<ANELIESE>

Today's the day. My first day of school in Brooklyn, New York. I'm riding a subway for the first time in my life in order to get to school. It's very anticlimactic; I expected it to be more... I don't know, more fun, I guess. That's not even really a good word for what I expected but, oh well.

I will bet you my life savings that all the other kids in school will spell my name wrong. It's Aneliese. A-N-E-L-I-E-S-E. I never knew that there were so many wrong ways to spell my name. Some people spell it Annaliese, others spell it Annalise, still others, Analeese... I'm sure you get the point.

The subway just made its first stop. For me, it's the only stop between where my house is and where school is. People start to file in. Adults, more adults. A couple old, but active people. A boy. About my age. He's sat himself directly across from me. He just looked at me... I don't know if he gave me the stink eye or if he was checking me out. Oh gosh, he's taking out a spiral notebook and writing in it. It's the exact same as mine. Are you serious? That's my thing!

Whatever. He probably won't get off at the same stop as me anyways. And even if he does, I doubt we'd go to the same school. Just another guy—that's what he is. Another teenage guy riding the subway.

Okay. The subway's getting to my stop in a minute. I'll stop writing now. I'll catch you at lunch, Mr. Notebook.

-•-

<JONATHAN>

So, get this. I just got on the subway and there was a girl sitting in my spot. In MY spot. Can you believe that? Literally everyone that rides this subway in the morning knows that that's MY spot. Has been for the two years since I was a freshman. Oh, and, another thing—she's got a red spiral notebook, identical to mine, and she's writing in it. I've never seen her in my life, but talk about a copycat!

Anyways. She's probably not even going to the same place I am. Even if she is, I don't think we'll have any classes together. At least, I hope not. I already don't like her.

The subway's stopping. I may or may not write more after school.

•-••

<ANELIESE>

I made it through the day so far. I'm currently alone at a lunch table on what appears to be the Outer Rim of the lunchroom. I don't mind; I prepared myself for this. For the new-kid solitude.

That boy from the subway actually ended up going to this school, too. We have three morning classes together. His name's Jonathan Butler. I didn't mention it this morning, but he's pretty good-looking. Well... if I'm being perfectly honest, he's like on-fire hot. He's got light brown Andrew Garfield-like hair, amber eyes, and a perfectly symmetrical and completely blemish-free face. Not to mention, he's got the perfect amount of stockiness. He's buff, but not ripped. He looks practically flawless.

He doesn't seem to be popular. He only really talks when the teacher calls on him. His head's always cast towards the floor. Even when his head's up, he looks pensive, lost in his own reverie.

To me he seems like that one mysterious kid every high school has. At least he has friends. Unlike me, he's at a Mid Rim table that's filled with other boys.

I guess it doesn't matter. Let's get back to my life. Chorus was third period. There are some amazing singers in the sophomore class, but when they made me sing, they were blown away. That's not even me being cocky. Jaws were on the floor, faces were the epitome of dumbfoundedness, and it was so silent after I finished that you could hear a pin drop. That is, until the teacher started clapping. Soon, most of the other students did, too. Some started whooping and hollering. With the notable exception of the girl who's apparently hailed as chorus queen—Nevaeh Spain. She just stared daggers at me.

Of course, having already made an "enemy" isn't helping my social anxiety. I'm as much of a trainwreck as ever—my hands and feet are ice, even though my palms are sweaty. I'm fidgety, my thoughts are playing the Worst-Case-Scenario Game, and I'm on edge. If that's not anxiety, please, someone tell me what is.

The rest of my classes were okay. As I predicted, all the people who had to spell my name did it wrong. Called it.

I have gym next period. It's the most dumb class arrangement ever. I wonder how many people this year will throw up in gym because they literally only just finished their lunch. I can tell you one thing—I'll probably be one of them.

The oddest thing happened just now. After I wrote that last paragraph, I glanced up to Jonathan's table to find him staring at me. Creep! I don't like him and it's bad enough I'll probably have to ride the subway with him everyday... now I have to deal with him looking at me too. I hate it when people look at me in general, but with this guy I especially don't like it and I have no idea why.

I change subject a lot. I just realized that. Oh well, this is my notebook, and I can do whatever the hell I want in it.

I didn't pack much lunch today. I made small cracker sandwiches with ham and cheese in them. They look like those French appetizers they give out at parties that are really small. I forgot what they're called. Hors-d'oeuvres, I believe.

I think I get it now. There's like this weird social hierarchy at this school. At my last school we were all just... kids. We had the same amount of popularity, in essence, and everyone knew everyone. Here, just judging by this cafeteria, there's the Inner Rim crowd (populars), the Mid Rim crowd (people you wave at in hallways) and the Outer Rim crowd (the ones like me, invisibles).

I feel bad. That's the only Star Wars reference I've made all day.

Note to self- bring a lens cleaning cloth for my glasses tomorrow. They're very smidge-y.

The bell just rang. I'll write on the subway back home and tell you if I puked my brains out in gym or not. Catch ya later, Mr. Notebook.

-•-

<JONATHAN>

Much to my chagrin, Ms. Subway-Spot-Stealer did indeed end up going to my school. She's in five of my glasses. FIVE. I think the only good thing about that is that I found out her name. (That may not even be a good thing, actually.) It's Annalise Moss. (I'm not sure if I spelled that right but honestly, I don't care if I did or didn't.) I guess she's pretty. She's got voluminous curly brown hair with matching brown eyes. She's also got bushy eyebrows, partially concealed by a pair of large, nerdy black glasses. She's got braces too, but—and I hate to admit this—they make her look cuter in a nerdy way.

I'm currently on the subway. I'm not going home, though. I'm going to one of my favorite cafes in Brooklyn. It's a tradition I have. After the first day of school, and also every Friday after school, I go over there to just kinda wind down.

Annalise is still sitting in my spot. I don't know which stop she gets off at, but I really hope that she's not going to my cafe. She already stole my spot on the subway and my notebook-writing thing; I can't have her stealing my happy place too.

I think instead of bothering to do my homework tonight, I'll watch a movie. It's been awhile since I've watched Pacific Rim. Maybe I'll watch that tonight.

Wesley just texted me. He asked if I was going to do anything on Friday night. Said some girl's throwing a party.

Honestly, I'm thinking it's just gonna be pointless. Most of it is anyways.

I get that I'm a closed-off person. That happens when you watch your brother, your best friend, die right in front of your eyes. It happens when your dad leaves almost as soon as something like that happens. I believe it's called PTSD.

I think I should just get a shirt made. It'd say, "I've got issues. Stay away from me." Maybe to make it less depressing I'd put a radioactivity symbol on it. Maybe a biohazard symbol? I think that's what I'll do. (That is, if I feel like going to the shirt-making store in the mall anytime soon. I doubt I will.)

My stop's coming up. It's the last one before the subway goes out into Manhattan. The girl, Annalise, must've missed her stop, because no one from our school lives in Manhattan. We're all residents of Brooklyn.

Wait, maybe she's getting off at my stop...?

God, I hope she doesn't.

I've gotta go now. Subway's about to stop. I'll keep you posted on the girl.

•–••

<ANELIESE>

I decided not to go home. Thought I'd go do my minuscule amount of homework in the courtyard of the Metropolitan Museum down in Manhattan. Even before I moved here, I always found the hustle and bustle of the city to be oddly relaxing.

That boy from earlier, Jonathan, didn't get off at his stop. He's currently still on the subway, writing in his own red notebook. I haven't spoken a word to him, nor has he to me, but I don't think he's the type of boy that'd be pleasant to talk to.

But gosh, he's gorgeous. He just ran his fingers through his hair, and it looked great before, but now, even in a messy state, it's ravishing. His hair is amazing. He's so handsome, but I don't ever plan on telling him that.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not crushing on him. I just met the guy. Hell, I haven't even really met him. I just ride the subway with him. I've never spoken a word to him, nor do I intend to. You should never like someone just because they look good. That's one of my rules. I'm not breaking it anytime soon.

Wait, he looked at me again. Gave me the stink eye.

Yeah. I don't like him.

Anyways. Moving on. My afternoon classes went well. I didn't throw up in gym. Thank the Maze.

That's the first time I've said "thank the Maze" all day. Gosh, my sci-fi-geekiness is not bringing it today. I've only made references to Star Wars and Maze Runner. That's pitiful.

Back to what I was saying. After gym I had biology, and after biology I had English Lit. English Lit is the last class of the day. Five periods in the morning, three in the afternoon. Eight total.

Did I mention? Five of them are with Subway Boy. Sucky. Majorly sucky.

Why do I keep going back to this boy? I don't even like him. It's honestly, like, so perplexing. I can't even.

Okay. So. I've established that although I like the city, I miss the way things worked back home. I miss my friends. Angie texted me yesterday. Said she wasn't surprised things were pretty much the same without me. She tells me that Dustin got over me as soon as I left. That Liz took my place as "nerd queen." Says that she misses me. Then she sent me a rude meme.

Geez. She sure knows how to make someone feel good. But she is... was... my best friend. I guess it's just what you do with an ex best friend.

I wonder if Angie was telling the truth about Dustin. I never really wrote in here while I was with him. He was someone I thought I loved. Ripped my freaking heart out, that's what he did. Always told me I was the one after what happened. That he still loved me oh so much. I never believed him. Glad I didn't, if what Angie said is true.

The sad part is, I never really got over him.

Subway Boy is getting off now. Last stop before Manhattan. Wonder where he's going.

Scratch that. I really don't wonder.

I've never been to the Met Museum. I'm not going inside it today. I don't think I have time to. But I want to soon. I've seen photos of the courtyard in the front. Looks nice. I feel like it'll be calming.

I'm getting lonely lately. I don't know. Maybe I miss the feeling of being pined after. Maybe it's just that feeling that all teenagers get, of wanting to be loved. I don't know what it is, but I am getting lonely. I want someone to love me.

That scares me. I don't believe in love.

Although, being realistic, what are the chances that I ever meet a guy who actually loves me? Slim. Almost none. I think my unbelievingness will end up being well-founded.

This is my stop. I'll write when I get home.

•

<JONATHAN>

Don't get me wrong. I love this cafe. But personally, I'd prefer they play alternative music as opposed to this folk-indie mix stuff. Like, is there a special music station that department stores and small cafes use? Because I swear, I don't know a single one of the songs they're playing. I don't think I've ever met a single person who does.

Did my homework. Wasn't hard at all, especially since it's the first day. Almost nothing. Just a math quiz to determine how "advanced" I am. I probably flopped.

I wonder where that girl lives. Obviously not in Manhattan. Manhattan has its own school districts. She must live somewhere in Brooklyn. She was on the train before me, so she lives farther outward than me, I think.

Why am I expending valuable mental energy thinking about a girl that I'm pretty sure I despise? Makes no sense.

School. Let's write about that. I've slipped farther down the social ladder, it seems. I've got no problem with that. I wanna be as close to invisible as I can. That's not easy, considering I was the most popular guy in middle school. I now have to make a concerted effort to make it seem that at any given moment I could grow spikes like a cactus.

I see girls sending me not-so-subtle glances all the time. Can't they see I don't want them? I wish they could see that. At least the new girl isn't throwing herself at me. I hope she doesn't start sometime soon.

Mom just called. Said she's coming home late, around one. I won't mind. I'll be fast asleep, I don't care. She won't wake me up.

Besides. It gives me time to do random stuff. I think I'll get a few pastries and walk down to the Promenade. I could sit on a bench and write about the people that walk by. The study of tourists, residents, and couples who visit the Brooklyn Promenade.

The Promenade's a bit of a walk from here but I don't mind. I've got time. Just put in some earbuds and pressed shuffle on my universal playlist. Finally I've got my alt music playing.

As I said, I'll write when I get there.

•

<ANELIESE>

So I've just finished my homework. As I predicted, the street life around the courtyard here at the Met has been actually very calming. Got my first Manhattan street hot dog. I don't like hot dogs, but I gotta admit, I do really like the ones in Manhattan now.

Fifth Avenue is right here. I figure I'll go walk down until I get to the Empire State Building and then catch a subway back to Brooklyn. I've got until 7:30 that I can be out. It's 5:20 now. I got time to kill.

So I'm writing while I'm walking. Sorry if my handwritings getting squiggly. Or like slanted or whatever. Walking through these streets actually feels safe, believe it or not. A teenage guy just checked me out. Creep. (The thing I said about feeling safe totally contradicted the creep guy. Haha. He's already gone so my feeling of safety has returned.) Some girls walked by whispering and giggling. Laughter sometimes rings through the streets. Usually, it's construction that does that. Shops and construction areas line the sidewalks.

I've walked a couple of blocks by now. It's nice with Central Park right next to me. I've got greenery on my right and New York on my left. Taxis dot the streets, and I think their color is very fitting for them. I mean, imagine if New York taxis were like, neon green. How different would that be? Or like, if the taxis were sky blue. It'd be so weird.

Or maybe not... I mean if they'd always been green or blue then we'd be used to that. And thinking about them being yellow would be weird.

Does that make sense? It makes sense to me.

I've walked another couple blocks. Some pet owners are walking their dogs and they're all so cute!! I have to restrain myself from stopping and touching them. I know the Empire State Buildings a few miles away so I don't wanna waste time or anything. I think when I get to the end of Central Park I'll put my notebook away and put my earbuds on instead.

I'm passing a coffee shop. I'm tempted to go get something but I have a mission. Get to the Empire State Building. At least I wrote it down.

WAIT!! That's what I'll do! I'll write down places that I see that I want to go! Starting now.

A coffee shop: 5 blocks from the Met Museum.

There are lots of pigeons here. I didn't really notice that until now. Is that weird? There are pigeons literally everywhere. They're funny little things. I was just observing one. He made me want to laugh like a madman just because of the way he walked.

Another block down. It's 5:53 now. Either I'm a slow walker or this is normal. Is it normal to have done 6 blocks in 30 minutes? Bear in mind, I've been trying to write as well. That's probably slowing me down a bit.

I haven't seen any interesting shops in the last block. There'll probably be something soon.

There are a lot of bus stops. When I get to the Empire State Building, I think I'll have expended so much energy that I'll catch a bus to the nearest subway stop.

Took a short break to jog a block. Didn't see any interesting shops.

A group of hot teenage guys just passed me. I don't know if I wanted one of them or if it made me more of a disbeliever in love.

Sometimes a jogger passes me up with music coming out of their phone. Pop seems to be a common trend among them. I'm more into alternative.

Another couple of blocks down. No interesting shops. Plenty of street vendors, but I'm not sure if they're a full time thing or not. I know they're always there but I don't know if there's a rotating cast of them or not.

6:14 now. Another block. Passed a bus stop. I was tempted to just stop and go wait for the bus.

God I feel like I've been walking for ages. I probably haven't done much. I need to get myself used to this. I mean, it's part of being a New Yorker isn't it?

Yet another block with nothing interesting.

Gotta keep going.

Gotta keep going.

Let's do this.

I wore the right shoes, I know that. My cushiony Adidas were perfect for this. Thank goodness I wore them.

Two more blocks, down. Nothing interesting. Maybe this wasn't worth it.

Ugh, whatever. Either I'm too lazy to turn around or I'm too stubborn to stop.

Jogged another block. Still nothing.

Passed a group of girls. One gave me the stink eye. Like, what the heck did I ever do to her to make her give me the stink eye?

Some people make no sense. She reminded me of Subway Boy Jonathan.

Let's not talk about him. He's not worth it.

One more block. Condos and apartments, no shops at all. That's new! First block of JUST condos I've seen during my walk. How many blocks have I walked...? Y'know, I'm too lazy to check. I'll count it out later.

Just stopped at a street vendor who was selling skateboards. Bought myself a longboard. I've got a couple boards at home but I doubt I'll be able to walk the whole way. Not my wisest investment, I know, but I doubt I'll regret it.

Gone two blocks more. I must admit, I'm going at a much better pace with my new longboard. My longboard at home is of better quality but this'll do. I kinda like it.

I know what you're thinking. How are you writing while skateboarding?

I had practice in a safer, more suburban environment back home. It took months and months before I could do it without falling.

Two more blocks. Nada. There's a bank in the upcoming corner. Looks boring, like all other banks. I don't know, I just thought New York banks would look cooler... cause well, they're in New York....

They don't.

Finally got to the end of Central Park. It's 6:36 now. Hate to break it to you, Mr. Notebook, but I gotta put you away so I can make it to the Empire State Building ontime.

•

<JONATHAN>

So I'm at the Promenade. I used my impressive combination of pessimism and cynicism to steal the bench of a couple who were PDA-ing too much.

I don't feel bad about what I told them. I said, "You two will never get through your honeymoon phase. I can tell just by the way you're kissing each other. I've been told that you can really tell when a couple is in true love. I ain't getting that from you two. I doubt you actually love each other."

The girlfriend had to drag the boyfriend away before he threw a punch at me. I wouldn't have minded. I could've taken him. He wasn't even close to buff, unlike me.

So I got my preferred bench. A girl—college student, by the looks of it—is sitting at the rail, probably contemplating life. She has that look on her face.

A middle aged guy's walking a very small dog.

A girl in her late twenties is jogging.

Guy in the grade above me is skateboarding by with a friend of his.

Family of tourists taking a panoramic pictures of Manhattan, across the river.

Girl in the grade below me with a camera, taking photos. She just tried to take a photo of me. I flipped her off and she gave me a disgusted look. I would too if I were her, but I'm not.

Gosh I wish people would leave me alone. People are always trying to talk to me and honestly, it irks me. I mean, I get that you can't tell what I've been through just by looking at me, but still. I need to develop some kind of strategy to help me shut people out.

A girl who looks about my age just sat down next to me. She scooted closer just now, making me scoot away. God, now she's coming closer. Can't she take a hint? Read social cues?

I was forced to switch benches when she tried to put her hands around me.

Oh my god I have to go now.

•––

<ANELIESE>

6:38//Apple store: one block after Central Park

6:41//Ice cream parlor: three blocks past Central Park

6:57//ADIDAS STORE: THIRTEEN BLOCKS PAST CENTRAL PARK

7:09//Pizza: 5th and 42nd intersection

7:13//More ice cream: two blocks past 42nd

7:20//Arrived at the Empire State Building.

Don't have time to go in today. Currently skating to a subway station a couple blocks away.

7:30//Passed my curfew.

7:34//In the subway now.

7:41//Dad texted. Said he'll be late because he got stuck in traffic in the Lincoln Tunnel. Said he called the Dep of Transportation people and they said it should take an hour and a half to clear up.

So I've got time. Figure I'll walk along the Promenade since I live less than ten blocks away from it.

I'm just gonna stop writing now. This subway is oddly calming.

––•

<JONATHAN>

Back home now. Had to leave the Promenade because that girl that tried to sit next to me got up when I left and sat next to me again. When she did, she tried making some... advancements... and so I left.

It's 7:50 now. I think I'll put on a movie. I'm thinking Ocean's Eleven. Abandoned by Pacific Rim idea like 15 minutes ago.

Just turned on the television. As it turns out, Ocean's Twelve is on. So I guess I'll watch that instead. It is still an Ocean's movie after all.

My brother loved Ocean's movies....

I should stop talking—I mean, writing—about it. I'm gonna watch the movie now. I'll write on the subway tomorrow morning.

––•

<ANELIESE>

So I fell asleep on the way back to Brooklyn and missed my stop by four stations.

I'm currently skateboarding to a bus stop. I'm 24 blocks away from home and it's 8:05. The sky's all dark because the sun retired early, at around 6-ish.

So I found my bus stop. Got on the bus. Sat in the very back row. I'm now watching Brooklyn go past me in a slight blur. Taxis and tourists line the streets. Shops and restaurants. Clothes stores and medical practices. Everything from A-Z, you can find in New York City.

Broadway's playing Hamilton, according to a sign atop a passing taxi. I haven't been. Haven't had the opportunity to acquire tickets. I've heard they're very hot. A kid at my old school had to wait a whole year to see the play, just because everything before was booked out.

I figure I'll wait til it dies down. Gosh, I hope no one spoils anything for me.

I need to write down places I wanna go here in Brooklyn, too. However, I'm trying to tackle one thing at a time. I'll map down Brooklyn's hot spots once I get through with Manhattan's. After that, I dunno. Maybe Queens. But I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Gosh. It's only 8:07 and I'm sleepy. Maybe it's cause my joyride on 5th street drained most of my day's energy.

These streets are so lively. Even the back streets have got activity in them. I feel like New York is a happy place. It makes me happy, at least. It looks as if it makes many other people happy too. I see laughter through windows and smiles inside of restaurants. Young couples pulling each other through the streets, smiling and laughing.

I'm gonna be as happy as everyone else someday. I should be, especially here.

Bus is finally pulling up at the stop closest to my house. Gosh, I spent a lot of time looking out the window of the bus is already here. 8:17... go figure.

I think I'll hit the hay early. I'll write in the morning. Night.

–

A/N

So!!! I want feedback! Constructive criticism is very welcome.

How d'you like the way the story is told through notebook entries? I like it. It's unique. 

What're your first impressions of Aneliese and Jonathan? Which of the two do you like more??

Gosh I'm asking a lot of questions. I'll stop now.

Any support you give is VERY appreciated!! Thank you so much for reading!!

~Alex