Senior Year
Louella
I just need to get through this year and I’m free of this damned place. Just one hundred and eighty days to go.
I’ve been counting down the days since freshman year and now that senior has started I can almost taste the freedom.
No more crowded hallways, no more pretending that I can’t hear people whispering about me behind my back, and most importantly, no more Holden Bennett.
You’re probably wondering why I named dropped Holden Bennett. Well, it’s a long story, but he is the sole reason that high school has been a living hell for me.
“Ella, Tessa is at the door waiting for you.”
“Coming.”
I hurried down the stairs quickly. I’m glad a slept in a little longer this morning. It helped me avoid the beginning of the school year conversation with my mother. Don’t get me wrong, my mother is awesome, she’s just too optimistic.
“Here, take some toast.”
My mother practically shoved a zip-lock bag into my chest. She probably knew I would decline unless she forced it.
“Thanks.”
“Have a good day,”
“No promises, mom.”
“Please tell me you’re going to try to have fun this year.”
I had barely buckled my seat belt before Tessa started.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“I’m serious, Lou.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Tessa gave me a look before pulling away from the curb. We’ve been friends since freshman year, which means she’s spent the last three years trying to convince me to participate in normal teenage activities. She is also the only one that gets away with calling me Lou.
Tessa is outgoing, beautiful, and has absolutely no problem speaking her mind. We are completely opposites, but I think that’s why we get along so well, we balance each other.
“Homecoming is in six weeks.”
“And?”
“We are going. I’m telling you now, so you have six weeks to mentally prepare for it.”
“Um. I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not going to homecoming.”
“We are going.”
“Tessa.”
“Louella.”
I was glaring at her, but she wasn’t paying attention because she was focused on the road, but the glaring made me feel better.
“Why do you want to go?”
“Because it’s senior year and I refuse to let you hide in your bedroom every weekend.”
“I don’t hide in my room.”
“Really, what were you doing on Friday?”
“I was reading.”
“And Saturday?”
“I was watching a movie.”
“With whom?”
“Myself.”
“Exactly, Lou. I’m the only one you go out with and that not saying a lot because you barely go out with me.”
“Some people enjoy their own company.”
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your own company. There’s something wrong with acting like everyone else has the plague.”
“Have you met the people at our school?”
Tessa laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand.
“All I’m saying is that you deserve to have a good senior year.”
I looked out the window. Maybe she was right.
But the last time I’d allowed myself to believe I deserved something good, it had ended with half the eighth grade laughing at me. I wasn’t interested in repeating that experience.
The student parking lot was already packed when we arrived.
Groups of friends stood around their cars, hugging and laughing as if they hadn’t seen each other all summer. Music blasted from someone’s truck, and a group of football players were tossing a ball back and forth near the entrance.
I spotted him before I even got out of the car. It was almost ridiculous how easily I could find him in a crowd.
Holden was standing in group with the other football players. He was leaning against a black pickup truck, laughing at something Carter Mitchell said. His dark brown hair was a little longer than it had been last year, and he wore jeans and a navy shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders.
He’d grown a lot since eighth grade. Back then, he was all skinny arms, scraped knees, and crooked smiles. Now he was six feet of football-star perfection, the guy all the girls wanted, except for me. I thought he was an asshole.
I kept my head down as we made our way past his group without being noticed.
“Ella.”
Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I know that voice too well. I turned around and Holden looked directly at me.
“Hey.” He spoke with a crooked smile that made all the girls go weak in the knees.
“Hi.”
Shit. I shouldn’t have answered him, he isn’t a person I want to be nearby.
“How was your summer?”
He seriously wants to know about my summer?
“It was fine.”
I could see his best friend Carter Mitchell looking at us and it made the whole situation more awkward.
I hated being anywhere near Carter Mitchell. There were some faces you never forgot, especially when they belonged to people who laughed while your entire world fell apart.
Holden shifted his weight.
“I was wondering if—”
“Lou, come on,” Tessa interrupted, grabbing my arm. “We’re going to be late.”
We weren’t. School didn’t start for another twenty minutes.
But I loved her for it.
“Right.” I looked back at Holden. “See you around.”
I didn’t wait for his response, but as Tessa pulled me toward the entrance, I heard Carter say something behind us. I couldn’t make out the words.
Then Holden snapped, “Shut up, Carter.”
I stopped for a brief second because I never heard Holden speak to his friends like that.
“Keep walking,” Tessa whispered.
And I did exactly what she said because whatever Holden Bennett wanted to say to me, I didn’t want to hear it.
