My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Three

When we get to school I have a donut in one hand and my skateboard in the other. We are chit chatting as we walk, not paying attention to the world of Rosewood. Ever since he saved me people have been gossiping about our closeness, spreading rumors that we were more than friends because he offered to be my guardian. It was an odd offer, but since he felt responsible for me when he saved my life he thought it was the right thing to do. Especially since the Hastings weren't exactly parents of the year and the Montgomery's were nowhere to be found. So I would have honestly been okay with living with him rather than with the Hastings, and I half wish I had done it because things may have gotten better but I unfortunately still have a hard time wanting to be with them after basically forcing them to notice me.

As we get up the steps there's the commotion of people staring at us. Some because they think he's cute and others whisper the usual rumors between us, but we both ignore it as I stuff the last piece of donut into my mouth and head over towards my locker.

"You're good for me to head out now?" He says as he stares down at me, leaning against the lockers next to mine.

I smile up at him and nod, seeing people still staring in the corner of my eye. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Amber rarely bothers me while at school. She likes to wait till no one witnesses things. "

He sighs and shakes his head, seeming annoyed. "I don't get why you don't tell someone about her and her gang."

I laugh a bit, watching him with a serious look. "That's a joke, right? Do you not remember growing up with mean kids?"

Now he half smiles, shrugging. "I do, but I don't remember them being this bad."

"Well, you were better liked than me." I say with a soft tone of a joke, nudging him with my finger. "And now you'll be a well liked teacher."

The look on his face is strong, but the emotions in his eyes makes me know he hates that I struggle in more ways than just losing my family. "Just know I'm here if you need me to straighten them out."

"Yes, Mr. Fitz." I give a soft smirk, trying not to laugh.

He just shakes his head playfully and then gives me a hug, telling me he'll see me in class for my first period and walks down the hall towards the teachers room. Once out of sight I open the top locker, my locker, and put some of the notebooks and folders for my other classes into it, leaving the ones I need for my first few classes in my backpack.

Once done I place a small mirror on the inside door of my locker and stare into it. As I fix my side ponytail who I see looking back is the same light skinned girl with a softly freckled face, ginger hair, green eyes, glasses and as the years went by, no more acne. But I know I'm not completely the same girl. Or at least not the same girl I used to be. This Jessie isn't who I once was, filled with life and love. This Jessie is broken, hurt and tired all the time. Finding things hard to get through from being an orphan, and a foster child. Things aren't the same.

The top locker to my right opens up, bringing me back to reality and I look to the side, smiling brightly at the girl who owns it. "Hey, Jessie." The tall girl with tan skin, brown eyes and a dark brown long ponytail says to me with a smile back. "How was your summer?"

Emily Fields. This girl has been in my life for a while, but we didn't get close until a few years ago. Why? Because that was when Alison disappeared from Rosewood, and ever since then, me and Emily have been thick as thieves. Or at least until the accident. It was the best moment of my life. Our closeness became something we could rely on, and confide in each other. We have a lot in common, but because of Alison we never noticed it.

I shrug softly to the question as I close my locker, because it wasn't exactly bright with it being the first summer without my family. "It was okay." I finally get out after a second processing, now leaning my back onto the lockers and kicking one of my legs up to rest up behind me. Then I stare up at the 5'7" in a half girl with my arms crossed over my chest, "How was yours?"