Until I found you

Chapter one
Apple

I'm sitting in my car, It's raining out which is something new for late summer in california. The sound of raindrops is comforting. I'm waiting for my brother to hurry so we can leave for school but a little bit in me is hoping he stays in the house for 2 more minutes. I've only had my license for a month now and I have not driven in rainy conditions. It's not even a mile to my school but I'm still nervous. But of course my mind overrides me and the next thing I hear is my brother telling our mom "I love you". I honk so he'll stop standing in the rain and track water into my car. It's not new but I still just cleaned it yesterday. It's my grandpa's old honda. I drive pretty slow to school but not so slow it's illegal. We were early enough to get a good parking spot but not too early people would think we were crazy. It's only the 2nd week of school.
"What time do you want me to meet you at the car?" my brother says.
"3:45 I have to stop by the library and get a book."
"Okay loser."
I don't get out with him because what freshman boy wants to walk in with his sister. Not my brother, that's for sure. The bell doesn't ring for 20 more minutes. So I'm just going to go back to watching the rain drops fall on my windshield. I turn up my radio and it's playing, strawberry fields Forever by the Beatles. I start singing along.
"Nothing is real...strawberry fields forever...Let me take you down."
This song always reminded me of running through strawberry fields with your partner and laughing and having the night of your lifes. This moment is broken when Alena, my friend since last year, is standing at my door with a leather face mask on.
"GOD Alena could you get any more weird?" i say.
"You're the one I learned it from." she says getting in.
Alena has become one of my closest friends. We know almost all of each other's secrets. I don't usually trust people like that but she's different. It's like we've been longing to be friends for many lifetimes. When we are with each other it's like two golden retrievers yet we aren't dog people.
"Are you ready for Lopez's class again?" she says laughing
Last year we had geometry with Lopez, the most annoying and talkative teacher out there. We have him again for algebra 2 this year but luckily it's together so we can just judge him with one look from each other. He knows how we are so he sat us across the room from each other but that's not gonna stop us. Just because we aren't near each other doesn't mean we're not talk. With one look we know what each other is saying. Half of his lessons are just him complaining about our generation like it's our fault we don't like school.
"No, I'm so sick of him we should ask to switch to a different teacher." I say getting out of the car.
"Probably" she says "see you 3rd"
...
It's 3rd period and I haven't seen Alena. This is strange and I can't text her because we aren't allowed to have our phones out but then, the door opens. In walks Alena. I slap my forehead and laugh because she's walking like a model to her seat.
"Alena you're late" Mr. Lopez yells, slapping a paper on her desk.
"Sir, I was in the restroom."
"use the restroom on your own time"
"uh unless you want me pissing on your floor i'm gonna go when i need to"
I start laughing more and then he ends up kicking us out. We don't really care though because he's gonna apologize tomorrow like always. We end up walking to the agriculture room and chill there till next period.
...
It's now after the last period and I walk into the library. I walk over to the colleen hoover books. I've almost read them all. I picked 'verity' because it's my 3rd favorite book by her and I'm thinking of rereading it. But I just put it back because I already have it at my house. I picked 'slammed' up next, I haven't read it yet but I really want to. I see a hand reach beside me and pick up 'it ends with us'.
"That's my favorite book, you should really read it." I say turning to face them.
"oh really?" they say.
They are someone I haven't seen at school. I know almost everyone at this school. How have I not seen them before? They are so pretty. They have dark wavy hair that falls just below their shoulders, hazel eyes with naturally long eyelashes, baggy clothes that don't even sit right but look good on them, and a backpack that looks years old with hiraeth written across it.
"yeah she just came out with the 2nd book of it, i just finished it and it left me in tears ." I say "well i have to go my brother is waiting for me."
"I'm hiraeth, I just started today." they say.
"I'm apple." I say running out of the library
God, how embarrassing could I get.
My mom named me apple because that was the only thing she craved while pregnant with me. I love it because it is unique but it's also embarrassing.
...
When I got home I searched them up on instagram and I found their account right away. Their bio reads 'deep longing for something, especially one's home.' This was the meaning of hiraeth. I don't follow them because then they'll think I'm stalking them. I walk over to my desk and pull out my chair and sit. I pull out 'slammed' and start reading. I'm on chapter 2 when I hear my phone go off. It's instagram. I had following request. It was from hiraeth. Well now i don't feel weird for stalking their page.
Me: So how'd you found my account lol
Hiraeth: Well not everyone has the name apple
Me:You're right lol
Hiraeth: Have you started reading the book you had in your hand?
Me: Yes, lol just got to chapter 2 did you get it ends with us?
Hiraeth: Well if i'm being honest i've already read it i just wanted to make friends with you, i seen you looking at colleen's books and i love her so why not try to talk to you
Me: omg i love her too, we should hang out sometime