Falling for the Enemy and the Mess That is My Life

"Today Was Going To Be Hell"

"Shut up," I groan at my alarm clock, randomly flinging my hand in the general vicinity of where it should be. I could always act like a grown up and emerge from the covers of my bed to turn off my alarm. But honestly, who wants to do that when I know one of the slaps on my bedside table will eventually hit its target: the beloved snooze button. 

Normally, I would already be up, dressed, and eating breakfast by six thirty but I had been dreading this day for the past two weeks and now that it was finally here, all I wanted to do was stay in bed. 

Today was my first day at my new school, Crescent High. I'm sure it was a perfectly fine school but let me tell you, starting at a new school your senior year is going to suck no matter what. New friends, new social circles to navigate, new teachers, new hallways; all of it new and intimidating. Especially when you add in the fact that it just so happens to be the rival of my old school, Eastmond High. 

Rubbing the sleep from my face, I force myself to emerge from my haven of blankets and walk to my closet. Flinging open the wooden doors, I survey my options for the day. Do I go with the gray sweater dress with some tights or a pair of jeans and a simple top? First impressions were important after all and I didn't want to give anyone a reason to look to long in case they recognized me from Eastmond. Recognized me and remembered what had sent me running from Crescent after what had gone down between Daniel and I.

Daniel was my ex-boyfriend and a grade A asshole. His parents were rich to the point where private jets and yachts had become a normal occurrence in his life and because of that he thought he was entitled to whatever he wanted, including me. For a period of time I had convinced myself that I was somehow changing him, making him kinder and more understanding, that I was special. 

Looking back, I see how stupid I was to ever believe he would change his ways, how ignorant I was to his cruel nature. But the veil had been lifted last semester when I tried to leave him. And since then I couldn't help but see him as anything other than a manipulative monster. 

Shaking my head, I clear all thoughts of that prick out of my head and focus on the simple things I can still control, such as my clothes. I end up deciding on a dark green sweater with a pair of navy jeans and some sneakers. Tying my hair up, I attempt the whole messy bun look but it just ends up looking like a bird decided to nest in my hair. Even after watching countless videos on how to achieve the perfect messy bun, I still manage to fail miserably. 

After examining the disaster that was my hair, I decide to just wear it down. Looking in the mirror, I think of how much Daniel hated it when I wore my hair down. He always preferred it up, said it made my face look slimmer. 

He'd always been controlling and demeaning and over the years he'd slowly chipped down my self confidence to the point where I relied on him to make me feel beautiful. Meeting my own stare in the glass, I decide I'll wear it down from now on; a small defiance to the ideas he'd drilled into my head. 

Skipping down the stairs, I feel a slight buzz from where my phone was stored in my pocket. Grabbing an apple from the counter, I wave to my mother who sits at the kitchen table, a phone held to her ear, who appears to be royally pissed off. Judging by the rage painted across her face, she's probably talking to my dad. 

Three years ago, he'd run off with his secretary who just so happened to be twenty years younger than him and in substantial debt from college loans. Calling her a gold digger might be a little harsh, but seeing as she quit her job the minute they moved in together and has since spent a fortune of his money on clothes and jewelry, I don't think any other name does her justice. 

I send her a tight smile as she leaves the room to go argue with him somewhere else. She was a developmental psychologist and maintained the belief that it was bad to argue in front of children as it could damage their ability to form future attachments to partners. Little did she know that I was completely on her side and nothing could ever change that. 

I feel another buzz from my phone and find seven missed text messages.

Eva: I hope you have a great first day!!! 

Eva: Okay that may have been a lie. Wouldn't want you to find a new best friend too quickly.

Eva: Not that you can't I mean. That would be totally fine to you know. Just make sure she's not better than me or we might have a problem ;)

Eva: Who am I kidding? I'm already the best! 

Eva: But seriously Riley, have a good day. You deserve one after all the shit that happened with Daniel. 

Eva: Don't forget to mention any hotties you meet!!! There's no eye candy here now that Bradley Davis left. Such a shame. Truly.

Connor: Ignore Eva's messages. She's having a complete meltdown without you and I already had to pull over three times so she could rearrange her makeup before anyone could see her "looking like the spawn of satan mixed with insomnia and tears".

I can't help the little laugh that escapes at the idea of Eva forcing Connor to pull over for a makeup session. Eva and I had met in the third grade when we were deemed outcasts due to our supposed cooties infection. We'd been attached at the hip since then, until Connor came along  during the seventh grade. 

The two of them had skirted around their feelings for each other until Connor finally worked up the courage to ask her out our freshman year. They'd been going strong since then and had never made me feel as though I was a third wheel, which I greatly appreciated.  

It hurt to know I'd have to go through the days without catching glances of them in the hallways or sitting down with them for lunch and listening to Eva rant about whatever new concept we were learning in trigonometry. Especially after all the support they'd given me when I decided it would be best for me to transfer instead of enduring the taunting and teasing from the other students. 

I send them both thank you's before glancing at the time. Shit! All of the lounging in bed I had done now meant I only had thirty-five minutes to drive to school and since Crescent was a thirty minute drive I needed to kick it into gear. 

Running out of the house to my old Honda I'd named Vicky, I jump into the drivers seat and accelerate out of the driveway. I decide to throw on some tunes, attempting to distract my brain from thinking about all the possible things that could go wrong today. 

I could get lost. Correct that, I will inevitably get lost. I could very well piss someone off, someone who could go digging in my past to find what I had tried so hard to bury. I'd most likely eat lunch alone, which would be fine if it weren't for the fact that I was trying to blend in and not attract attention; a new girl sitting alone was bound to attract some attention. 

I let my mind wander until I find myself pulling into the Crescent High School parking lot. Glancing at the clock, I'm shocked to find I still have some time to find my locker and, hopefully, my first class. Due to the amount of traffic on the roads, I should really win an award for somehow managing to get to school in only twenty minutes. Oh, the joys of speeding. So lovely. 

Climbing out of the car, I'm surrounded by some of the most expensive cars I've ever seen. Aston Martins, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and a hell of a lot of other cars I can't even name. My car sticks out like a sore thumb and based on the looks I'm garnering from the other students, I'd say my plan to stay under the radar is already failing. 

Holding my head high, I walk toward the gleaming front doors, ignoring the questioning stares from my classmates. As I push through the glass doors, I can't help but think that today was going to be hell.