Faceless memories

I hate school. Every part of it. With a loud buzzing, the alarm wakes me up. I always keep lying in bed, as if hoping I would sink into the covers. I get up, searching for the lamp on my nightstand blindly in the darkness. As I turn on the lamp, I look away quickly, my eyes hurting. Still with my eyes closed, I get dressed into my dark blue uniform and comb my hair, thinking about how cold it must be outside. I walk to the bathroom tiredly, splashing water into my face and brushing my teeth lazily, barely opening my eyes. I take my backpack, go downstairs into the kitchen, grab something for lunch and head to school. The cold air hits my face, making my cheeks and nose turn red. After approximately 15 minutes of walking, I step into the school building, taking off my scarf, looking at all the other students in dark blue uniforms walking through the hall. I walk down the hall untill I reach the stairs, looking up with a loud, defeated sigh, remembering I have to walk to the third floor to reach my classroom. After I make it up to the third floor, I collapse into my chair, breathing heavily. I am not exactly a person who likes walking. And then, after all of that, I also have to spend five and a half hours listening to some crap I mostly don't understand and pretend to write something with a smart look. Okay, maybe there are a few things I like. There is the cafeteria, and the library, where I sometimes find interesting books, and my friends. They are the best people in my life. So maybe school isn't that bad if I can spend even more time with them. We are all classmates, so we are together almost all the time. Our friend group consists of four people: Zach, Nathan, Maureen and me. Since primary school, we were always together. I know that life would be boring without them and I would likely not be able to find friends. I am very extroverted and shy, so I am in this friend group out of pure luck.

On the first day of primary school, as everyone was walking around the classroom, talking to each other, finding friends already, I was just standing in the corner, scrubbing the cheap, pink nail polish off my nails unconsciously. My knees were buckling, and I felt like I had a lump in my throat. I felt alone. I was wondering what's wrong. Why wouldn't anyone talk to me? I felt tears streaming down my face. My vision got blurry, and I wanted to disappear. I wanted to run out of the classroom so no one would see me like that, but I just stood there, looking at my hands, hoping that my bangs would cover my face. Suddenly, I felt someone tug at my pigtail. As I looked back quickly, I spotted a short girl with pink hair. Her hair looked messy, and her bangs looked like she cut them herself. She had a cute mole on her nose, playful green eyes and a small gap between her teeth.

why are the bows on your head so big?"

, she asked, tilting her head to the side a little. I turned around fully, facing her. I wiped my tears away, sniffling.

"B-because I like them..."

, I answered quietly. The girl seemed to think about something for a long time.

"That makes sense. Those are indeed cute. And big."

I giggled.

"You are very weird."

She giggled too.

"Am I? I never thought about that."

She reached into her pocket, searching for something and after some time, she pulled her hand out, holding a bracelet with different teal colored beads on it. She took my hand and put the bracelet on my wrist.

"This one is perfect for you,"

she said,

"It's the same color as your hair."

I looked at the bracelet in awe, turning my arm so I could see it from different sides. I looked up at the girl. She was smiling and nodding approvingly.

"It's pretty. But I can't take it. You probably put so much effort in it, and you're giving it to me just like that, even though I don't even know your name."

She put her hand back into her pocket, and as she showed me her hand, there were several bracelets, all in different colors and beads.

"Don't worry. I couldn't sleep last night so I made many. I'm Maureen, by the way."

, she told me proudly.

"Wow...I never saw this many."

, I said, still staring at the bracelets. As Maureen put them back into her pocket, I mumbled,

"My name is Yue."

She showed me a thumbs up with a bright smile.

"Cool name! I wish I had such a cool name too."

I shrugged.

"I don't know. I think Maureen is pretty cool too."

She giggled and ruffled my hair

"Awww, don't make me blush, you silly! Anyways, let's go find more friends."

I froze at first, and then smiled, fixing my hair.

"Is it that easy though?"

She rolled her eyes as if the answer was obvious.

"Pfff..Of course it is! You just have to find cool kids. And then talk to them.I found you very easily, after all."

My cheeks turned red.

"Thanks...Okay then, let's go."

And with Zach and Nathan it was pretty... Interesting. While holding my hand, Maureen was walking around the classroom, looking at everyone, mumbling time to time something until she spotted Nathan slumped in the chair, his head resting on his arms on the table. Zach was sitting next to him with crossed arms, and everytime someone walked near them, he stared into their soul, as if ready to jump on them like a guard dog, nearly growling. But somehow, Maureen thought it would be a great idea to walk up to them. She looked at me, and then at Nathan, pointing at him, completely ignoring Zach's stare. "Look. He has white hair. Like snow, right?" Her finger was only inches away from his head. I nodded slightly, but as I turned my head a little, just a fraction, there it was. I swear he was practically foaming at the mouth. I froze, terrified. I tried to tell Maureen something, but I couldn't form words.

"M-Maureen?..."

, I whispered, not able to speak louder. Suddenly, another kid shoved Maureen with their shoulder accidentally, and she fell right onto Nathan, and they bumped foreheads. Zach froze. I think he was thinking what the most painful way to kill someone would be. Nathan woke up, stirring, rubbing his forehead sleepily. Zach sat up, brushing Nathan's white hair out of his face with featherlight touch, as if he's made out of porcelain, all of his attention concentrated on him.

"You okay? Does your forehead hurt much?"

Nathan shook his head no with a warm smile.

"No, it doesn't hurt that much, don't worry. And who are you guys?"

He turned his head back to us. I was helping Maureen up, who was still rubbing her forehead. He smiled.

"I'm Nathan."

He turned his head slightly to Zach.

"And this is Zach. He is my best friend."

Zach was glaring at Maureen, while holding Nathan's hand tightly. Maureen was glaring as well. I took her hand, stepping forward

"This is Maureen..And I'm Yue. I'm sorry we woke you up."

While Maureen and Zach were playing some very aggressive staring game, we were talking. He giggled, rubbing his eyes.

"It's okay. I think Zach was more upset than me. Sorry if he scared you, he is actually super nice, just very shy around new people."

I nodded.

"I see. It's fine, he's not that..."

I glanced at Zachary who was still staring into Maureen's soul, and as I looked at Maureen, I couldn't tell if she was mocking him by staring at him with those wide eyes that look like they might just pop or that was really the best she could do.

"Not that scary."

He nodded, completely missing the staring game. After that day, we became best friends...Kind of. I still don't know if Zach even wanted to be here, or just wanted to be with his "friend" all the time. Guess what, they are now dating. Shocker, I know. Maureen hates Zach, and Zach hates Maureen, pretty simple. But as a whole, I would say we are a friend group. Maybe Zach didn't want to be here at first, but now he's kind of nice to us too. Even though he argues With Maureen all the time, I'm pretty sure he actually likes her. Well, or at least cares about her. Now we are in 11th grade, and still friends. We were always four, so no one left and no one came. Or at least I don't remember it. So actually, I do like school a little.