Mystical

Chapter One

~BROOKE~

I heave a sigh as the clock slowly counts the seconds. Could it possibly go any slower? Around me, I can see the summer heat taking a toll on my classmates' focus. Feet tapping, pens clicking, papers rustling, you name it. Even our teacher seems anxious to get out of the classroom. You would think that we would at least be able to get out a bit earlier than usual for the last day of senior year, but of course Principal Montgomery has to keep us cooped up in these humid classrooms like hyperventilating chickens.

I grab my phone from inside my desk and text Lydia and Axton. Hey. Meet up for boba after we get outta here? Axton responds almost immediately, per usual. I swear, the dude's always on his phone. I flinch a bit when my phone lets out a pleasant ding! Slightly interrupting the low din of the room. When I realize that Ms. Stevens either didn't hear or couldn't care less about texting during class now that we're all graduating soon, I slowly lift my phone up to check Axton's response. For sure. I'll meet u guys in the courtyard.

I smile a bit. Finally something to look forward to other than the daunting task of choosing a career path. I considered taking a gap year, but Mom shot that idea down as soon as I mentioned it. Her exact words were, "No. I won't allow it. I know you, Brooke. Gap years may be helpful for other people, but you, you'll start to slack off as soon as your gap year starts, and by the time you get to college, you'll have become a pathetic, lazy, person, just like your father." Now, a lot of things don't bother me, which is how I've put up with being called many terrible things that I'm not going to mention, but these words coming from the mouth of my mother of all people, infuriate me.

I'm starting to get worked up about it just thinking of those words, when the bell shrills and I jump out of my seat. I'm not looking to be trampled by the crowd of people in those hallways, but I'm also not looking to spend another second inside this place. I dash out the door, ducking under and around clumps of people already dotting the halls.

The second I get out of the main hallway, it begins to flood with seniors. If I had to describe the scene with one word, it'd be chaos. Backpacks are being thrown in the air, accompanied by whooping and cheering. Someone even starts to blast horrible music. I mean seriously, they couldn't at least find a decent sounding track to play on the last day of hell, or as Principal Montgomery calls it, the "first day of our futures." I cringe a bit and speed walk to the back door leading to the courtyard, looking forward to walking out those doors for the last time.

My phone lets out another ding! That must be Lydia. She would never dare to take her phone out during classes. Once I've shoved my way outside, I glance at my phone. Sure enough, Lydia's responded with, y'all have gotta stop texting during class. But yeah i'm down for boba. I grin a little and answer with, k i'll see u guys in the courtyard, but not before Axton beats me to it. His texting is lightning fast. Aight cool. I'm waiting in the courtyard.

I speed my pace up a bit, dodging a basketball game on my way over to the ledge that Axton is sitting on, bopping his head to music playing in his earphones. I sling my backpack higher over my shoulder as I walk up to him. "Lemme hear that," I say, grabbing one of his earphones. He's listening to heavy metal on full volume, and I quickly jolt away so as not to murder my eardrums. He just chuckles a bit and pops his earbud back in.

"So when's Lyd getting here?" He asks me.

Honestly, I have no idea how he can hear me over the blare of the music, but I respond playfully with, "Ask her yourself, dumbo," then take a seat next to him to wait for Lydia.

Minutes later, Lydia bursts out of the back doors, looking flustered. "It's pandemonium in there," she gasps, tying her unorderly hazelnut hair back up into its usual neat ponytail. "You would think they could at least wait til they get home to celebrate."