It was a cold and muggy day outside, the sound of rustling leaves and the smell of fresh hot cakes and warm hazelnut coffee filled the air. I wish I didn't have to leave my mom, she said at least this year I have to finish out high school in our old town with my dad. Though I don't mind getting a break from her new husband it's still uncomfortable being in my old childhood home for this long. I've stayed here for breaks during school to visit but my mom wanted me back as soon as possible, so her telling me she wanted me to come and stay here for a while confused me. Peter doesn't bother me much, just the overbearing helicopter father that's all nothing too bad. I manage to roll out of bed and sleepily wobble over to my dresser vanity. I pulled open one of the drawers to pull out a pain t-shirt along with socks, then I pulled open another drawing pulling out plain blue jeans and a green flannel. As I put all of my clothes on one at a time, I hear truck tracks pull into the gravel driveway though I push it off, It's probably one of Peter's friends anyways. I made my way down the stairs seeing my dad making his usual morning mug of coffee. I grab a bowl from the sink and rinse it off and pour in some honey nut cheerios. Peter cleared his throat before he began to speak ,"Mornin' kiddo, How'd ya sleep?" I gave a quiet yawn before I responded back. "I mean..I slept if that's what you're asking..? Though we should uhm..really invest in central heating." He lowly chuckled. "Now what in the hell is central heating, I mean I heard of central AC or air but I ain't ever heard of central heating. If you're too cold, why not get the space heater from the garage?" Is he joking? That thing is like a thousand years old, okay well maybe not that old but definitely old enough where it makes an annoying whistle sound and makes the whole room smell like something died. In response to what he had said I kinda rolled my eyes. He sighed, "Look..I know I'm not your first choice to go and stay with. I'm sure you'd rather be with your mom and her new thing but I promise I'll try and make it better kiddo. I'll even go to the store later today to get more food and look at space contraptions to make the room warmer alright?" He pats my head to reassure me. I give a simple nod and a small smile up at him. He begins to speak again before a man walks into the kitchen through the side door. "Oh my my my! Is this thee famous Rosemary?" The more I stare at him the more I realize who it was, Flint Apache. He is my dad's childhood best friend. He acted like another father figure for me when my dad was called in over night he used to come over and watch me. Mainly because my dad nudged me toward him, I gave him a loose armed hug while he came back with a strong but warm bear hug. The longer he hugged me the more I took in his scent, a warm honey wet wood like smell along with cold sweat. I gave him a small tap to let him know to let me go. Which after a while he did thankfully. "Whelp did your old man tell you what I've been fixing up for you?" I tilt my head at him then I look over at my dad. In response my dad gestured to go outside. And as he did that a horn went off along with a couple howling dogs from the other houses, I grabbed my coat and went outside seeing an absolutely beautiful emerald green pick up truck and a boy hanging out of the driver seat. He had long raven black hair along with a wide playfully smirk along his face.He swings out of the car," 'Thennaaa! It's been how many summers dude!" Holy shit, that's Flints' son Rowan. I held out a fist, good to know he remembered how much I hated physical affection, I kinda smiled back at him and bumped my fist into his as he made explosion noises which made me laugh. "God you're still such a fucking weirdo." I say. He chuckled at what I said but moved along in the conversation and after I answered about a million questions on how I've been doing and if my moms 'mate' was treating her well and with respect and such like that.My dad creeped behind me making me jump and cling onto Rowan's chest as tight as I possibly could. I felt his heartbeat quicken though he got nervous. My dad chuckled playfully along with Mr. Apache. "Oh 'thena you jump too much, but anyways it's your new and first truck now you can take it to school today but-." I hug him tightly. "Thank you, Thank you!" I say happily as he hands me the keys and I quickly get into the truck to scope it out and my dad hands me my bookbag and a kiss on the top of my head. "Alright kiddo be safe and make sure you have your turning signals this time I don't want ol' James to be hollering at me on the phone.I give him a nod and put the keys in the ignition and start it. I immediately turned on the heat and started to warm up. BY the time I made it to school I definitely looked out of place, I made sure to lock my truck and make my way to the main office to get my schedule. I told the lady at the desk my full name and that I was told I'd get someone to show me to my classes and such, as much as I hate the social interaction I don't necessarily want to get lost immediately on my first day.It takes a few minutes for her to print me a schedule and call someone down to show me around. She brought back some guy, he had an uncomfortable feeling on him which made me uneasy. The lady turned to me to speak,"Alright sweetie Mr. Christopher will show you around today, if that's alright with you that is?" I gave her a small nod and in response she gave me a small smile and shuud us out of the office. He did as he was told and showed me around though he did try starting a conversation a million times. I wasn't ignoring the guy. If he would just look over he could see me nodding my head or shaking it.I gave a sigh,"I'm 17 years old from florida. I used to live with my mom. Now I'm back living here with my dad for the rest of high school and my favorite colors are emerald green and gold. I hate pineapples but I like the smell of them. Oh and no I don't have a boyfriend." He gave a chuckle in response. "Alrighty then I'm happy to get to know you miss Athena. Now we have made it to your first period class,after every period I'll come get you to show you your next class." I gave him a small nod and turned to the classroom and took a deep breath before walking in. I anxiously went up to the teacher's desk and handed him a note the lady in the main office gave me to explain how I'm a new student and my information and such. A few classes pass by before I find myself in the gym, I put on my hoodie over my gym shirt and put on leggings, though I waited until all the other girls left the locker room to give myself privacy. I take deep breaths before walking out. The more I look around the more I just compare myself to everyone else, I could be because I'm new or just that is how I've always been. By the looks of it, it was a free gym meaning I could do whatever I wanted to, meaning I could hide out in the locker room. Just as I was going to turn around to go back to the locker room there was a tiny tap on my shoulder making me turn around. It was a short girl there she had raven black hair up into a tight ponytail along with a thin headband. "Hey you're new right? I'm Eveline but you can call me Evie" She smiles at me and I just shyly wave at her as I was about to say something when her other friends walked over. One of them I easily recognized as Christopher, the same guy who showed me to my classes. The other friend was feminine presenting she had shoulder length hair along with a few bobby pins to pin back her stray hairs. "Hi! I'm Lilliana." I kinda wave awkwardly at her. "I uhm-" I begin to speak before getting interrupted by Christopher. "Oh yeah! This is Athena guys. So lady dudes meet madam Athena, and Athena meet the lady dudes" I kinda laugh seeing Eveline scrunch her nose. "Yeah well we have names, silly.." she says as she flicks his cheeks."Well duh I know that dork and didn't you just introduce yourself I think she knows your name I shouldn't have to re say it. Anyways-, 'thena you should sit by all of us during lunch!" I look at Evie before I speak. "Is that alright with you?" She gave a shrug in response, "Well I was going to ask if you wanted to before loudmouth came over and beat me to it." Christopher huffs. After the gym class ended we all made our way over to the Cafeteria and sat down at a table where there were two other people there already having a conversation.They seemed to notice us and wave us down. After the whole introducing myself, it was a calm ten minutes of course as I jinx myself there were two obnoxious I think soccer players that came around joking with Christopher taking him away. "So Athena have you found anyone yet? Like as in crush wise?" Eveline says. I think she Is waiting for me to say Christopher, don't get me wrong he is a sweet kid but never in my life would I like or date someone so obnoxious and about sports. Don't get me wrong I'm all about opposites attract but I just don't find him attractive not even in the slightest. I reply with, "No, I'm not really worried about it right now seeing it's my first day and such." I hear her take a sigh of relief as Ember, the other girl that was sitting at the table looks at me and begins to speak. "That's actually pretty smart, I mean you haven't met everyone yet."What does she mean not everyone? She points to the group of people coming in from their break period. "They are the Valentines, they are thee most popular and attractive people here really..-" THe rest of what she says I tune out just staring at them fascinated. The first two that had walked in were quite pale which makes sense seeing this town doesn't know what sunlight is since it's always so cold and gloomy. There was a glorious girl walking with a buff guy like the stereotypical couple. I heard Ember say their names, Vincent Valentine and Scarlet valentine. The next couple that came in, was a more opposite couple. The male looked like he was in constant misery and so tense. The girl on the other hand was so lively and happily holding his hand proud to show him off. Ember I think said their names were Hazel Valentine and Zaros Valentine. The girl gave me a small smile as if she's seen me before. After the couple had sat down a guy walked in. Oh my did it make my heart skip a beat, there was just something about him. His name was Luther Valentine.
