2 ♡ "New-ish"

If I remember correctly a whole month has gone by since my "sky high" photo, and comments on the incident are starting to lessen in general. Much to my relief.

It didn't make things any easier though.

And it still feels like people were watching my every move.

"I hate Jazmyn Witman."

Quite funny actually if I think about it.

...

I kept sprinting, doing my very best to keep up and stay in pursuit. I cannot afford to fall behind.

She continued to skip ahead, giggling everytime I stumbled.

"Come on care bear, you can do it, I believe in you."

I can hear my breath quickening, thumping faster and faster as I jump over fallen branches. Whipping my head behind me, analyzing our surroundings.

Just us.

"Haha I win! You're too slow!"

Looking forward once more, I realized my loss.

Aw man.

She made it there first.

"It's no fair! Your legs are longer," I whined as we ascended the large oak. To which the only response I got was a snort.

"You'll get there one day care bear, but for now I'm the superior."

When we reached the top our little wooden home was waiting for us, or as we liked to call it, 'The VIP Tower.'

This was our safeplace.

Meant for us.

And us alone.

When I pulled back the entrance curtain there was a cupcake on the fuzzy rug inside.

"Hey, I said I didn't want you to get me anything."

"There's no way I wasn't going to get my best friend something on her birthday and you know it. Now sit."

I sat on my beanbag, closing my eyes as I was told.

"Okay... now open."

In my palm was a golden locket, heart shaped, with C+J on the front.

She was holding up a matching one, already around her neck, a sheepish smile creeping it's way to her cheeks.

"So, um... what do you think Caroline?"

I opened it to find a picture of her, and she opened hers to reveal one of me.

"It's perfect."

I put mine on, and ate the cupcake brought for me.

I mean, hey, it's a cupcake.

We sat with our feet dangling on the makeshift balcony, her head resting on my shoulder.

Us against the world.

"Hey Caroline?"

"Yea?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"Of course."

"Promise me we'll always stay together."

I smiled.

"I promise Jazmyn."

...

What I would give for everything to be as simple as it was when I was 13.

Getting yanked from my thoughts as I nearly ran into a water fountain, I made my way down to first.

Over this amount of time, I somehow managed to memorize my schedule and the halls that held my classes. Normally this task proved to be a struggle, but alas, I have acheived.

I also slowly learned what times were the best for certain things.

Don't go to the bathroom during first period.

It's the math segment of the day for majority of us, meaning, the ones who are average and the ones behind. For some dumb reason, smart kids get to have their class right after lunch, which by far is the perfect time for education. In the morning we're tired, before lunch we're distracted, (being hungry and all), and at the end of the day we just want to go home.

Anyway my reason be that the prissy girls hang out in there. I mean, come on. A bathroom? Just ditch if you want to work at some fast food place that bad. It is extremely annoying, so I avoid it during the morning at all costs.

I walked into English, and sat down next to Tina.

"Hey Caroline! What's shakin?"

I snickered.

"Not much Tina, but hey, look what I have," I greeted, pulling out the plastic jar.

Tina staired at me, aghast.

"You did not," as she stared at the cotton candy. Coincidentally the same color as her bright pink hair.

"Oh yes, I did," I replied with a smile. Last week, she was complaining that her family never went anywhere and therefore she never got her favorite sweets.

Retrieving it was not easy though.

I got up bright and early this morning in order to get the candy from a candy shop about an hour drive away from my house.

Anything to make up for throwing out her project on accident.

She insists, but that girl is not an artist.

As our teacher sat down at her desk, I pulled out all of my supplies needed.

Notebook, pen, pencil, planner.

It was the same for half my classes. Notebook for notes (duh), pen and pencil for writing (duh), and a planner to write down homework as well as any assignments and events.

Once the bell sounded our teacher stood up and started. She has always been too enthusiastic about dealing with us. And "I don't know" why exactly, but she reminded me of a chihuahua.

All energetic.

I looked up from my planner to see a boy completely passed out up front. Our English teacher was ridiculously humble, so when she snatched an eraser and threw it at the boy's head, I had a pretty hard time trying not to laugh.

I dug my nails into my palms in order to keep quiet.

"You want to tell me what I just said?"

The boy lifted his skull and pulled down his hood, revealing a mop of hair as he scratched his head.

"What's wrong? Can't remember?"

"Uh oh."

"Bye bye Mark, see you next Tuesday."

"GET YOUR ASS OUT OF MY CLASS!"

Smiling, as if she could cut his throat if she really wanted to.

"Please."

Mumbling, he started packing up and headed out.

Picking up the dry erase marker, she turned towards the board to start teaching.

It was on persuasive writing, so I just turned to the window instead. I watched as leaves blew in the wind, pondering what trees would be like if they could feel.

How would they act?

How do the leaves function as a section of their "body?"

What part do they play? Would it be the same as our hair? Like, if the knots were eyes, would the leaves be in the way of their vision.

Focusing a little, I thought I saw something...

or someone.

Sitting in the tree.

Reading.

They didn't look like they were having a rough time doing so either. As if they had done it before, and this was simple.

Another person walked out of the building and waved them over. They looked older to me, but from afar everything was blurry. Closing the book, the tree climber tucked it into their backpack, swung the bag over their shoulder, and hopped out of the tall plant like it was nothing. The two went to re-enter the school and they disappeared from my sight.

"That was... wierd."

♡♡♡♡♡

"Hey kiddos!" Tina exclaimed, taking her place at our table.

Got held back one year and acts like she's an adult already.

Normally works in my favor though.

"Oh hey, what's up Gran?"

"Haha, very funny squirt. Where's your sister?"

"Oh M? She's getting lunch. Oh, and uh, Gran?"

"Yea?"

"You didn't forget your teeth did you?"

"O, I suppoth I hath."

Nearly choking on my strawberries, I could feel my eyes beginning to water. When I got them unstuck from my throat, the sound of laughter filled my eardrums, finally escaping my lips. I can always count on Tina for a good time.

"Uh oh."

Turning, I saw Mara stomping towards us and plop down beside me. I swear, if we were in a cartoon, she'd be hanging out with a particularly upset donkey while me and Christopher Robin were trying to cheer her up.

I swear.

Dark little rain cloud and all.

"What's wrong M?"

"Look at this disaster," she huffed, sliding her tray in my direction.

"...you've got to be kidding me."

I'd say that our school has some of the worst food in state. Anyone here would agree with me too. It's that bad.

Today, for instance, Mara had a little plastic cup with questionable fruits in it. It had jello powder on top. First off, who does that? Second, is it supposed to be like a garnish? So the food looks more appetizing? I have no clue.

The main corse isn't any better.

Today, the food is in plastic packaging.

It's pizza.

And on average the milk has some chunks.

I'm almost impressed by how sinful this is.

Respect your food.

"Here, you don't have to eat that stuff," I replied, pulling the leftover bulgogi out of my own lunch. I had "mistakenly" added too much. I know how much she hates the school meals.

"You really don't have to do-"

"No, I insist."

She smiled as her shoulders relaxed.

"Thanks C."

"No prob M."

Looking up I noticed that Tina was wiping away fake tears.

"What?"

"You kiths are tho grown up."

Mara spit out her water.

"Whath? Wath it thomthin I thaid?"

"Oh my lord, cut it out gran," I howled with a hand over my mouth.

"Oh phine phine, putin em back in."

I watched as Tina mimicked searching for something in her bag, finding it, and uncomfortably putting it in her mouth.

Our moment was interrupted by a slam on the table.

"Hey, who let the monkey out of her exibit?"

I didn't have to look to know who it was. I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Jazmyn."

"Is there a problem Jazmyn," I asked without craning my head upward.

"Uh, yea. It's kinda hard to enjoy a meal while you low lives are being so loud. I bet grandma over here is having trouble hearing anyway. Not only is she a failure in school, but I bet she listens to heavy metal too. I mean, those cuts had to be inspired by something."

I heard her friend, Bella, snicker from behind.

Tina went a shade close to her hair and stared at the floor, pulling down her sleeves to cover the memories.

It's like someone struck a match.

Finally.

"You find that funny, don't you poodle? You know I'm surprised she hasn't put you on a leash yet since all you do is follow her around and beg for attention."

That shut her up.

"You do not get to talk to my friend like that. You list-"

"No you listen here," I snarled, finally getting up and looking her in the eyes.

I was burning to put her in her place.

"You never get to speak of my friends like that, you hear me? Pick on me all you want but leave them alone, or I'll make your life suck ass."

"I did not just threaten her."

She only smiled.

"Actually, you know what, I did. She deserved that."

She seemed amused.

"You honestly think you can make threats here? You think you've had the worst of it, but I haven't gotten mad yet. Just you wait."

She leaned forward to whisper in my ear.

I could smell the shampoo she used that morning, and the gum in her mouth.

I could see every detail on the earrings in her ear.

"Too close."

I held my breath, suddenly feeling clausterphobic.

"You promised me, care bear."

She paused.

"I'm going to make your life hell for what you did."

And with that the world blurred.

I couldn't breath.

"So that's why."

My fire slowly dimmed, and died as if it were never there.

Everything slowed.

I saw Jazmyn lean back, satisfyed that I looked fearful.

I watched as Bella handed her something.

And I waited as her arm lifted.

Out of the blue, there was a flash of red.

Then I blinked, and Jazmyn was sprawled on the floor.

Covered in contents from a full tray of "food."

She looked hilarious but I was so dazed to process how she got there in the first place.

She just sat there, looking dumbfounded, and staring up at someone.

Shock slapped onto her face.

I followed her gaze to a girl.

And the dots connected, clicking in my mind.

She was wearing sleeveless red with a dead smiley face on it, jeans that were so ripped I wondered how they were considered bottoms, and worn sneakers. Her chocolate brown hair flowed just past her chest, and I followed the strands to her dark eyes as a smirk formed on her full lips.

She raised a hand to me, and I noticed her wrist was adorned with several varying bracelets of all shapes and sizes.

"Hey. I'm new... ish."

...

♡Side note♡

Those cafeteria foods are things i've actually experienced *^*'