Ki$$ & $ell

Ki$$ & $ell: Chapter One

The first day of my freshman year of high school started out the same as every other year.

            New clothes. Check.

            Different faces. Yep.

            And once again—completely kiss-free.

“I’m serious, Arielle, it took me practically an hour this morning just to pick out the perfect outfit,” said McCartney. “I mean, what you wear on your first day pretty much sets the standard for the rest of the year, you know?”

            My friends, McCartney Janning, Phineas Haywood and I walked toward the front doors of Ronald Henry High School trying hard not to act like it was our first time doing so. As McCartney went on about her new threads, I glanced down at my own outfit. It’d taken me all of five minutes to decide on a pair of dark denim jeans, and a black tank top underneath a cropped-top featuring the words “Who is A?” on it. Not exactly double-take-worthy, but it would guarantee that I’d blend in with the crowd. And blending in meant not being singled out as a lame, newbie freshman.

            Along with the non-flashy outfit, I’d smoothed my long, red hair back into a low ponytail and dusted my eyelids with a soft green shadow that perfectly complimented my eyes. And even though I was wearing two-inch heels, I still barely hit 5’3”. Taking some clear lipgloss out of my pocket, I reapplied the shiny stuff to my lips just like Teen Vogue had suggested in the issue I’d read the night before.

            “So, after about twenty different outfits, I ended up going with the first one I tried on,” McCartney finished, taking her first breath since she’d began talking.

            “And that’s what you decided on?” Phin asked, snorting loudly. He examined McCartney’s mini skirt, white top, black tie and bright pink satin jacket with mock horror.

            “Hey, now. Don’t knock the outfit,” McCartney said, stopping briefly to glare at Phin. “Don’t even get me started on your fashion choices.”

            “What’s wrong with my outfit?” Phin asked, gesturing to his choice of skinny jeans and a plain black tee.

            I knew they were mostly joking with each other, but being that I had no desire to start the year off with an argument, I decided it was time to break it up.

            “Okay, okay. Back to your corners,” I said, laughing at them. “You both look great. Like you belong here.”

            “Yeah we do!” Phin said, putting his hand up for a high five. When neither of us reciprocated, he let his arm fall to his side weakly.

            I shook my head and smiled. Boys could be so incredibly clueless sometimes.

Once we reached the front door, the three of us stopped in our tracks, ignoring the fact that others would have to swerve around us to get by. One by one we reluctantly looked up at the words chiseled onto the building above the doorframe. “Education prepares you for real life.”

What’s more real than high school? Seriously.

            “We ready to do this?” I asked.

            Phin and McCartney didn’t respond, but both took a step through the doors and into the hallway. With a silent prayer, I joined them and we began to move as a group past the lockers that lined the walls, and further into school.