The One That Got Away

Chapter 1

“Say hello to senior year and good bye to all the drama from last year.” Naomi said.

“Umm…you okay?” I asked nervously.

We were hanging out by the senior lockers, on our first day of school. The plan was to look cool and act like it was any other day. We were finally seniors and I was proud of my best friend Naomi because she made it with us. I couldn’t believe that Senior year had arrived. It felt like yesterday we were freshman and I was with –wait stop that thought.

“We’re finally seniors and next year around this time we’ll be freshman in college. I can’t wait for college boys and the college parties an–”

“Whoa! Settle down Naomi. Let’s take it easy okay?” My friend Isabel a.k.a Bella interrupted Naomi. I laughed and I turned to open my locker. They started talking again, but I zoned out. I didn’t even want to come to school today, I wanted to stay in Malibu for a couple of days more, but Naomi threatened to call dibs on the cute freshman this year.

My name is Mercedes but my friends call me M. I live in Ontario, California. It’s a town but feels more like a city. Our student population was around 3,000 students and around 800 were seniors this year. I was happy I was back though. I had missed my friends, even though I had seen them about a week ago.

“OMG! Did you hear about the latest gossip?” Naomi squeaked.

“It’s the first day of school and there’s already gossip? My oh my, it’s gonna be an interesting year.” My friend Jackie joined us.

I had lots of friends, but there were only five that I could confide in. I didn’t have to worry about having my secrets exposed with them. At the moment, I was hanging out with Naomi, Bella, Jackie and some other groupies. Deanna and Omar were probably going to be late. It didn’t surprise me if they weren’t late; I mean they’re going for a school record here.

“Anybody seen Omar or Deanna?” I asked. I turned around and my friends were gone. Everyone was crowding around the entrance of the Guidance Office. I didn’t want to know what was going on, as long as he didn’t show up I was great.

I turned back to my locker, and a bouquet of roses welcomed me.

“I don’t know if roses are still your favorite so I decided to take a risk.” He was standing behind me. I could feel him radiating heat from his body. I froze in place. I couldn’t think; I couldn’t react. I was frozen in place. I wanted to believe I was imagining this moment. I slowly turned around and I gasped.

“Please tell me I’m hallucinating because then I won’t have to go to class.” I whispered. It was him. He was more gorgeous and handsome since the last time I saw him which was on People’s Magazine.

“No, you’re not hallucinating. I’m back.” Taylor Lautner stood in front of me with a smile. I felt all the blood drain from my face and I was feeling dizzy. I leaned back on my locker for some support.

“Whoa! Are you okay?” Taylor tried to grab my arm to steady me, but I smacked his hand from mine.

“No! Don’t touch me.” I said acidly. I turned around and grabbed my bag and coffee mug. I shut my locker and I tried to leave but Taylor was in my way.

“What’s wrong?” He asked confused.

“What did you expect Taylor? That I’d be glad to see you again and I would run into your arms?” I tried not to shout at him because if I did it would bring people’s attention to where we were.

“Actually, I didn’t think it through very well. It was a spur of the moment thing.” He said.

“I guess you’re the commotion everyone is fussing about. I’ve got to go.” I said and tried to go around him. He stopped me by putting a hand around my waist and pulled me back to the front of my locker.