Her

1

  I stared at the empty room, not sure where to begin. Other than my bed and dresser, the room was just empty white wall and soft dark carpet. Mom would've known what to do. No. I shook my head. I could do this without her. I sighed, leaned against the door frame, and looked at my new life. Dad had moved me from Phoenix, Arizona to the rain filled city of Portland, Oregon. Six months ago, he would have never considered moving and we would have probably stayed in Phoenix for the rest of our lives. But then Mom's life ended. I pulled the nearest box to me and started lifting things out of it.

  "Haven?" Dad called from somewhere in this foreign house. 

  "Yeah?" I called back.

  "You have to get to school. Use the Ford." He called. This was the extent of our conversations now. I grabbed my bag of from my bed and the keys from the kitchen's counter. I got my license the day Mom died, which was ironic because she died in a car crash. I started the large truck and used my phone as a GPS so I didn't have to spend hours searching for it. The first day of school wasn't a big deal. Nothing was anymore. 

  I arrived in the parking lot several minutes later and headed to my locker. My dark hair spread around my shoulders, keeping everyone that wasn't in front of me out of my vision. My locker was near the cafeteria, which I supposed would be convenient. I put all my books in my locker but my algebra II and AP government textbook. I checked my phone. It was 7:52. I walked to my algebra II class two hallways over and waited for it to start.

  "Hey," Someone shouted towards me. "Grey beanie!"

  I turned my head towards a short green haired girl who was walking towards me. She was somehow shorter than me, and had several ear piercings. Her makeup was dark and her clothes were shorts and a sweater. 

  "Me?" I asked.

  "Yeah, you. Come get coffee with me. I need it before class and my friends ditched me to smoke." She told me. I looked at the classroom door and felt a tug inside of me. It's not like Dad would care if I was late.

  "Sure. Do you wanna drive or should I?" I asked, walking towards the parking lot with her. 

  "You," She said and we started walking towards my Ford. "I'm Lexie."

  "Haven." I replied. I started driving off to the nearest Starbucks with Lexie searching her bag.

  "Do you mind if I pay? It's the least I can do for wasting your time." She said.

  "No I got it." I told her. She nodded as I parked. We walked in to a small line, and Lexie looked over their menu as to debate what she wanted. I ordered for both of us and it got to us several minutes later. I drove back to the school sipping on my caramel mocha. 

  "Hey, wanna hang out with my group after school? We're gonna go to my house." Lexie offered. I shrugged and she smiled. "See you at four then." 

  I walked into class with my coffee and the teacher stared at me as I took an available seat in the back of the room. The teacher looked at his computer before glancing back at me. 

  "Haven Scott. Are we going to have a problem with you being tardy?" He asked. I shrugged.

  "I'll let you know when I figure out my schedule." I told him. 

  "Well 'figure it out' sooner." He said and then continued rambling on about whatever he was before I walked in.