𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤

Chapter One

I judge my reflection in the mirror. Is my skin tan enough? Definitely. I was tan before, but after all that time I spent at the beach over the summer, I'm even MORE tan.

Is my hair okay? I added some blond highlights at the last second to the dark brown.

My appearance on the first day of school is very important. I like to have good impressions on my classmates, just in case they've forgotten how I looked over the summer.

"Nice posing."

Austin, my brother, smirks from the doorway. He looks like he couldn't care less about what people think of his appearance. He's wearing an old camp shirt and shorts with a hole in one of the pockets.

Then again, who knows WHAT he thinks is fashionable.

I decide to ignore him, which usually works. He's one of those people who seek attention. I am not one, have never been one, and will never be one.

Sure enough, my strategy works and he leaves, probably to go annoy my dad. I feel guilty, but not guilty enough to stop him.

Once I'm satisfied with how I look, I hurry down the stairs, two at a time. This habit annoys Austin, which obviously makes me want to do it even more.

I quickly eat my breakfast. (Buttered toast. Yummy, but not good enough for a day like today.) I then say goodbye to my Dad, (After having to take way too many pictures of us), and start walking to the school, little brother by my side.

My house is actually pretty close to the school, which is convenient when the weather isn't great.

Austin is chatting it up, talking about all the new sports programs he'll be able to join now that he's in grade five.

That's right, he's in grade five. Surprising, huh? Based on his maturity, it's shocking he isn't in Kindergarten.

Anyways, I try to tune him out. 

It doesn't work.

So by the time we make it to the school, my ears are practically talked off. 

Austin isn't always this chatty. Only when he gets excited. Then he talks super fast and it's hard to understand him. This was one of those times.

I wish him good luck on his first day. He nods and runs off to join his friends. Was that completely rude of him? Yes. Am I used to him and his antics by now? Also yes.

Seeing him with his friends reminds me of my friends as well. Which makes me remember that all three of them are in a class together and I'm not. Which makes me remember that I was trying not to remember that.

So I try to forget once again and walk over to Ava and Nicole, who are already here, a big smile pasted on my face.

"Hi!"

Nicole sees me and runs over to give me a hug. I usually accept, even like her hugs. But I'm not in the mood today, so I step back. Nicole looks a bit hurt and I feel bad. But I don't have enough space in my mind left to pity her too much. At the moment, I'm using all the pity I have for myself.

It totally makes sense.

Ava walks over to greet me too. She smiles and I can tell she doesn't feel bad that I'm in a different class. Somehow, this makes me happy. I'm fine with pitying myself, but I hate when other people, especially my friends, do it.

"Where's Lillian?" I ask.

"She's late."

We all sigh simultaneously. Last year, Nicole was the one that was late every day. The year before, it was Ava. This year, I guess it will be Lillian. Am I next? I hope not. I hate being late for school.