My mom began slowing down before pulling into a driveway my dad’s car which was a Blue Subaru Outback and then my brother’s car, a Grey Jeep Wrangler. My dad’s car was in front of us with the trunk door open containing a few boxes still left. We get out of the car stretching our legs before grabbing the bag from the car. As we began walking to the house the door opened to my brother standing in front of me, he jumped a little before smiling at me. He walked past me while greeting mom then grabbing more boxes from the car. I place the bags I grabbed from mom’s car putting them on the couch in the living room and going out to grab more bags bringing them inside. Which wasn’t an easy task with an excited dog running around causing me to trip more than once.
We finished bringing all of our bags and boxes in they were all over the living room, most were labeled then some were a guessing game. My mom sat on the couch along with my dad they were exhausted but still had more left to do. My dad lifted his tired body from the couch and sat up which caused him to yawn loudly.
“Go pick your rooms then take your things upstairs so you’re not scrambling to get your things for school.” He said in a tired tone.
Silas ran up the stairs while I followed behind him trying to catch up but he was already inside a room while I went into the other room. It was a medium-sized room with cream white walls, a small closet, desk, 2 night stands on each side of the bed and a bay window. It was similar to a room I’ve always dreamed up and put my backpack down on the bed while laying down. I heard the door open looking up and seeing Silas already making his way around the room. He smiled at me before laying on the bed next to me and we just laid there looking at the white ceiling. I couldn’t tell if he was jealous of my room choice or if he was happy that I was happy. He sat up stretching his arms out towards the ceiling then standing up his knees cracking as he did that. Which caused us both to start cracking up with laughter for a few seconds. He walked over to the bay window and moved the curtain to look out front then moving the curtain back and looking at me.
“You have a bitchin’ room not gonna lie but I’m kinda jealous.” He admitted.
“I mean it is cool, especially the bay window.”
“Oh, that’s what it’s called. Always thought it was like a window seat or something. Wanna see my room, though probably not as cool as yours.”
I nodded then slowly sat up getting off my new bed and following Silas to his room. His room was the same size as mine with the same walls only he didn’t have a bay window and his closet was more like a walk in. He had only one nightstand by his bed and a desk on the other side, while my chest was more in the opposite corner across from the door. They were nice rooms a lot bigger than the rooms at our previous house which was good. We went back downstairs to begin the long process of finding our boxes and moving them up to our rooms. Which proved to be a struggle when some of the boxes had no labels on them but we managed to get all the boxes to our rooms. I began to go through the boxes stacked in my room making the entire room feel claustrophobic. I grabbed the first box I saw it was unlabeled so made me unsure what the hell was in it.
I opened it up to immediately see a framed photograph of my ex, Carter the asshole who dumped me on my sixteenth birthday for one of my old friends. I should’ve just ripped up the picture but for some reason I didn’t it was like a part of me still liked him a part of me I hate so I just put it aside. Inside the box was a few items a hoodie, another hoodie that Carter gave me that I added to the Carter pile, a few notebooks I planned to go through and a bunch of loose art supplies. I took everything out setting the box aside and putting Carter’s stuff in it planning to ship it out once I unpacked everything. I unpacked the rest of it which took me an hour or two that was the easy part now for the hard part, getting it all organized in my room. Carter’s box has been half filled with shit he gave me up to my birthday, even the so-called gift he got me which was basically a fidget toy that spun around.
I put my hoodies in the closet hung up on coat hangers my clothes were put neatly in the dresser and my shoes places on the shoe rack I put by my door. I put my laptop on my desk along with the art supplies and the small amount of books I had. I put my phone on the charger on my night stand before I was able to lay back down on my bed my room was finally starting to feel like my own. I heard the door come open and quickly sat up in bed to see my dad at the door. He was smiling at me while looking around my room and sitting on the bed with me.
“Hey, sweetie how are you?” He asked me.
“I’m ok.”
“I know you might be upset about the constant moving but hopefully this will be the last time but hey at least we are back at our old hometown.”
“Yeah, just feels weird being back here like we haven’t been here in years.”
“Yes but maybe this could be a chance to make new friends maybe reunite with some old ones, your mom told me you ran into your old friend, Ashton when you guys were coming here. How was he?”
“He was good working at a diner now as a cook.”
“Nice.”
Dad got up off my bed stretching his arms towards the ceiling and yawning as he walked over to the door. He opened the door but stopped halfway through then turned to me like he was about to say something.
“Oh, yeah before I forget you’re going to have a very special guest tomorrow for your birthday.”
“Who?”
“Can’t tell you, sweetie. It’ll ruin the surprise, but for now try to get some sleep, ok? You’ll have a big day at school tomorrow. Goodnight Sweetie.”
“Goodnight Dad.”
He smiled back at me before shutting the door behind him leaving me now alone in my new room. I know the first thing I’d change about my room and that was the blinding white walls. I was already planning on painting them a darker color maybe purple or black or maybe even blood red. But wasn’t sure if I could paint the walls so I’d of course ask my parents first. But another thing went through my mind….who was this special guest that was coming to my birthday tomorrow. I stood up to turn my light off then jumped into bed pulling the heavy comforter over my body. I turn the lamp off on my nightstand and laid back down in bed my eyes getting heavier and heavier until they finally closed. It was about eleven pm when I managed to finally get to bed. Soon I would be starting my first day of school at Port Angeles High I was nervous to attend that high school but somewhat excited as well. I fell into a deep sleep and began to dream at first I saw nothing but darkness.
My eyes readjusting to see I was in my bedroom it was still dark that I could barely see a few inches in front of me. The bright moonlight illuminating the floor in front of the bay window urging me to go towards it. A slight chill came upon me as I noticed the window was open the cold winding moving the curtains causing them to look like a ballerina in motion. I stood up feeling the cold hard floor below me as I moved slowly towards the window a shiver was sent down my spine as I got closer. I reached for the window shutting it and locking it. I sat on the bay window seat looking down at the barely lit street below it was quiet in the house almost peaceful. I looking around the neighborhood noticing there was a forest close by even though it was dark I could just barely make out the tops of the trees. I looked out at the forest hoping to spot a few deer only to be greeted by small yellow dots not only one but a few. Each one seeming to be looking right at me in an unnerving way my body was frozen still just staring at those dots. One by one they began to disappear deep into the forest I didn’t know what the hell that was but it got my curiosity up.
I heard a loud ringing in my ear before being jolted awake to hear my alarm clock ringing loudly next to me. I sat up slowly from my bed stretching my arms out above me before standing up to walk to the bathroom for my morning routine. This routine consisted of a shower, getting dressed before putting on some makeup and doing my hair. Finished the shower within a few minutes put on a long-sleeved dark Grey shirt and black skinny jeans. Running to the bathroom with socks on to put on the small amount of makeup I did do which was some basic eyeliner and dark red lipstick. I ran back to my room looking at the clock as I sat on my bed to see it was 7:25am…...Shit! I’m late on my first day of school. I quickly grabbed my black combat boots putting them on before rushing and throwing my school stuff in my backpack then throwing a few pens and pencils before running out the door. Which I immediately opened back again because I forgot my phone and earbuds which sat on my nightstand.
I ran down the stairs almost tripping on a step but managed to steady myself before continuing. I ran outside to see the back of the bus which was number thirteen. Shit, now I either have to walk to school or beg my brother to drive me. But sadly it would be an almost thirty minute walk and would rather not start my first day being sweaty so I caved and went inside. I found Silas passed out on the couch with our dog Kai, who was a husky. I nudged him and when that didn’t work I decided to use Kai’s favorite word….Treats. As soon as I said that Kai’s ears perked up and he jumped off my brother like he was a springboard causing him to wake up.
“Hey, Silas I need a ride to school.”
“Huh...what...fine just let me wake up.”
He stretched his arms out before scratching his chest standing up and going upstairs to hopefully change. I walked outside but not before giving Kai a treat and heading to Silas’ jeep jumping into the front seat to wait. A few minutes later he comes out closing the door behind him tiredly walking over to the jeep and jumping in. He turned the car on the radio came on to some pop song which I didn’t mind and soon we were off onto the road. I breathed in deeply in an anxious way I can’t believe I am going to be late on my first day I thought to myself. We got closer to the school when he suddenly pulled into a gas station and got out. What the hell is he doing, I’m going to be late for school. I thought to myself as he shut the door going inside the gas station I laid my head on the back of the seat in an annoyed way. He knew I needed to get to school because I was late and now I am going to be even more late because he needed to stop. It was 7:30am when he came out of the gas station carrying a cup with likely coffee in it impatiently waiting for him to get back in the car. I hate the fact I was going to be late on my first day of school it was already going to be awkward being the new girl….now it’ll just be even more awkward. Silas got in the car again it felt like he was intentionally moving slower than normal in order to mess with him and irritate me. Which it was working.
I arrived at the front of the school at 7:33am all that was going through my mind was pretending to fake sick so I wouldn’t have to go in. But sadly I couldn’t as Silas would definitely know as he tried to pull this stuff on our parents when he went to high school. I breathed in while looking out the window to the school front steps the rain lightly hitting the concrete floor which began to form a small puddle. I opened the door trying my best to avoid the huge puddle forming below my side of the car. I got out turning towards the car to grab my backpack sticking my tongue out at Silas. I closed the car door then began the journey to the school when I heard the audible music from Silas’ car.
“Have a fun day at school Bella.” He yelled from the car as he sped off.
I quickly made my way into the school to see a semi-empty main lobby with a few students trickling out into different hallways. I grabbed my schedule looking at it to find my homeroom, Mr. Quinton Storks room 214. Great, now the only issue is finding that room. I thought to myself looking down at the confusing map the school gave me few weeks before we actually moved. Even though I read through the map and handbook it was just as confusing being in the school. I looked down at the map not really paying attention to my surroundings besides the room number I ended up bumping into someone. Dropping my backpack as well as my map and schedule as I hit the hard body I quickly apologized before grabbing my things except for the map. As I was about to grab it a hand came out grabbing it the hand belonged to a guy who looked about my age. The guy was wearing a dark blue beanie with his dark brown hair curling around the front of the brim on his face was semi-thick black glasses and a mole on the left side of his face inches away from the corner of his lip. He smiled at me brightly before looking over at the map.
“You’re new right?”
“What gave that away.” I awkwardly joked.
“Well, your holding the school’s horribly drawn map and you have that look of a newbie.”
“You caught me I’m new.”
“I’m Michael and I’d be happy to be your tour guide of Port Angeles High. Though student council should do that for you.”
“I’m Annabel.”
“Nice to meet you.”
We continued talking well in actuality Michael did most of the talking as we walked through the halls eventually another person joined us, a girl. She had pale almost ghostly white skin with heavy black eye shadow, her hair was short in the back with the side a little longer than the edges went over to her neck and bangs in front. She seemed to be Michael’s close friend though they were total opposites as Michael seemed more extroverted and preppy while his friend was introverted and goth.
“Annabel, this is my friend Reenie our high school’s ‘vampire’ though not sure why she isn’t in her coffin right now.”
“Wait, is she actually a vampire?” I asked.
“No, just a nickname a few…. ‘Nice’ people gave her.”
“Hi, Annabel.” Reenie said in a laid-back tone.
“Hi.”
We walked into homeroom which I was lucky we had the same homeroom together or else I’d be screwed about my next few classes. Which since it was a Friday I would be having my first day of gym which I wasn’t looking forward to whatsoever. Talking with Michael and Reenie learning that I had a few other classes with them such as gym. I also got some information about other people at school through Michael who seemed to like to have a new person to gossip with. He seemed eager to talk to me more as the bell for first period suddenly rang checking my schedule to see my first period was World History class. I wasn’t really into stuff like that mainly because I found it boring though the subjects I did like were more on a creativity matter. Reenie had that class with me so I followed her to the next class though she barely spoke more than one word to me I didn’t mind it. I also felt like I could relate to her more especially with me also being introverted and quiet. We quietly walked around the large crowds of kids rushing through the hallways nobody even noticing us as we went inside the classroom. The rest of the class went on as normal though halfway through I felt myself falling asleep halfway through by the teacher monotone voice. Luckily no one caught me falling asleep even though I felt like I was likely snoring.
The bell rang loudly which caused me to jolt up finally getting me to wake up I hate sleeping in class but the teachers voice was so boring and monotone I couldn’t help it. I stood up grabbing my backpack along with my things before leaving the class I couldn’t find Reenie which was a bad sign. I didn’t know where the hell I was going except for a room number and the teachers name. Which was American Literature with Mrs. Lyon though I still would have trouble finding the room so I just began walking down the hallway looking at the numbers. I was basically a deer in headlights trying to find this room feeling my chest begin to tighten as well as feeling like there was a huge weight on my chest. I was trying my hardest to get any air into my lungs as panic set in that I was lost.
“You lost?” A voice said behind me.
“Y-yes.” I said turning around to see a guy who was taller than me with shoulder length black messy hair that looked like he just got out of bed.
“I could tell where are you headed?”
“Um….” I stammer looking down at my schedule.
“Mrs. Lyons.” I finally managed to mutter out.
“Luckily for you that’s where I’m headed, just follow me.”
I nodded then followed this strange guy down the almost empty hallway with a few people still there then up the stairs to the second floor stopping in front of an open door with a cutout of a clip art lion on it. He smiled at me as he went inside I followed behind to see an almost full class I took a seat in the back to see that the strange guy was next to me. Class began a minute later it went on as normal too though this teacher was more energized and engaging with the class. The class was more of an introduction of what to come as it was the second day of the school year which helped lessen the newbie feel for me. Mrs. Lyons welcomed me as the new student luckily I didn’t have to stand up in front of the class and tell them my personal history. She gave me a packet that introduced who she was as well as the syllabus and a reading journal for our free time. She went on to tell everyone about next weeks lessons which we’d be reading Romeo and Juliet. By reading she meant acting it out which was something I hated especially the whole being in front of a lot of people and acting. Though we’d have to read a little bit of it and ‘Audition’ for a part which I was hoping to not get a role and to just listen. It wouldn’t be the first time reading this book and likely wouldn’t be the last. I looked around the class at the others in front of me, one was a boy who sat in front of me. He had short dark brown hair seemed pretty tall though he didn’t speak in class. The boy turned around to grab his bag when his eyes met mine he had hazel eyes and clean shaven smiling at me. He turned back around grabbing his bag as the class bell suddenly rang I got up as did others even the boy in front of me.
“You’re new here right?” He asked with a semi-thick British accent.
“Yeah. Just moved here.”
“Nice me too well staying here temporarily.”
“Temporarily?”
“I’m a part of that exchange student program. I’ve been in the U.S. for about two-ish years.”
“I’m Annabel.”
“I’m Elliot.”
Elliot and I began talking as we headed out of class to the next class which I dreaded as it was gym he helped me figure out where the gymnasium was. Which was near the main lobby off to the side and led to a short hallway with two doors on either side. One said girl’s locker room the other said boy’s locker room and I headed into the girl’s side. The room smelled of a flowery strong perfume which I assumed was very different compared to the boy’s locker room. It wasn’t an unpleasant smell but it was too strong and almost nauseating but I held my breath as I walked in. Most of the girls were already in gym uniforms which consisted of dark green and white shorts and t-shirt with the school logo on the chest. The room felt stuffy with all the girls in one area as well as loud as multiple conversations were going on at once felt like I was stuck inside a small windowless room with speakers of people talking overlapping each other.
I breathed in a little as I squeezed through the tight wall of girls hanging around the lockers and bench and made my way through to the back sitting on the bench. I never managed to get my gym uniform while all the other students had theirs from previous years. I didn’t know what to do looking around to find any gym teacher that I could talk to. I guess my eyes looked worried because I saw a girl come up to me with a warm smiling on her face. She had a slight tan to her skin with long blonde hair blue-green eyes and light freckles on her cheeks and nose. She sat next to me wearing a uniform that comfortably fit her body as well as a necklace that hung around her neck with gold lettering that spelled out Melanie on it.
“Hey, you’re new right?”
“Yeah I am.” I awkwardly said.
“I’m Melanie.”
“I’m Annabel.”
“Oooh pretty name. Welcome to Port Angeles High. As Head Cheerleader I’d love to help you however I can.”
“Thanks.”
“First things first…. Let’s get you a uniform.”
She reached out her tan hand out to me her nails were oval shaped and painted pastel pink with a white strip along the bottom of it. I took her hand immediately getting pulled from the bench and almost dragged through the crowds of girls. We reached an open doorway with Coach Mable on the front in black lettering inside was a small almost stuffy feeling office room. The room was empty but Melanie dragged me in before letting go of my hand and searching through the bins. Grabbing a clipboard with a small stack of papers attached to it. I stood there wondering what she was doing but she was looking at the papers attentively her eyes moving side to side then down through the pages.
“What size are you?” She asked.
“Um...3xl.”
“Ok…..” She skimmed through the paper till she found what she was looking for. “Here we go, let me just get these.”
She turned around towards the bins that were in a type of shelving unit each had a size number tape to the bin, one side was tops the other was shorts. She came back a few seconds later handing me the clothes with a friendly warm smile on her face. I wasn’t used to a popular girl being nice to me yet alone a cheerleader. It was a nice change of pace compared to my last high school where I was bullied relentlessly by the queen bitch there, Ashlin. I was happy to be away from her torment those days worrying when she was going to strike at school only made my anxiety worse overtime. I come back to reality to see I was alone in the office. I quickly walked out going straight for the bathroom and into one of the stalls as I’d rather change in privacy than a million eyes on me. I came out of the bathroom dressed in the slightly tight-fitted gym uniform most of the girls were gone leaving a few behind. Melanie was one of them, as well as a few other girls who seemed to be here friends I was introduced to them briefly by Melanie but with all the new name I had forgotten them. Though my memory was always fuzzy about remembering names of people I’d barely see. Which was a disadvantage when distant family would come over and I’d have to play pretend.
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