Part 1
On my first day back from winter break, I knew I was going to have to act like I was glad to be back at school, and put on a happy face for all of my friends.
With my uniform, I would have to wear all the newest accessories I got during holiday break, and carry around my new Prada bag.
I’d have to act sad and sentimental about the fact that I would be graduating in June.
I didn’t want to do it. Any of it. I was tired of pretending that I loved high school.
I was tired of pretending that I loved life.
However, when I got to my first class, History, I sat next to one of my friends, Madison.
Madison Harmer isn’t one of my closest friends, but we are friendly enough that I can hold a conversation with her and we can tell each other about our lives.
“Charlotte, is that bag new? It’s so nice.” Madison said as I sat down next to her.
“It is.” I said, “Thank you, I got it for Christmas from my dad and stepmom.”
“I’m sure you got some other nice things as well, right?” Madison asked, her golden blonde hair hanging in her face somewhat. It looked like she had gotten curtain bangs.
I held out my left wrist to Madison and rolled up my sleeve slightly- so she could see my new Versace watch.
Madison’s green eyes widened, “That’s beautiful! I love the rose gold.”
“I like it a lot.” I said, “Did you get anything nice over break?”
Madison was about to answer when our teacher, Mr. Frey, stood at the front of the classroom. The bell was about to ring.
While this was a new class, for a new semester, I had Mr. Frey as my teacher multiple times throughout my high school career.
“Alright, class.” Mr. Frey said, as the bell rang, “Welcome to American History. I know for all of you, you’re in the last semester of your high school career, ready to get on out of here. Some of you even know where you’re going to college already. So I’ll try to make this class as easy as possible for you.”
Mr. Frey was not even thirty years old- so he understood how it was to be young. He hadn’t even graduated high school 10 years ago.
“Alright, I’m going to do roll call. This will be the only time I do this for the year, just to get our bearings on the first day.”
Mr. Frey started calling out names.
He got to my name and said, “Charlotte Voss?”
“Here.” I said.
He then said I name that I didn’t recognize at all.
“Vivienne Walton?”
There was no response.
Mr. Frey looked around the room, “I wonder if she’s new to the school. I’ll give her some time.”
Little did I know- that name would eventually become so important to me.
Mr. Frey started jumping into the syllabus when the door to the classroom opened.
Everyone turned to look to see who it was.
I laid eyes on her and thought-
Well, she might be one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.
She was probably around 5′5, and she was slim. Her uniform was perfectly pleated and in place, with zero wrinkles. She had dark brown hair with a slight wave at the end to her shoulders- and her features were beautiful. She had big eyes- that I couldn’t quite tell the color of yet. A button nose, and full lips. I could see that she had some blush on her cheeks.
I was having trouble keeping my eyes off her.
I saw her eyes scan the room- and they met mine for a split second.
“Hello.” she said, “I’m sorry to interrupt, and I also apologize for being late. I’m new.”
“No problem at all.” Mr. Frey said, “Are you Vivienne Walton?”
“I am.” she nodded.
“Welcome to Meadowbrook. I’m Mr. Frey. Have a seat.” Mr. Frey said, “Don’t worry, I won’t make you tell the class a fun fact about yourself though.”
“I appreciate that.” Vivienne said, and then walked over to the open desk, which was toward the front of the classroom. I was in the back. Her black heeled boots clacked on the ground as she walked by- and I could smell some delicious perfume.
It smelled fresh and clean, with a hint of vanilla.
Vivienne sat down, and she set her bag down on the ground. And it was Burberry.
I wasn’t sure why, but in that moment I felt a bit threatened.
She’s beautiful. And seems like she is quite affluent and likes designer things. Hopefully she doesn’t steal my thunder.
Throughout class, I kept glancing over at Vivienne. As she listened to Mr. Frey. As she studied her notes that she was writing down.
You just like her hair. And her style. You think she’s pretty.
That’s all, Charlotte. Nothing else.
I tried to push the other thoughts that always seemed to creep up on me out of my head.
As class ended, and the bell rang, we all got up and grabbed our belongings.
Next I had math. My least favorite subject.
Madison and I got up, and started walking to the door, which was being opened and closed by students walking out.
I heard the heels clacking behind us- and turned around to see Vivienne walking behind Madison and I.
As we walked up to the closed door- I found myself opening it and holding it open.
Madison walked through, and stood in the hall, waiting for me.
I held the door open- as Vivienne walked through.
She looked at me and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I said, and she looked at me for a moment longer.
Then she walked through the door, and down the hall.
“She smells really good.” Madison said, “I’ll have to aid her what perfume she wears.”
“Agreed.” I said, even though the thought of going up to her was making me slightly nervous.
She wasn’t in my next class. Or the one after. But she was in my class before lunch- Cooking.
That was the elective I chose- mainly because one of my best friends, Amanda Sutton, was in it.
When I got to the class, the teacher, Ms. Mackey, was stating that everyone would be working in pairs for the semester.
I saw that Vivienne was already sitting next to a girl in the class, Sophia Barrone, and they were talking a bit.
“Hey!” Amanda came up to me, “I’m snatching you up as my partner.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I said.
We sat down together by our kitchen station and Amanda said to me softly, “Did you see the new girl?”
Amanda has been one of my best friends since 9th grade. We started at Meadowbrook Prep together, met our first period in our first class ever, and we had stayed friends ever since.
“I did.” I said, “She’s in my history class.”
“Do you think her Burberry bag is real or fake?”
“Real. Without a doubt.” I said back.
“It’s a little odd that she’s come so late in the year- and in senior year at that.” Amanda said, “Oh well. You never know what is going on with someone.”
“That’s true.” I said, looking over at Vivienne, noticing her short nails with light pink polish.
As Amanda moved on from the conversation, I kept looking at Vivienne, sneakily, when I could.
I wonder how and if I can possibly talk to her again.
At lunch, I sat with Amanda, and my two other best friends at school- Olivia Delvecchia and Valentina Lopez.
The four of us were eating salads. That’s usually what we all wound up bringing.
“Did you all see the new girl?” Olivia asked the table, “I think her name is Vivienne.”
“She’s in my second period class.” Valentina said, “She has these hawk eyes, like she’s judging everyone when she looks around the classroom.”
“Oh, like Charlotte used to do?” Olivia said, in a joking tone.
“Hey, I’ve calmed down with that.” I said, “I try to not judge now. Too much.”
“Have you seen Vivienne?” Olivia asked me.
“I have. She’s in two of my classes.”
“Well, what do you think of her?” Olivia asked me.
“Is that a trick question, so you can see how much I’m judging?” I chuckled.
“Maybe.” Olivia laughed.
“She smells good.” I said, “Her perfume when she walked by me smelled very nice.”
There’s more I could say.
But I’m not going to.
Vivienne was in two more of my classes in the afternoon- Biology and Spanish.
She hardly said a word in those classes- except for when my Biology teacher, Mrs. O’Connell, who made Vivienne introduce herself to the class. She did not look thrilled.
She said, “My name is Vivienne Walton. I moved here from New York. I enjoy painting and drawing.”
She didn’t say anything else after that.
During the week, I live with my mom and her fiancé, Kenneth- along with my younger brother, Grayson, and younger sister, Michelle. Kenneth has two daughters, but they are a bit older- in their early 20′s and live at college.
I am 18, I turned 18 in October. Grayson just turned 17 in December; he is a junior in high school. And Michelle is 14, she is a freshman.
Grayson has his own car, so he drives himself back and forth to school- even though we go to the same high school. I drive Michelle to and from school though with me.
“I heard there is a new girl in your grade.” she said to me as I drove out of the school parking lot.
“Word travels fast.” I said back.
“Well, apparently some of the boys in my class said she’s ‘really hot’.” Michelle said, with an eye roll.
I felt my heartbeat grow faster and I said, “She’s in a few of my classes. She’s pretty. Hey- do you want to get Starbucks? A little celebration for getting through our first day back of winter break.”
“Sure.” Michelle said, “I’d love that. I wish I was in your spot. Coming back to your last semester of high school. Not just your second.”
“I know you hate it, Michelle. And it can be really hard to find the good in high school. Honestly, I’m really tired of it myself.” I said.
I got Michelle and I lattes from Starbucks- and when we got home, I rushed up to my room.
My mind was preoccupied.
With the fact about myself that I was constantly trying to avoid.
You’re attracted to girls.
Obviously, you find Vivienne to be attractive. No one just thinks about a new girl that much during the day.
As I always do though- I immediately pushed the thought out of my mind.
Nope. You’re not dealing with this today.
Or ever.
