I shuffle into my bathroom and begin to get ready for the day. The first day of school that everyone has been dreading as the killer of summer, but now that it has arrived, I think we are all excited to get senior year underway.

My thoughts wander as I do my morning routine. The fact that it has been a year since Kenny and I went official. Well, a few days early, but the same time of the year. Anyways, to think that he's been gone for multiple months now is crazy for me to even wrap my head around. To think there are still many months to go before he comes back. At least, that's what he's told me. That he will come back. I trust him, of course, but nothing like this has ever happened in my life. Granted, there is a lot that has happened in South Park that could only happened in this crazy mountain town. My brain is still a bit closed in regards to those events.

I exit my bathroom once I've done what I need to do. I've decided on a simple clip with the Rainbow badge on the left side of my hair, a bit of make-up, my Minnie Mouse necklace with my promise ring dangling from the chain secure around my neck. With that done, I head to my closet already knowing what I want to wear. I settled on jean shorts, a t-shirt with various Nintendo characters, black thigh-high socks, and my galaxy print high top Converse. Once I'm changed, I rush back to my bedroom, catching the time on my clock.

"Still have fifteen minutes, no need to rush," I walk over to my desk where my phone and backpack are waiting for me. There are various unread texts from various people, but I can't read them just yet. I do a quick check to make sure everything is in my Hello Kitty backpack, and then I sling it over my shoulder. With my phone in hand, I head out of my room and down to the kitchen.

"I'm telling you; I may seem like I have always loved video games, but I only just started getting into them a few years ago," Ashlyn's voice floats to me.

"You don't have to say things to make me feel better," Karen giggles.

"I am telling you the truth," she chuckles.

"Ash is telling the truth," I smile as I walk into the room, walking over to the pantry to grab a Hot Fudge PopTart. "I've always been the one to play video games between us, and my best Christmas was getting a Gameboy. However, Ash over there wanted anything but that. They never interested her until the Switch."

"Rosa has always been the nerd between us," Ashlyn chuckles. "Now, don't feel back about being so behind in video games. You played a lot over the summer!"

"And now I won't have time to play more," Karen pouts.

"Don't worry, Pumpkin," I wink at her as I tear open my PopTart. "We'll figure out a schedule, and make sure that we have time to have fun." I take a bite of my PopTart.

"We will have little study sessions all together, and we can help each other if we are confused," Ashlyn nods. "If school were to ever take over my life, I think I would go crazy. I need to have time for myself to let my brain relax."

"Ken-Ken would help me with school a lot," Karen says. "I know that people would look at him and think that he was stupid, but he really helped me. I didn't struggle, but I do need help."