I was only in the first grade when my mom left me. I didn’t even know what she looked like. All I knew was that she was out there somewhere, and she wanted nothing to do with me. I didn’t want anything to do with her either. It had always been just me, my dad, and my best friend. That’s how I liked it.  

Present day. Walking into the first day of freshman year; I was ready to work hard and stay organized. A new school, the walls covered with the glorious art of students from previous years, that I now get to call my own for the next four. I decided to wear an olive t-shirt dress, white converse, and a thin choker with a moon emblem. My frizzy brown hair was straightened, and I had done my makeup all out. Normally I’m not like this, but it only seems traditional to dress up when moving into a new school. As I walked in I saw my friends, and of course all of the girls were complimenting each other’s outfits and hair. I immediately went to a table with my friends who didn’t go to the same middle school as me. Alexis, Liam, and Adam. We all said our hellos, compared schedules for the year, and started to mingle with people around us. That’s when I look up and see all of my middle school friends. I never felt more out of place when I was with them. I walked over and said hi because it was the polite thing to do. 

“Hey guys! It’s so great to see you! How has your summer been?” I asked this with no intent on listening to their answer. That’s when Lillian answered immediately.

“It’s been so great! Me and Albert hung out all the time!” she said with a giant smirk across her face.

Improper grammar, what a great way to start your high school career. I didn’t like her at all, and I hoped she wouldn’t be obsessed with Albert again this year. 

“Hey Molly,” Albert said very awkwardly looking down at his shoes. We hadn’t talked since the beginning of summer.

“Hi Albert. How was your summer?” 

“It was okay. Look, I have to go. I have to sign up for stuff, so I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Oh okay, good luck with your first day.” 

“Yeah, you too.”

He walked away and I let out a big breath of relief. Over the summer Albert and I had talked a lot about him bullying me in eighth grade. I told him he needed to shape up before high school, and if things changed in the beginning of freshman year we could be friends again. After I said that he got really angry and blocked me on social media. In the middle of summer while I was at the beach he unblocked me and sent a message that could have been made into a memo. Albert apologized for everything and told me he never even realized what he had done until that moment. I forgave him for the sake of ending the drama, but I never really forgave him fully. Some friend he was, to have the beginning of our high school careers being insecure about our friendship , and not knowing whether or not I’d have his shoulder to lean on. The trust was just not there anymore, and I wasn’t sure if it would ever be fully regained.

“Hey, Molly, are you okay?” 

I snapped out of the thoughts of what had happened over summer break to realize my best friend Noah had been standing right in front of me. 

“Oh, hey, Noah, I’m sorry I didn’t realize…”

“That I was here? No worries, that seemed like a really awful conversation.” Noah always knows what I’m about to say. 

“Yeah it was really awkward and worse than before, but in its own way you know?”

As I finished my sentence the first bell rang, and we were all sent to the auditorium so we knew where to go. I had every class with Noah, and it couldn’t have worked out any better. First period we had Spanish which I was so excited for. Noah and I walked as fast as we possibly could to the class, mind that we got lost a couple times on the way, and we found the room at the last possible second before the late bell. As soon as Noah and I walked in we were stoked to see we sat together, but then things went downhill as fast as you could say my name. We got put into a group with Albert and his girlfriend Kasey. I couldn’t believe that of all the people in the world I got put with the “power couple”. I sat down and immediately Kasey was ready to fire a snooty comment at me. 

“So Molly, where were you guys? Too busy making out to realize we had class?” 

She thought she was so smart; nothing could show the amount of hate I had for the ugliness of this person. 

“Oh totally, because that’s exactly what you do when you get to high school right? You should know I bet Albert has had a great morning with you,” I said with a giant sarcastic smile across my face mocking that her lipstick was completely smudged.

Everyone heard this comment, and the class erupted with laughter. Kasey sat there with the most rotten look on her face, and I was very pleased with myself. That’s when the teacher walked in dressed in the stereotypical sombrero, poncho, and fake mustache. 

“Now class, settle down. I don’t look that funny do I?”

 She didn’t know that I was actually the one to make the class laugh. Noah and I sat through the miserably boring class with the evil stare of Kasey burning through the back of our heads. The bell rang for us to go to our next class, and Albert packed up as quickly as possible to get out of that room. Little did we know he had the same schedule as me and Noah. He apologized to me about Kasey in the next class, and I apologized for my amazing comeback. Kasey has never liked me, and I don’t really understand why. I just go with the flow. 

The rest of my classes went smoothly, and thank goodness I had no Kasey in any other class. When the final bell rang we all went down to the lobby to mingle before going home. I was sitting on a bench with Noah surrounded by a group of kids that I didn’t know. That’s when I see a group of girls with long flowy brown hair, crop tops, high waisted skirts that barely covered their stomachs and butts, heels, and these huge jean jackets. They stomped their way through the crowd, and who would be leading the pack? None other than the one, the only, Kasey Valentine. Her two minions Tanner and Samantha were right behind her making sure no one would even get remotely close to Kasey. The girls pushed their way through everyone else, and ended up right in front of me and Noah. 

“What do you want?” I said this more snarky than I had intended, but didn’t really care as I already knew these girls were out for blood.

“Molly, be polite!” Noah was nervous. He doesn’t know how to act around any other girls. That’s why we’re best friends. I hate how sweet Noah is to people. They could be the worst person in the world, and Noah would still defend them. 

“He’s right Molly. Better shut your mouth or else Kasey will shut it for you.” Samantha said this with the utmost confidence. If her plan was to intimidate me then she succeeded. 

“Okay, fine. Hi Kasey, what's up?” 

“Molly, I didn’t really appreciate that comment you made in the first period today. It better not happen again or else there’s going to be hell to pay.” 

“You really think you scare me Kasey? If anything you should be scared. What do you think Albert will do when he realizes that your heart is ice cold?” 

Noah looked at me like I was crazy, and he had every right to. It was the first day of school and I was already about to get into a fight. That’s when Albert came over. 

“Hey, is everything okay over here?” 

“Totally fine babe,” Kasey said in a baby voice. 

Albert looked at me, then to Noah, and back at me. 

“Yeah. Everything’s fine...” I claimed looking down at my feet.

Albert, Kasey, and the girls walked off. As I looked up I noticed Albert looking back at me. My face got bright red and I snapped my head back down.

“Molly, are you crazy?” Noah said as his eyes bugged out of his head.

“I’m sorry, she just makes me act that way and…”

“Look I don’t need an explanation, let's just go home,” Once again Noah had interrupted me. He always interrupts me, but I don’t mind because what he says always makes sense. 

We went to our lockers and grabbed our skateboards. As we walked out of the school there was a black car with tinted windows. A woman stepped out staring right in our direction.

“Who is that?” Noah asked.

“Hello Molly,” The woman said in a serious tone.