Falling for You Ch1

Instructions

‘Serena, get out of bed!’ My mum’s voice travelled up the stairwell ‘Mmrph’ was my reply as I rolled over and closed my eyes again. I do believe beds are always so much more comfortable in the mor- ‘SERENA!’ Mum was closer now, her footsteps echoing as she climbed the stairs, but even though I heard her coming, I still jumped as she flung open my bedroom door. ‘I was JUST about to get up’ I complained as she tugged at my blinds, causing sunlight to blind me. ‘Sure you were,’ she replied, now pulling my duvet off me. I shrieked as the cold morning air enveloped me. ‘Come on: up,’ she instructed, leaving the room. Rolling my eyes, I dragged myself off my mattress and padded over to my closet. I should be excited: it’s the first day of the new school year- I’ll get to see Dawn, Misty, May and Iris again and life will have structure and routine again. But that’s just the problem- year 11 is all routine. There’s no fun excursions or camps to break it up- the teachers all say we need to get our act together and start working for once. I sighed as I pulled on my favourite black t-shirt and red skirt- the days will just keep rolling on, one after the other, blurring into each other as each becomes somehow more boring than the last. I’ve never really dreaded school- you could say I like it. But this year- it just seems pointless. ‘Serena, are you out of bed yet?’ ‘Coming mum’ I grabbed my pink felt hat in one hand and my hairbrush in the other and headed downstairs. ‘SERENA!’ Came a familiar squeal from behind me. ‘May!’ I squealed in return, running up to her. ‘It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever!’ ‘I know,’ I replied, adjusting my school bag on my back. ‘Shall we go, then?’ May nodded, so we began the short walk to school. However, we’d barely taken a few steps when another voice called my name. I spun around, my heart skipping a beat as I saw the familiar raven hair and grey eyes of my neighbour Calem. Calem and I had been friends since, well, as long as I could remember, really. But he’d never been just a friend for me, I’d had feelings for him for five years now. May keeps urging me to move on and stop wasting my time with him, to find someone else instead. Misty thinks boys in general are a waste of time. Iris just says to do what makes me happy and Dawn- Dawn would be furious if I got over Calem. She says she’s ’too invested in my love life for me to quit now’. Dawn needn’t worry, though. Calem’s the guy for me: I’m sure of it. ‘Hey Calem’ I said, shoving May behind my back in an attempt to stop her making kissy-faces. ‘You ready for the new year?’ He asked casually, falling into step beside May and I. ‘I guess’ I replied, trying to match his casual tone, but not pulling it off as well as I hoped. ‘Are you gonna go for any sports this year?’ He teased. ‘You know, you should really try out for the football team’ ‘Haha, very funny.’ I rolled my eyes in return. Calem knew a sports team was the very last place I’d find myself. ‘What about you May?’ He asked ‘You know me: soccer and tennis’ she replied ‘but Serena he has a point, are you sureee you don’t want to do tennis with Dawn and I?’ ‘Or swimming with me?’ Chimed in another voice, causing May and me to run over to Misty, wrapping our arms around her. ‘Wow, guys, okay, I missed you too but I also miss oxygen’ Misty grinned, pulling away. We were now just outside the school gates and spotted Iris and Dawn’s bus pulling in. In all the chaos and hugs, I lost sight of Calem. He must have entered the building without me realising. Oh well, I’ll catch him later, I guess. ‘Guys, have you seen the new kid?’ Iris burst ‘No- who?’ Misty replied ‘Over there’ Dawn pointed to a tall guy standing near the gates talking to Calem (ah, there he is), also with raven hair but with brown eyes. He wore a massive grin and seemed to be laughing at something Calem had said. It makes sense: Calem’s good at making people laugh. ‘He’s hot’ May commented. I caught myself agreeing with her. No, he can’t be- I like CALEM. I’ve never met this kid before. Although, he is hot, I can admit that without liking him. ‘Serena, you there?’ Misty cut in. I realised too late that I’d been staring. ‘Yeah, sorry, I’m here’ ‘Too busy staring at Calem again’ Dawn gushed. ‘Actually-‘ I stopped. They needn’t know. ‘Yeah, yeah I was.’ ‘I don’t understand it’ Misty scoffed ‘It’s true loveee’ May teased, Dawn nodding beside her as the warning bell chimed. ‘Come on, you lot,’ Iris dragged us to the gates. ‘Let’s NOT be late for the first day.’