A/N: Hey everyone!! Just a little quick note before you begin the story, Evolet has some mindsets that aren't exactly right or healthy. They will evolve through the story, but be forewarned! Please vote, comment and save to your library if you like the story (: It helps me as a budding author. (Evolet pictured above)

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My makeup is simple, but my hand shakes aggressively right before I poke my eye with the mascara wand. "Damnit!" I slam the wand on the counter before splashing water onto my face from the faucet and then sticking a part of my face under it.

"Mija, Evie, it's almost time to go." Abuelita's voice wades into the bathroom as I aggressively rubbed at my face. I paused rubbing my face lightly with the towel I had grabbed off the hook.

"Yes, Abuelita, I'm almost done," I respond as I wipe my watering eyes, I look at myself in the mirror and run the towel under the faucet and proceed to wipe off the rest of my make-up. Simple eyeshadow accompanied with some eyeliner and some light lip gloss. I thought I looked pretty. Now, I just look like a slut. "What am I doing, I can't go out like this." I murmur to myself, my eyes still watering, although it wasn't from the attack on my eye from the mascara wand.

I set down the towel on the counter and raise my shirt above my head, and strip in front of the mirror. I stare at myself in the mirror, turning my body this way and that. I had gained weight, not a surprise. Ever since I quit the volleyball team back home in Michigan I hadn't exercised as much. I feel ugly, not just from this weight gain but from how I was no longer free.

My eyes tear up again, salty tears rolling down my cheeks. I held up my shirt, off the shoulder, bright floral pattern, my jeans were fitted and white.

How could I wear this? I couldn't. I'd just be asking for it again.

I open the trash can and drop the clothes in it, the closing of the trashcan was like a slam on my old way of dressing. But my old way of dressing was what got me into this mess, I should be happy I have this chance to change it. I reach for the set of clothes I had set out on the counter, as an option.

My large, navy blue hoodie that came to my knees with the words "Michigan Girl" in white across the front paired with a looser set of jeans. I look in the mirror, turning around. Any possible threatening skin was covered up, it felt different from what I used to wear. But then again, I'm different from what I used to be.

Today was going to be my first day back to school, I had only been in Florida for a few weeks but Abuelita assured me I'd be able to adjust to here. I doubt it, though. I didn't know much about the high school other than what was on their website. Spring Valley Central High School, general public high school in Florida with a beautiful academic program and talented athletes and an 95% graduation rate.

I step out of the bathroom, grabbing my shoes in the corner of my room. Brand new gym shoes, as if a pair of Nike's would somehow make up for sending me to the other side of the country in my mother's eyes. This is all for my benefit and yeah, I did want to leave Michigan ever since... I shook my head as I swung my backpack over my shoulder. I couldn't do this, not right now.

"Mija, " Abuelita calls once more. "Mira la hora." My Abuelita speaks in her native tongue. Look at the time. While I was half-Mexican from my father's side, I was never as immersed in Spanish as I was in Abuelita's house.

"Si, abuelita. Ya voy." I reply, lacing my shoes up before jogging down the stairs. I'm coming. My hair was loose, my hair flat-ironed from last night. It was easier to take care of this way not to mention I don't get a bunch of weirdos touching my hair. "Sorry," I apologize.

"No apologize, Evie. Come," My Abuelita bids as we walk out into the bright Florida sun, I immediately regret wearing my hoodie. This is definitely not Michigan, not at all. My grandmother never received her driver's license, but that didn't bother her. She preferred walking everywhere she went, anyways. It was a quiet walk, the school wasn't that far, just a block away. I thank the blessings of strong winds that provided relief from my hoodie entrapment. "¿Estás nervioso? " She asks. Are you nervous?

"Un poco," I murmur. A little. Her face she doesn't believe me, so I force out. "Pero, estoy emocianda a conocer mi compañeros de clases." I offer a small smile. But, I'm excited to meet my classmates.

"Hm." I look away, and see the school. It was incredibly large, it was a little larger than my school back home. Nobody was out, like us. No doubt it was already halfway through class and a check to my watch confirms my thoughts. Abuelita turns to me and hugs me, which was a sight to see: my 5'8 frame towering over her barely 5 foot one. "You be good." She tells me sternly as she lets go, reaching up to pinch my cheeks and I bend over to accommodate her.

"I will, Abuelita." I respond and she pats my cheek with a smile before hobbling off back home. I would be concerned for her, but from my past walks I learned that everyone knew and looked out for her in this town. Much different from my self-absorbed Michigan town who only looked to talk with you if they wanted something from you.

I turn back to the school, taking a deep breath before opening the wide doors and walking in. I walk towards the office, where I was told I had to pick up my schedule. Bright posters for Indigenous Heritage Month and NanoWriMo dot the walls of the school. The halls are empty, except for a few milling people, running around to their classes. The front office isn't difficult to find, practically a few feet from the entrance itself.

I walk into the front office, where a auburn-haired lady sits at a desk, typing furiously before glancing up at me. "Evolet Santorez?" She questions, pushing her glasses further up her nose. She chews some gum in her mouth before beckoning me forward after I nod. "I have your schedule right here, hun." She whips out a piece of paper from her folder before holding it out to me. 

I take the piece of paper gingerly before reading it. Trigonometry, AP English and Composition, AP US Government, Physics Honors, AP Stats, Economics, French 2.  Just looing at the schedule gave me a headache, the AP classes alone could make someone cry. "Um, are these my classes?" I ask holding up the paper. She stares at me for a long moment before nodding.

"Yes, hun. It may seem overwhelming but our placement tests indicate that those are the suitable classes for you."

"Is it possible to ... drop some of the AP classes?" 

"Yes, you could fill out a form. Although it would be better to start with those classes, you can always go down but it's much harder to work upwards." She frowns at the idea of possibly dropping AP classes.

I look at the schedule, it already seemed overwhelming. This is what the old Evie loved though, challenging herself with the hardest classes and showing off. The girl everyone admired and asked for help.

I nod before turning to leave the office, I would ask for lower classes later. The conversation was already making me want to recede into my mother called my "tortoise shell." 

"Wait, do you know where the classes are?" The office lady called before I could leave. "I already have someone who's going to help you get to your classes and accommodate to here." I freeze and already I begin to feel sick, the idea of having someone follow me around and show me where to go doesn't bode well with me. 

Before I could object though, a person walks into the office. Dark brown hair, green eyes, lean frame and a bright smile. Familiar bright smile. "Xander," the lady chirps from behind me, although I already knew his name. "You'll be showing Miss. Evolet where her classes are and around the school. You both are excused from your absences today so don't worry about that." The office phone rings and she picks it up, already moving on and chatting with the person on the other end.

"I'm Xander, obviously." He introduces himself with a smile showing off perfectly white, straight teeth. "It's nice to see you again, Evolet." His eyes scan over me and I shift, happy to be able to hide under my oversized sweatshirt. "And you are... dressed for Michigan and not Florida." He finished when I didn't offer my name, giving me a cheeky smile before pushing open the door for both of us and waiting for me to follow behind him. I'm frozen for a second, but I follow behind him.

He led me down one of the halls before asking, "So. what's your first class?"

"Trig," I mumble. "AP LA, AP Gov, Phys' Honors, AP Stats, Econ, and French 2. " 

He nods before pointing to a class on our left. "Trig, Mr. Stonesman. He's nice enough, you'll understand Trig by the end but you might have no more brain cells left to spare." 

He continues like that, showing me where all of my classes are, talking about the teachers for the ones he knew, for the ones he didn't he was plain about it. There was a small tension between the both of us, but I didn't know how to break it. How do you say, Hi, I haven't seen you since I was eleven. You haven't changed at all, but I'm a completely different person now? You don't. By the time we finish with all my classes he turns to me. "And that is Spring Valley," he spreads his arms out. "Any questions?" He frowns at my head shake before commenting, "You don't speak much anymore, do you?"

"Not really."

"Ah, for a moment I thought you were a mute. That's not the girl I remember. " He chuckles slightly but I don't join in, when he realizes I'm not he stops. "I can show you the sports section, we still have time to kill."

"What makes you think I still do sports?"

"Well, I am the soccer team captain so I thought I would show off a little." He flexes an arm before nodding towards my hand. No wonder his lean frame then... Xander looks like an athlete.  "Honestly though, your ring. Obviously, you've kept with volleyball."

I look sharply to my hand where a silver rang with volleyball designs carved into it glimmered plainly on my finger.  "Oh, I don't play anymore." I say before sticking my hands in my pockets, looking down at my feet. "Just wearing it out of habit."

"That's a shame, our volleyball team kinda sucks." He pauses before adding, "Not kinda actually, it's horrid. They could use someone like you." 

"Watch out!" A voice screams from behind me and quicker than lightening Xander grabs my arm and pulls me towards him as someone flies by on a skateboard right through where I was standing. His grip on my arm was strong and for a second I couldn't breathe. I quickly pried his fingers off my arm and step backwards, holding my arm to myself. Who even skateboards down the hallway?? 

"Are you okay?" 

"Y-yeah." I stammer, lying as I force my breathing to slow from the quickness it was going at. I started to feel sick again. My arm started to shake slightly even though I tried to steady it, he didn't mean anything by grabbing me. Hell, he was trying to keep me from getting run over by a crazy girl on a skateboard, but my mind still couldn't stop connecting the two events. Connecting this event to another that I didn't want to relive. "I'm fine."

"Okay. . ." Xander looks towards the watch on his wrist. "Hey, the next class is going to start and there are going to be a lot more of people skateboarding down the hallways, even if it is against the rules. I could lead you to your next class or I can show you around the school-"

"I'd like to head to my next class." I cut him off, before stopping. I didn't raise my face from my shoes. "Please."

"Sure thing," he nods. "Also Evolet, I know we haven't seen each other in forever-"

"I think I can find it." I shift from foot-to-foot. I didn't miss the disappointment when I didn't allow him to finish what he wanted to say. I know what he wanted to say, but I couldn't deal with it right now.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah.. thank you for the tour." I shoulder my bag before turning around and darting down the hall.