6 I Have my Circle

Destiny

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Two months of summer and it feels like I've only left this place yesterday. I walked through the familiar halls of Crescent High, going down memory lane and only then did it sink in.

Here I am.

Once again.

Facing my last year in high school as a senior.

Facing my last, first day of school.

Was I ready to leave this place so soon?

Four years might sound like a really long time, but trust me, it's not. And four years might sound like a lot of time to prepare yourself for a new beginning, but no.

I need more time.

But if it means staying in my own personal hell for a few more years then forget everything I just said. The people in this hell hole are not the reason I hate this place so much. You're probably hoping for a juicier reason but to be honest, I just hate school in general.

I walk to my locker to place all my folders and textbooks inside, only taking the ones that are necessary for first and second block.

"Destiny!"

I turn to the sound of the only person that helps me get through most days.

Other days, I wanna run her over with a bus, but what's a best friend without thinking about how you'll murder them, right?

Joking.

Only joking.

"Second class together? Check," she says happily.

"First class?" I urge her to continue, hoping we can start this new year together.

"Unfortunately, no," she states.

Hope.

Crushed.

Ever since freshman year, somehow we were always put in the same first class. I guess there's a first time for everything.

Well, that's great. My first class will officially suck.

"We're gonna have to go in." She paused. "Alone."

"Do you have to be so dramatic?" I ask laughing. "We're going to be fine. They're just a bunch of idiots we've been with since day 1."

Still gonna suck.

"A bunch of idiots we absolutely can't stand," she reminds me.

Damn it, she's right.

Since Day 1, I already made a clear list in my brain of everyone I'd stay clear from, and those I can bear.

Before you assume what high school is like for me, realistically, there are no bullies who shove "geeks" into lockers, no satiating cafeteria food, and definitely no full-of-her-slash-him-self-slut-like-douche whose slept with everyone in the school.

But as teenagers of Crescent High, there are parties thrown every now and then that do involve alcohol and drugs, and I guess a decent sized, if you will, "popular group" but hey, typical teenagers am I right?

So the tea?

There could possibly be one or two people I absolutely have no interest in bringing into my life and so far, my favourite people are Saffron, the guys, and—

"Saf! Des!"

Royal Grant.

He's been with Saffron and I for quite some time now. Since the beginning of freshman year, and if you haven't already caught on, he does have personal nicknames for us. Des, pronounced with a "z" instead of an "s," and Saf.

Something about our names being too much work if not shortened.

Saffron and I have known each other since we were eight years old but I love them both so damn equally.

Perks of having a guy best friend. His word is his bond, and all our secrets are safe with him. He has no problem telling us straight up when we're wrong and praises us hella when we're right. He doesn't get pissy over stupid little things and the best part? He brings us food and is always down to Netflix and Chill.

An annoying trait?

Two words.

Over. Protective.

I know it's one word ok?

Yeah, uh, I looked it up.

Anyways the difference between us in this trio is that Royal is a social butterfly. Parties, blasting music, large crowds, alcohol, and girls? That's his thing. Every now and then, even Saffron would tag along.

Saffron and I?

We're into cheer.

Now before you say anything, we're not your stereotypical mean girls. We just simply adore cheer. Saffron is captain and I'm co-captain. She's pretty good at bossing everyone around and only gets serious when she needs to. And God knows how scary she can get when she's serious. We've already convinced ourselves that most girls are only on this team for the uniforms.

Whatever.

They're skilled, and that's what we need. We don't let just anyone into our team.

Me?

I'm more of a quiet, get lost in a book for hours type of girl.

My free time is spent with my nose in my journal and to be real with you, I'd rather be writing in my journal than cheering on a bunch of sweaty dudes throwing around a prolate spheroid, into dustpan shaped poles.

I'm only on this team because of Saffron. Also, I hate going to the gym so this is a great excuse for me to get a workout in. Head held high, I'm actually pretty good at it if I do say so myself.

"What's your first class?" Royal asks the both of us. He's always been the one to get straight to the point.

"Good morning to you too," Saffron says rolling her eyes.

She read my mind.

"I have English," I answer, simultaneously closing my locker and hoping he'd have the same class as me.

"Saf?" He asks with a tiny bit of hope in his voice.

Well, there goes my hope.

Again.

"Geography first thing," she says.

"Great," Royal says smirking. "We have first-class together."

Well, that's great.

My two best friends are blessed with our very first class together, and I get to go in, as Saffron put it— alone.

"Come on Des, we'll walk you to class," Royal says pitifully.

Well, excuse me, dramatic much?

Nobody died.

It's just a class. I don't need your pity. "Gee thanks," I say rolling my eyes, annoyed at his sudden change of tone.

I hate pity.

I hate being pitied.

Laughing and without warning, he turns around and starts making his way to my first class. Saffron and I speed up so that we're all walking side by side.

Just before we were about to take our last turn towards my nearing English class, alarmingly loud voices interrupt the somewhat peaceful vibe of the hallway.

"You guys!" the voices shout, making their way towards us.

Stepping just in front of Saffron and I, Royal greets the obnoxiously loud males. "Hey, guys."

Every guy needs several others in their lives. So even though Royal has Saffron and I, I guess he does need his guy time. Unfortunately—just kidding— it's spent with these guys. Seth, Jason, River, and Carter. They all go way back. They're apart of the football team. They have their own little group and much to my benefit, it's only the two of them right now.

Don't get me wrong, as much as I love all of them, I hate the attention even more.

Unlike the rest of them, I'm not exactly a social butterfly. This they knew. Saffron and the guys don't notice, but a handful of students seem to attack me for it and I never really understood why.

"She's gorgeous, no doubt, but she belongs nowhere near their radar."

"Does she even talk?"

"She has no social bone in her body."

"Why are they even friends with her?"

With no one by my side, these were the words I heard throughout the halls. They spread like wildfire and I never thought it was necessary to tell anyone. I still don't. Not even Saffron. If it didn't bother me, it shouldn't bother any of them.

Like I said before, I'm not a stereotypical cheerleader.

I don't have a major fan club and definitely, no girl wants to be me. I don't show up to any big parties even if the hosts are my best friends. And if I do, they'd have a room all nice and prepared for the security of my privacy, making sure I didn't receive any unexpected visitors. For this, I'm thankful. They know me too well, and I guess that's why melodramatic teens don't bother me as much.

I don't need them to like me.

I have my circle.

When we met Royal, he had the pleasure of introducing us to his little club. And as for their motto, if friends with one, friends with all. They had our backs, and as much as I hated the attention for it, we had there's. Even if they are hypocritically problematic and a pain themselves.

"Ladies," Seth greets, with a donut in his hand. "You coming to practice after school, Royal?" He asks.

Ah yes, Royal.

He's captain of the football team. On the bright side of things, practice ends shortly after football, so Royal gets to drive us home every day which is a plus for us. That is if I decide not to drive my car.

Royal turns towards us. "You guys are still running cheer, right?"

Aw.

He was thinking of us.

"Of course we are," Saffron assures confidently.

Royal turns towards the two and nods his head, giving them the answer they wanted. "Wouldn't miss it." Before either one of them could open their mouths, the rest of their group came to join the party.

And to think, it couldn't have gotten any louder.

"Guys? I'm going to go." I say, almost completing the interrupted turn, we were supposed to take earlier.

"Hold, on Des. We said we'd walk you, remember?"

Damn it, Royal.

I'm not stupid.

I know he's well aware of my attempts to escape the settling crowd in front of us. I will seriously murder him. Though, it would be nice to see Carter and River. Royal knows god damn well that I was trying to get somewhere quieter and less, I don't know, less—

What the hell?

There it was again.

That feeling.

A feeling of— familiarity?

I'm starting to think this will be a frequent thing now.

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