I Want Out Of This Love Triangle

It's the first day of my senior year of school and I'm already doomed.

Summer had been like a fever dream. Our house had been on fire at some point. Quite literally. I'm not saying I was the cause of it... but I may have accidentally been the cause of it. Let's just say it was ruled inconclusive.

Due to that mishap my family temporarily moved in with my parents' long time friends, the Pierce family.

What's the problem with that?

Well...

The causes of my current stress are located in front of me, my childhood friends the Pierce twins. Living with their family means commuting to and from school with them.

“Our little Lucia, off to her last year of high school. Where has the time gone?” I hear Nash’s soft velvety voice sound off from the driver seat.

I resist the urge roll my eyes. “It’s your last year of high school too, you drama queen.” I remind him.

A deep chuckle erupts from the passenger seat. Rowen turns around a bit to peer back at me with his hazel eyes. “At least we look like seniors.”

I stick my tongue out at him and show him a certain finger

He winks in response.

This time I can’t fight the urge to roll my eyes, but a small hint of a smile tugs at my lips. I have a soft spot for Rowen, what can I say? Nash on the other hand... Well, it’s a bit complicated.

This year I didn't want my school life tangled up with either of them though. Every year there's always something.

All throughout elementary school we were inseparable. Too inseparable. Inseparable to the point that no one else dared to try to be my friend.

During middle school they threatened any boy that even simply glanced in my direction.

I thought things would be different once we reached high school. Oh, was a wrong. My freshman year they were involved in a fight with a senior who insulted me. During sophomore year they started walking me to all my classes like some big scary guard dog privilege. Then, last year they chased off my date to junior prom. When I saw chased I mean they literally chased him off making him run down the street in his suit. They then insisted they go with me instead which was a whole other disaster in itself.

The point is that this year was supposed to be different. It was supposed to be my year. I had planned and prepared for ways to put some distance between my overly protective and clingy childhood friends. Not saying I was going to cut them off completely, but definitely did not want my whole senior year revolving around them just like every other year. However those plans literally went up in flames.

I let out a deep sigh as I lean my head the against the window, my eyes peering at the back of the headrest of the passenger seat.

"I wish the school would burn down just like my home did..." I murmur quietly just to myself. I don't actually mean it of course.

Nash drops Rowen and I off at the front of the school before driving off to go park in the senior parking lot.

I sigh as I shove my hands into the pockets of my knee length black and red plaid skirt. "I can't wait until I never have to stand in front of this place again." I mumble.

"For someone who hates school so much you sure dressed up for the first day."

"Just because I don't like school doesn't mean I don't like being fashionable." I retort.

"Right, because you collection of old hand-me-down t-shirts and ripped leggings and shorts look that you wore all summer was peek fashion." Rowen says in a teasing manner, giving me a lopsided smirk.

I move to step on his foot with my high tops, but he's too quick. Though, he was not quick enough to avoid me lightly nudging my elbow into his ribs

"Jeez. I was kidding. You look good." He mutters out as he rubs his side. "I did like the t-shirts style better."

I open my mouth to say something, but close it as I see Nash jog up to us. "Let's go! Senior year is about to be legendary." Nash says as he goes to put his arm around my shoulder.

I shrug it off as I murmur, "Speak for yourself."

Nash stops for a moment. "Wait, before I forget. Mom said we have to send her a first day of school picture just as always. She said this is the most important one since it's the last first day of high school."

Rowen and I both let out a sound of protest, but move into place anyways to take the picture.

I stand in the middle with Rowen on one side of me and Nash on the other. Nash stretches his arm up and angles the camera of his phone down slightly. He snaps a picture, but doesn't seem satisfied and snaps another.

"Hurry up. This is embarrassing." I huff out, becoming aware of a few of our peers stopping briefly to watch us.

"Just one more." Nash says. "Alright?"

I try to smile the best I can even though my lips are starting to hurt from smiling too long.

Finally, the picture is Nash approved. My phone and Rowen's phone ding after he sends it to the group chat we have going with both our families.

After our mini photo shoot session, we separate to go to our designated areas to receive our schedules. The other years we receive our schedules before the first day of school, but the school has a different tradition with seniors. They have is different designated areas separated by last name. My last name is Adachi, so I'm with the A-D group that meets in the cafeteria. The twins meet in a different location for the L-P group since their last name starts with P.

They hand out schedules fairly quickly before dismissing us to our first class.

My schedule is typical. Nothing on it really surprises me.

My first class is AP Government and Economics. I like social studies and all, but even today it was lecture heavy and even with the teacher trying to crack jokes here and there, it took everything in me to keep my eyes open. It's too early for this.

My second class is Basic Statistics luckily was right across the hall so I was able to get a good seat right in the back row. Rowen seems to have this class too but he showed up late and ended up in the second to front row. I make a mental note to save a seat for him next time. Yes, I know I wanted to separate myself from him and his brother, but this is different. I'm not particularity good in math but Rowen on the other hand is like a math genius or something, so why not use that to my advantage?

I had to run to make it in time to my third class, Design III, as it was in the back outdoors hallway and not in the main indoor building. I love art based classes. My freshmen year I took basic art. Sophomore year, I took design I. I fell in love with design class so here I am taking the advanced level course. Today we don't do too much, just ice breakers.

Then, I had to race back to the main hall again for AP Literature. I roll my eyes seeing Nash already sitting somewhere in the middle of the row of desks. Even though I hate sitting in the front, I do it anyways to avoid sitting too close to him.

Biology Lab is my fifth class, which is in the back outdoor hall, which had me panting and sweating to get thee on time. Whoever made this schedule is a freaking witch who deserves to sleep on the warm side of the pillow at night. Rowen shows up after the bell rings. I groan, realizing the only other available seat is the one next to mine. Can I ever catch a break?

"Say hi to the person sitting net to you as that will be your partner for the rest of the year." Mr. Meeks, the Biology teacher announces.

"Hey, partner." Rowen says with a wink.

"This is a nightmare." I grumbled out.

He laughs as he sarcastically replies, "Seriously? And here I thought this would be a dream come true."

I vow to ignore him for the rest of class.

I'm happy when lunch rolls around. I hang out in the school library with my best friend.

Jessica Smith has been my best friend since we met in Geography class on the first day of freshman year. We might seem like opposites since she's more bright, bubbly, and colorful than I am, but that's actually what I love about her the most.

It should be a crime that we don't have any classes together this year, but at least we have the same lunch period.

"Do you have any classes with the twins?" Jessica whispers as she turns a page in her psychology textbook with one hand and twists a caramel dyed curl around the index finger of her other hand.

I wrinkle up my nose as I put my head down on the table. "Yes. Don't remind me. I already have two with Rowen. I have another class after this that I'm 99.9% sure he also has. Luckily I only have one class with Nash so far. Fingers crossed."

Jessica pauses her page flipping and glances at me with her golden colored eyes. "I feel like you're the only girl to ever be annoyed to have classes with them."

I softly hum out, "I don't know about that."

"Did you guys take your famous first day of school picture?"

I groan as I nod my hear against the table. I lift my head up as I reach for my phone. I open the group chat before clicking on the picture Nash sent to it.

I can't lie, it's a pretty decent photo. Nash always seems to take the best selfies.

I'm smack dab in the middle of the picture. You can tell how forced my smile is, but at least my make up and hair looks good. My eyeliner and mascara enhances the almond shape of my eyes. I put on a dark red lip tint this morning, drawing attention to my full lips. My hair is half up with the part slightly off center and the mini ponytail section pulled into a small messy bun. On the left side you can see a copper streak among the dark sea that is my hair due to the clip in piece I put in this morning. I look good if I do say so myself.

In the picture Nash is on the left. His piercing blue eyes draw attention first. He grins at the camera, showing off the dimple on the left side of his mouth. Freckles sprinkle across his light complexion. His dark hair that was a little shaggy all but two days ago was cut yesterday into the perfect crew cut that showcases his high cheekbones and strong jawline. He's already dressed like he's about to go play soccer or something during lunch.

Rowen is on the left. Even though he and Nash are twins you would never be able to mistake them for each other. Sure they look similar, but it's obvious they are not identical. While Nash is more clean cut, Rowen is a bit more rough around the edges.

His slightly wavy reddish-brown hair is a bit overgrown but not unkempt. His skin is fair like his brothers, with light freckles dotting his face as well. He doesn't smile at the camera, but even so hints of the deep dimples on both sides of his mouth show. His head is tilted up slightly, showing a glimpse of the strawberry birthmark under his chin that crawls down the side of his neck towards his collarbone. On his lip the silver of his fake lip ring stands out as it seems to shine from the flash.

"Admit it. They're hot." Jessica says as she stares intently at the photo.

She's not wrong exactly, but I'd rather eat an entire jar of mayonnaise with nothing but my hands than to admit that out loud. It's just not going to happen.

"Oh, are they?" I deadpan. "I can tell you some really great stories about them to change your mind. Like when we were in kindergarten Nash accidentally ate b-"

Jessica cuts me off as she holds a hand out at me. "Okay, no. I don't want to hear the rest of that. Don't ruin my fantasies."

I wrinkle up my nose. "Ew."

"Ew yourself."

After lunch I have to go back to the outdoor hallway again for jazz band. I bet people expect me to play the keys or something dainty and aesthetic like the flute. Truthfully I can play both those instruments, but through and through I'm a percussionist girly. As I suspected, Rowen is in this class, too. We've both been in band classes together since middle school. He can play almost any instrument.

Last class of the day and the one I will look least forward to all year is Volleyball class which is in the gym. The only positive is that the gym where it's held is not far from the outdoor hallway.

Unfortunately, Nash is also in this class. I had no choice because I needed one more gym class credit before graduation, but Nash has been choosing two gym electives every year since sophomore year. He doesn't need anymore, yet here he is.

As if that wasn't bad enough Emilie Henderson also has this class.

Who is Emilie? She's been caption of the school's track team since last yea. She became a school celebrity when she won at the state track meet last year. Most importantly she's Nash's on-and-off again situation-ship, and she absolutely hates my guts for no reason.

I spent the whole time pretending like both of them weren't there.

Once the final bell had rang, I feel exhausted and ready to go.

Nash and I walk to the senior parking lot. I sit in the passenger seat as we wait for Rowen.

I pull my water bottle out of the side of my backpack, taking a big swig from it.

“Be my girlfriend.” Nash blurts out as he stares intensely at me as if his water-colored eyes are about to swallow me whole.

I unexpectedly and ungracefully spewed water out all over his white athletic shirt.

I cough a few times before sputtering out, "Excuse me?!"