Never Have I Ever

Chapter 1

There wasn’t much that I liked about mornings, especially when my little brother Chris who was six years old, woke me up loudly - like today.

            “Aria!” his baby voice hollered. I felt his small body jump on top of me and his mop of dirty brown curls fell into my mouth. I choked, making a disgusted face, spitting out the strands of hair that were blocking my airway.

            “Get off, you little pest,” I muttered, pushing him off of me, and throwing my thick blankets off my bed. I stretched, opening my closet.

I picked out my usual clothes for school – a plain long sleeve shirt, and jeans. I smiled, satisfied when I pulled them on. I’m just so fashionable, right? I brushed through my long locks of dirty blonde hair with my fingers.

I quickly put together a breakfast for Chris in the kitchen. He grinned a missing-toothed smile at me, and I fought the urge to say “Aw.”

            “Are you ready for school?” I asked him, ruffling his soft curls. He nodded eagerly.

I kissed Chris’s forehead, smiling as his baby face. Once he was finished, I helped him into his heavy jacket, and I gritted my teeth when we passed our barely awake mother who was probably still drunk from last night.

Tears filled my eyes slightly but I blinked them back. I promised I wouldn’t cry over her anymore, and I won’t. Chris didn’t notice me spacing out, and still chattered on, swinging his arms down our driveway. We reached my piece of crap car that took me all of my sophomore year to save up for. I still loved my car, no matter how shitty it was. I buckled Chris into the back seat and revved the engine.

*     *     *     *

Once I made it to his small elementary school, and dropped him off, I only had a few minutes to make it to first period. I had already missed homeroom.

I cursed to myself, speeding up a little, and finally made it to my high school. I’d already managed to be late six times this year, which was my senior year, and they’d let me off the hook each time, but I was pretty sure I was earning myself a detention for this one.

I hurried down the hall, cursing my mother and myself, and everything in between for making me late.

I started to run down the hall since it was empty, and ran right into something – no, someone.

            “Oops, sorry,” I murmured, steadying myself to rush past them again, but whoever it was grabbed onto my wrists, tightly. I gritted my teeth, and looked up to meet intense blue eyes. I almost gasped but held it in. He’s so good looking.

            “Want to watch where you’re going?” The young man in front of me said harshly.

Usually I would’ve hurried on by, blushing red, but I was feeling annoyed from being late, so I ripped my wrists from his hold and flipped him off. I walked quickly to my first period, which was environmental science and sat down, ducking my head.

I still felt tingles on my wrist. Weird.

*    *     *     *

I made my way to lunch, already feeling bored from this school day. My best friend, Anna, latched onto my arm. Her bright red hair was everywhere, and her green eyes were excited.

            “What is it?” I groaned, knowing she had something to tell me.

            “Party. Tonight! We were invited!” Was all that she got out before dancing around excitedly, in the cafeteria may I add.

            “Anna,” I said through my teeth, looking around to see if anyone was watching, my cheeks already tinged pink. I slapped my palms to them, hating that I blushed for anything.

            “So, you’re coming, right?” She squealed as we settled into our seats which was in the back of the cafeteria, unnoticed by many people – just how I liked it.

            “No,” I murmured, and then felt bad when her face dropped. I chewed on a french fry that I had taken from her tray, watching her make her eyes wide, and stick her bottom lip out.

I sighed. Here it comes.

            “PLEASE! Please, please, please!? ARIA PLEASE, I’M BEGGING!” She screeched, yes she screeched.

            “Is she having another tantrum?” A male voice asked, amused. I scooted over so our other best friend, Scott, could sit down. He grinned, pulling his fingers through his dark brown hair.

Anna’s face immediately scrunched up in protest. “I’m not having a tantrum!” She yelled loudly, and then noticed how loud her voice was, and repeated herself more quietly, “I’m not having a tantrum.” She crossed her arms, and frowned. She looked to Scott, “Scotty, she’s not going to the party.”

Scott, of course, knew exactly which party she was talking about, and him – being popular, and liked by most girls at our school – turned to me with a bewildered expression on his face.

            “Why? You have to go!” He said, and Anna nodded, sticking her tongue out at me when he couldn’t see. I rolled my eyes. She’s such a child sometimes.

            “No.” I said stubbornly.

            “Yes.” They both said at the same time. I made a face. Creepy.

            “No.” I said again.

            “Yes.”

            “No.”

            “Yes.”

            “No!” I said loudly.

            “No.” They said.

            “Yes!” I said and then realized my mistake and clapped a hand on my mouth. “That doesn’t count!” I yelled, my words muffled behind my hand.

Scott grinned evilly, throwing an arm around my shoulder, and nodded. “Yes, yes it does. Poor Aria, has to go to a high school party for once in her life.” Anna giggled, and I scowled.

            “I hate you both.” I pouted. Scott pulled up the sides of my mouth, ruffling my hair, and Anna grinned at me.

            “You love us.”

I sighed, defeated. I guess I really was going to a party tonight – but all I could think about was two intense, bright blue eyes.

*    *    *     *