Chapter 1: When I Met Her
Freshman Year
When Ardyn Day met her best friend, it was the first day of school her freshman year, and she was silently congratulating herself on making it to class on time. A true miracle.
Ardy remembered looking up from her watch to see a girl in a cowboy hat walk inside. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a messy braid, and she was wearing jean shorts and a checkered red shirt.
Her bright green eyes surveyed the classroom before she sat down at the desk next to Ardy’s. Her braid was so long that it brushed the seat of her chair.
Ardy realized she’d been staring at the girl’s impossibly long hair and turned to the front of the classroom, just as the teacher entered. Ardy zoned out, jiggling her sneakered feet and tapping her desk as he droned on and on about expectations for the school year. Finally, they got handed a “get to know you” sheet, and a happy, still-feels-like-summer chatter filled the room.
Ardy glanced at the girl next to her. She was steadily filling out her paper, apparently hyper-focused on whatever she was writing. Naturally, Ardy decided to interrupt her. She might as well try to make friends if they would be sitting next to each other all year.
She leaned over to peek at the girl’s paper. “Does AJ stand for anything?” she asked. “Or is your name just AJ?”
The girl gave her a level stare. Freckles were smattered across her cheeks and nose like a constellation. “It stands for somethin’,” she said finally. Her voice had a country twang to it. She turned back to her writing without another word.
“What’s it stand for?” Ardy pressed, leaning her chair on its back legs. AJ didn’t answer, so she continued, “America Jam? Apple Jelly? Ass Jab?”
“It’s Amy Jay, alrigh’?” AJ bit out. “Only I don’t like ta be called that, so you best not be tellin’ everyone that’s ma name.”
Ardy smirked in satisfaction. This girl was easy to rile. “Sure, AJ. Your secret’s safe with me.” She patted her chest.
AJ looked unimpressed. She didn’t say anything else on the subject, but after a moment, her green eyes roved curiously over Ardy like she was seeing her for the first time. “Why’s your hair all them colours anyways?”
Ardy tugged on her choppy, dyed-rainbow locks. “It’s my signature look. You know, like a cowgirl and her hat. I just wouldn’t be me without it.”
AJ snorted, turning back to her work. Her large hat mostly obscured her face, but Ardy kept watching her, to the other girl’s complete obliviousness. Something about AJ intrigued her.
This year’s gonna be interesting, Ardy thought.
