Forget Me Not

Chapter 1: The Invitation

Tess                                                                                                                                                                          

The first day of the school year was finally over and things were going smoothly. After my speech that morning I was on a high. I'd received my timetable, been allocated all my favourite teachers, and even landed History with my best friend Lottie. Even though I already had a ton of homework to do, my senior year wasn't as dreadful as I'd thought.

I got on the bus to go home, seated towards the back by the window in my usual spot, and waited for Lottie to join me. Since I was in meetings during lunch for important School Captain business, I didn't have the chance to talk with her. I looked out the window waiting to catch sight of her bouncing down the front steps and before I knew it, there she was. I sat up excitedly when I spotted her rushing towards the bus. She waved to me from outside and I waved back. She had this childish energy that I loved about her. She had been the same since we were kids and while I stressed over everything, she just took things as they came, smiled, and carried on.

Lottie came to a halt in the doorway of the bus.

"Oh no, my binder! I left in the toilet. Arty!! Wait for me? I'll be two seconds!" Arty, the bus driver rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Two seconds," he grumbled.

Lottie didn't even have time to reply. She was on her heels again, racing back up to front steps her two braids bouncing along behind her. I doubt Arty, or any bus driver, would wait usually for anyone but this was Lottie. She was the type of person who bothered to ask and remember Arty's birthday. She even baked him cupcakes every year.

I sat waiting for her again. I was eager to hear what stories she had to tell about her day; what teachers she got or what cute boys were in her class this year. She was always a whirlwind of events, overdramatic and I honestly thrived on it. While I waited, my attention fell on a boy, Clay. I had Maths with him last year and spent most of my time staring at him from across the room. Clay was quite popular, devastatingly polite and everyone found him attractive. He was tall, fit, had a gorgeous smile, wavy brown hair, and was the best on the School Soccer team. The only downfall, he sucked at Math more than I did and I was terrible. And when I say terrible, I mean completely and utterly atrocious.

Clay was walking down the front steps with his long-time girlfriend, Myra, who was as equally beautiful; long dark hair, dark skin, they were obviously both made in heaven. Like James O'Donnell being every teachers' wet dream, Clay and Myra were every single girls' ultimate fantasy couple goals.

All jealousy aside, it made me happy to see a couple like that. They passed a group of four fellow seniors sitting on the low brick fence outlining the perimeter of the school. They all exchanged 'hellos' and small talk; Clay even shook one of the other guy's hands, his name was Chris. Shortly after, Clay and Myra left out of view towards the car-park and my attention was left on the group of friends they were just talking too.

I knew them, everyone did. This was a small town with a small high school with around six-hundred students. It was a blessing and a curse really. There was a hierarchy, like every school but it wasn't strictly followed, and having a small population meant bullying was easily controlled. Although, the downside was that news traveled fast. The good and the bad.

Most people knew of Chris and his three friends because they sold everyone pot. Every afternoon when the bell rang to end the day, their group would sit on the brick wall while Chris did his business. It seemed bizarre to do it in front of the school but no one seemed to care. I've seen students from every group buy from Chris in the afternoon; popular kids, athletes, band kids, geeks, and I've even seen the real religious kids getting a fix. There were also rumors that Chris sells to some of the teachers and that's why they haven't bothered him about it but I don't think anyone knows if it's really true, it was just a rumor after all...