I Never Imagined ✔️

Chapter 1: Imagination

(Raymond)

  A warm, gentle August breeze caressed my skin. I turned the key in the lock, and with a simple click!, the car doors were locked and secure. My head craned around to drink in the sight that's before my eyes. 

Freshmen were frantically running around, in an effort to find their first period classroom hidden amongst the maze of buildings. Students were strolling around, in an effort to find their friends so that they could catch up on whatever they'd missed in the last three months. 

Laughter and joyous dialogue were resonating from those who had found their friends. I push my head high and calmly strut to room 35, which is where my first class of senior year is being held. My arms lifted itself so that my eyes could observe the time displayed on the watch tightly wrapped around my left wrist. 

"7:46," the time read on my watch. 

"I've got time," I thought, and my gaze shifted to the number of posters displayed in the neighboring windows. While I was observing the content of the posters, one of them particularly catches my eye. Visible in the window of room 33, my eyes inhale the words printed on it. 

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds we thought never were. But without it, we'd go nowhere. - Carl Sagan," I read. Who knew that two sentences would be the some of the most relatable things that I had read? Ever since I was a foolish kid, my mom always expressed her thoughts on my enormous imagination. 

My imagination has played an important part in my life growing up. Growing up, my imagination carried to many different kinds of worlds. Many of them were some that I never imagined. But, all I can do now is thank it. 

Because without my imagination, I would have never gone through what I went through in the past. Even though some of the worlds were less than desirable, I'm grateful for being carried to them. 

Once I processed my thoughts on the quote, my ears registered the light pitter patter of feet behind me. The hairs on my body stood up on end as I felt someone walk up behind me. 

"Missed me?" a sweet voice inquired. 

My ears almost pricked up at the familiarity of the voice. I turned swiftly on my heel, and my good friend, Sophia, is standing right before me. Her skin is a fresh golden color, with her warm brown eyes glowing. Her beaming smile is like an infection, as it causes one to sweep my face as well. 

"Sophia! Of course I did!" I greeted, and my arms wrap around her in a loose, but warm hug. 

We almost melted into each other, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to let go. Eventually, Sophia removed her arms from my body, and her eyes met mine once again. 

"How was your summer, Ray?" she asked. 

My shoulders move quickly in a shrug. "Same old. Went to the same countries again, and we had some fun. What about you?" I asked, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. 

"Went to the usual countries. France, Greece, Italy. It's so humid over there, but I had a blast visiting family. The heat was just the biggest problem, " she says, and we both laughed. 

While we were both laughing, I heard the clicking of another person's feet coming towards me. 

"One more year in hell, Ray," another voice commented, and I turned to see my other good friend, Victoria, standing there. 

Her hair was as blonde as can be, with each curl voluminized by the immense bushiness. Her thin lips were curled into a slight smile, and I was immersed in the sea of her blue eyes. 

"Victoria! How was your summer?" I asked, and my arms spread open in the offer of a hug. Victoria accepts, and we bundled together in a fairly tight hug. After about a minute, we separated, and Victoria's eyes met mine again. 

"My summer was fine, Ray. Spent some time in Sweden with my mom, where I saw my grandparents. I tried to speak Swedish, but it was pointless because my Swedish is more broken than a wishbone," she sarcastically commented, and I chortle. 

I turn to Sophia, and the beaming look she once had was replaced with a neutral, yet civil look. My eyes shifted back to Victoria's stance, and the look sewn on her face was also mainly neutral, but with a hostile thread interwoven in there. 

My jaw fell open in an effort to ease the obvious tension between them, but before the words could've flown out of my mouth, a sharp ringing filled the air. My ear registered that as the first bell. We had to get to our first periods. "I have first period with Thurman. See you later," Victoria assured, and she turns swiftly on her heel to go to her respective class. 

My gaze shifted back to Sophia, who didn't have the neutral look painted on her face anymore. 

"First period Donaldson. You?" I asked. Sophia's lips curled into another smile. 

"I also have Donaldson," she proudly proclaims. 

I started to do an internal happy dance inside. Being in Sophia's class is something that I've always enjoyed, so this time should be no different. "Walk together?" I offered. 

Sophia's head bobbed up and down. Simultaneously, we marched over to our classroom, which had the door wide open. I took a step inside of the room, and my eyes scanned the room for anyone else familiar.

My eye catches my best friend, Pete, who was sitting on a lab chair, staring into space. My feet pick themselves up and jaunt towards where Pete is daydreaming. "I see you're lost in thought again," I claim. 

Without shifting his glance, Pete cluelessly inquired, "Is mayonnaise an instrument?" 

My eyes roll to the back of my head, while Pete chuckled triumphantly. 

"You and Spongebob," I say out of irritation. Pete's glance shifted towards mine, and he shrugged. 

"That's how I roll. But either way, good to see you again. How's life?" he asked. I shrugged. 

"Meh. Not much going on. Did the usual. How was visiting Mexico with your mom? Did your abuela stuff you with food?" I asked. Pete nodded his head. 

"Oh boy, you have no idea. I probably gained 10 pounds just from that week of visiting her. But enough of me. Ready to take on one more year of hell?" he asked.

I nodded my head. "Definitely. I'm more prepared than ever," I proudly proclaimed. 

Pete sighed. "Do you think that there will be any more messes this year?" he asked. 

I shrugged. "I hope not. I'm going to stay positive and say there won't be any," I predicted. 

After what happened in the past, I was trying to keep a happy face and still be optimistic. Little did I know that I would be proven wrong in the worst ways possible.   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting. How do you think that Ray is going to be proven wrong? And why do you think there's so much tension between Sophia and Victoria? Let me know in the comments. 

Woohoo for my first chapter! How did I do? Let me know what you think in the comments. I also apologize for the length of the chapter. They will get longer and longer gradually.

Please vote/comment/share/follow/message if you like my work!

Lots of love,

S.V.T.S