"OLIVIA!"
Fuck. Monday already.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUlWdBBd26
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The past couple of days had been spent with the three of us unpacking as much as we could as everything arrived from New York. The weekend had gone by way too fast and I was not looking forward to my first day.
"OLIVIA."
I can hear her voice clearly now as her footsteps echo across the hallway and my door flings open in a haste.
"I heard you. "I groan dramatically.
She huffs and grabs the boxes by my door. "I told you to break these down, Olivia."
"I know. I'm sorry."
I can tell that she's already been hard at work. Her messy, dark hair in a sloppy bun and clinging to beads of sweat on her forehead. The woman never stops until the job is done.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWcY494kDS
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I watch from the corner of my eyes as she grabs a few more boxes and storms out of the room again.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0z7ps4vtT
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I turn my attention to the only clean and matching clothes I can find at the moment and grab my cellphone from the nightstand.
4 new text messages.
I click the newest one and scroll down.
Gooood mooorrrning! It's Kimberly. Are we still walking together?
Seems you are still asleep. :( Meet me at the school entrance? 7:30
You sleep a lot! I thought I slept too much. 810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrMPW7dI9k
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Well, text me soon! <3
I can already tell she'll be a handful.
I finished up doing what I could to make myself look presentable and rush down the stairs to grab my bag and head out the front door.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSUUKli6lv
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The California sun is already beating down on me and I am not looking forward to my morning walk.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04xtHp9udl
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Thankfully, my dad had picked a house close to the school and even a cute shopping outlet just 10-15 minutes down the road walking. It didn't seem like it would be so bad but I knew it would take time to adjust.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoOpe3koHF
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After a while, I noticed a Westview High sign perched at the edge of a lawn and caught several buses turning into the school parking lot.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTdqXBrZLs
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Several students rushed from the buses and piled inside as the first warning bell rang.
It didn't look so bad and honestly took me by surprise. The grass was a bright green and kept short. Several palm trees and shrubs littered the courtyard.
"Olivia!"
I glance up towards the familiar voice and see Kimberly waving me down.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmHcfMMDyF
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She hurries over to me and I immediately catch the scent of floral perfume. Her dark hair is braided and she's wearing a very tight maxi dress that is tie-dyed bright colors.
"Wow! You're so pretty up close. Look at those eyes." Kimberly compliments and smiles at me.
"T-thank you," I stammer out. "So are you."810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2F89BTi6e
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"What's your first class?"
I hand her my schedule for her to read over.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yty0lx2QF
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"Awesome, we have first hour English and Algebra together 7th hour."810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LatPcPooE
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I smile a bit at her, feeling relieved to know I'd at least have someone I knew in two of my classes.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUk8oZ3hEx
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The two of us hurry down the hallway together and I feel the nerves hit me like a wave. The students around us seem to just pile up by the minute. How the hell do people move around in halls like this?!810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6W6kb5b4I
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Kimberly grabs me by the elbow and steers the both of us towards the side of the hall. "Locker?"
"302"
She laughs, "You're so lucky."
"Why?"
"I'm 315 so I can take you right to it after this class."
I nod and take a deep breath before she leads us back into the crowd. Our first hour is a lot closer than I had expected but I was just relieved to get out of the mass of people trying to not be late.
"Miss?"
Shit. Of course.
I look up towards the voice speaking from the front of the room and find a plump, middle-aged woman standing there with a nameplate that reads "Mrs.Davidson." She has kind eyes and a soft smile fills her face.
"I'm sorry,"I apologize and glance at my feet. "I'm Olivia Moore."
"Welcome, Olivia! So glad to have you. Feel free to grab an empty seat."
I hurry over to the closest empty spot I can locate and try to keep my eyes away from all of the curious stares.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEURs9JsFop
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Mrs. Davidson jumps right into the previous day's lecture which gives me an out to focus on my sketches.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFPiqa7ocT
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I decide to come up with a concept on how I'm feeling. A silhouette of a girl who is living between two worlds.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtl89Euv48
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One is familiar. That world makes her happy and safe. Her friends are there and so are her dreams.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nDOUG7kLa
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The second is new and terrifying. She feels alone and impatient for it to end. Each day is unpredictable and she's starting over at such a weird time in her life.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzwAALDhJ8
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I watch my hand as I begin to trace out the image skillfully. Within minutes I can feel myself becoming wrapped up in the drawing before I feel a presence looming before me.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoV40PzaQ4
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"Olivia?"
I look up to see Mrs. Davidson beaming down at me.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuaozmFVtQ
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"We'd love to learn about you while we have a free moment. Do you mind introducing yourself to the class?"810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt8CITKyZn
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I fight back the annoyance building up in my throat and stand up so I can face the others. Kimberly gives me a thumbs up for encouragement.
I glance around the room briefly to take in all of the new faces before I prepare my introduction. Lots of faces stare back at me but there is one that catches me off guard.
Who is that...
He's beautiful and I swear he has been sculpted by Michelangelo himself.
His skin is a beautiful olive tone and almost seems to have a glow to it. I can't help but notice the sharpness of his cheekbones and the curve of his sculpted jaw.
He's staring back at me in the most intense way. His nearly pitch-black eyes seem to be drilling into me. Trying to figure out who I am.
His black hair falls loosely in front of his eyes and bushy brows. I watch for a moment as he leans into his desk and sees the edges of his muscular arms straining against the plain tee he has on.
After what feels like an eternity, I finally come back to reality and tear my eyes away from the beautiful stranger.
"My name is Olivia Moore. I'm from New York, but we made the big move here recently since my dad accepted a new job."
The class mutters back some half-assed greeting before Mrs. Davidson thanks me for my introduction and allows me to sit back down. I glance back over my shoulder and notice the boy from before focused on carving something into his desk with a pencil.
He doesn't look back up which to that I'm grateful. I use the rest of the class to try and focus on my art before the next bell finally rings.
The rest of the school day felt no different from English. I would give some dumb introduction and then bury my head in whatever lecture was going on or my artwork.
When the 7th bell finally sounded, Kimberly was eager to drag me out of the room and right into the hallway.
"Want to meet some friends?" She asks me.
"Sure," I responded awkwardly.
She smiles reassuringly and starts waving down some people walking towards us.
"Austin! Sierra!"810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wqMZaQqh0
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I watch as the boy and girl push through the crowd and make their way up to the two of us.
The blonde boy smiles first, "I'm Austin. Nice to meet you, Olivia. Kim has said great things."
I shook his hand and grin back. He's super cute.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWflKiX9GJd
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His hair is a golden blonde and in loose curls. He has a bit of a boyish appearance to him and the most gorgeous hazel eyes.
The girl next to him introduces herself as Sierra. She's super petite with a dark pixie cut and rainbow bands on her braces. Her voice comes out small and almost timid.
"It's so nice to meet you both!" I tell them and look up to catch a pair of familiar eyes watching me.
The boy from English class.
His long, tall body is leaning against a set of metal lockers and he has his arms crossed over his chest. An unlit cigarette hangs from in between his lips.
Kimberly catches my gaze and laughs.
"Alessio Romano."
"What?" I ask and look at her.
She rolls her eyes at me. "Alessio Romano. I see you undressing him with your eyes. He's gorgeous but from the rumors that fly around here, I wouldn't waste your time."
"What do you mean?"
Austin starts up," His family is known for being trouble. The Romano's are a really wealthy family and have a history of being dangerous."
I frown and look back towards Alessio again. He is still standing in the same spot but now conversing with a dark-haired girl and a man who looks like a moving brick wall he's so large.
I can't seem to pull myself away from his burning gaze. He watches me carefully as he pulls a lighter from his pocket and lights the cigarette right in the hallway.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHNl9UVaHG
Kimberly's voice chirps up and saves me from his pull.
"We should probably get going. My parents get cranky when I don't show up on time to help with my sister and I know you got a lot to do." She nudges me playfully.
"Of course." I grin at her and glance back to where Alessio was.
The spot against the metal locker now empty and lacking his presence along with the others with him.
I don't know his story, but a big part of me is eager to find out.
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