Before you start, here's the disclaimer:

I am not a native speaker so you could probably guess my writing, grammar, vocabulary, etc.

I think that's all. Thank you for viewing my story ❤️

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Chapter 1
The Return

"Two minutes. Two minutes because I'm feeling gracious and sorry for your overworking ass." Natalie stuck out two pointy fingers of hers, mainly to show off her new polished nails.

Her sleepy friend peeked one eye open and groaned, not even noticing the nails but the threatening fingers held to be count. "Fine, fine, I'll get up.. only if you leave first."

A lous gasp escaped Natalie as she eyed the drowsy girl in awestruck. "It's been what, a few weeks and you've forgotten our deal? I will be your fashion designer for this month, Megan. You will wear what I choose from my wardrobe to play your part of the deal."

Megan yawned, sitting upright and rubbed her face. "Whatever, but I'll need you to get out as soon as the shower stops working." She warned half-heartedly, not really paying attention to her friend's word and got off the tempting warm bed.

It was January, so as soon as her feet made contact with the floor, she hissed at the coldness and retracted it back, sitting on the bed for more warmth.

"How do I take baths? The floor is freezing cold," she sorrowfully said, pouting at her friend to gain sympathy and let her off for her first day.

Natalie rolled her eyes before tossing a pair of socks in her way. "Silly excuse, you know I'm ahead of the weather. Now off you go before I make you." She grinned at the sudden change of expression on her friend's face.

Megan rolled her eyes, "Fine, but don't expect me to be early."

Natalie grinned, "I won't."

-

It was true how she had expected, Megan only lasted a good six minutes before she came out of the shower shivering visibly. Natalie might have done something with the heater in the bathroom, but it's all for their sakes in order not to be punished on their first day.

Somehow, Megan hadn't protested at the choice of outfit given. It was nothing striking, only fancier than her usual outfits. Natalie handed her friend a matching coat and together they headed downstairs, being greeted by heavenly smell of pancakes and the lulling aroma of coffee.

Megan's eyes sparkled in joy, her mom must've did it under Nat's request.

"Finally you woke up! Thought Natalie might take decades to finally get your whale ass off the bed." Martha joked, earning a huff from her daughter and a giggle from her neighbor's daughter.

"Supposed to be like that if today weren't our first day of senior year." Natalie reminded, shooting the nice lady a toothy smile as they took their seats on the island's stools. Martha widened her eyes as her jaws hung open at the reminder.

"Heavens! How could I forget," she exclaimed as a palm was placed on her heart. "My babies are growing up."

Megan rolled her eyes, "Yeah mom, no. I'm not going to grow up and get married like you'd want me to. I am just not ready."

Her mom rolled her eyes as she turned her back on them, "I said nothing, alright."

"But you were thinking."

Martha sighed, "Fine."

The two went silent for a moment when Martha excused herself to the library after serving meals. Two contrasting expression were plastered on both faces as Natalie had a curious look on her face, while Megan held a disturbed look all the time.

The sound of metal clanking filled the odd silence and Natalie grew frustrated by it. Finally deciding to break the icy situation, she opened her mouth to speak when a car honking boomed in the neighborhood.

She clamped her mouth shut and watched as Megan hurriedly finished her meal and washed the dish. They soon grabbed their bags and headed out the door — Megan not bothering to bid her mom goodbye — and threw themselves in the car of Blake, another one of automatic neighbor-becomes-best-friend.

"Thought you were going to come late." Nat greeted, taking the front seat where she'd inhibited since day one.

Blake snickered, "It's you two that are always late. Megan, to be most exact." He added, turning on a corner.

"At least my sleeping schedule is alright. It's only fair I wake up late to balance it." She retorted at the sound of her name.

Natalie glanced at her friend and saw the disturbed look soon vanished when the radio was turned on. A melodious sound of Vampire Weekend floated in the air all the way to Beverly Highschool.

Upon their arrival, Natalie looked around and saw the school was crowded with various types of vehicles. She immediately spotted the many cliques of their highschool, some from the populars, the ‘badasses’, the athletes, the artists, the nerds, and her most favourite view.. the school's band.

Ryan Gardner, the bassist, had been her crush ever since freshman year. Brown hair, chocolaty eyes, charming smiles and magical hands — he was all she ever desired. Of course it's never her he would go after.

Natalie averted her gaze towards the other crowd to avoid getting caught staring. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat at the terrible choice of clothing the populars wore. Immediately, her eyes wandered around and finally saw an empty parking before pointing towards it to notify Blake.

He parked in after competing his way through three snitching cars. Turning off the engine, the three got out of the car and looked around, in hopes of finding their friends.

"Rachel is having her violin class." Megan read aloud the text she was given as they walked towards the entrance of the school.

"Jordan is meeting up with coach." Blake added, reading the text under Rachel's in their group chat.

"So that leaves Chloe and Oliver." Natalie concluded, glancing at her two friends and stopped in front of their lockers. "Where are they, actually?"

Megan shrugged, "Probably catching atoms or something. That boy is kind of predictable."

Blake hummed in thought and rolled his shoulders before stretching his arms. "Either way, I'm heading to class. Who has Chemistry as their first?" He asked, glancing at Megan expectantly and saw her groaned. Indeed he was correct.

"Well, Nat, what do you have?" Megan asked dreadfully, eyeing the girl. Nat checked the schedule on her phone and replied,

"Arts. Huh, not bad." Her lips pulled to a small smile at the subject.

Megan sighed heavily before patting her friend's back, "Lucky you. We'll get going. See you later."

"Bye Nat." Blake waved his hands before slinging them over Megan's shoulder, in which she complained and wailed about it.

Nat heaved out a loud sigh as their body disappeared from her sight. Looking around, she checked one last time in hopes of finding Chloe or Oliver, but none of them was present.

Natalie sighed for the umpteenth time and shoved her phone in her pocket. Standing up straight, she wandered around for a little bit before making her reluctant way towards Art. Natalie wasn't used to being alone since one of her friends would always occupy her in all classes, but this time they weren't around.

She slowed her steps once she was two classes away from Arts. Once arrived, she peeked a look at the front desk and saw no one, before proceeding to get inside and claim her seat as soon as possible.

The dark skinned girl made her way towards a seat in the farthest corner of the class, only to see her usual seat was claimed by a corn printed bag placed on the chair that was supposedly hers.

What the hell? She thought, looking around to search for any clue as to whose bag was on her chair. There was none, so she decided to snoop in the bag and find the name of the culprit.

Her hand was gripped on the zip when a familiar, pleasant voice rang in her ears.

"What are you doing?"