Chapter 1/ Prologue Everything must be perfect. I arrange books on my shelves alphabetically, my bed perfectly made, and my clothes neatly ironed. I look in my mirror and see myself staring back at me. My pin straight ginger hair and the freckles across my face, align perfectly together, like constellations. I grab my organized messenger bag and walk down my stairs to my kitchen. “Hey mom!” I greet my mom with a warm smile and a hug. “Good morning, Aria! Here take this.” My mom hands me a small container tied in a pink cloth. “Eat this on the bus. Now hurry! You’re going to be late!” “Thanks mom! Love you!” I put the breakfast in my bag, rush out the door, and run to the bus stop. I arrive just as the doors of the bus are closed by the driver. “Mr. Barry! Wait!” I exclaim. My bus driver opens the doors with a smile. “Glad I stopped to check my mirrors! You were almost late for your first day of senior year!” Mr. Barry gives me a pat on the shoulder. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” I walk to the back of the bus looking for an open seat. I spot one in the back left and I sit down near the window and put my bag next to me. I take my phone and earbuds out of my messenger bag. I put my earbuds in and play loud music, so I don’t have to listen to the muttered conversations around me. I take my breakfast out of my bag. I untie the cloth and open the lid. I look inside of the container, and I see chopsticks and a small bento box, consisting of onigiri, kimchi, and a small pack of soy sauce. I pick up my chopsticks, and I reach for the kimchi. “Hey, can I sit here?” I jump and drop my chopsticks. A frown instantly comes across my face. “No.” I look up to see a girl with long thick dreads and hundreds of accessories in her hair. She stared at me blankly like I just broke unbearable news to her. “Why not?” “Because.” “Because what?” “I don’t know, maybe the fact that I can’t eat my breakfast because you startled me so badly.” “Sorry. So can I sit here?” “No.” “Can I sit here, please?” “Fine, but only because you asked nicely.” The girl reaches into her bag and tries to grab something. She can’t seem to find the mystery item. I peek inside of her bag, and I am immediately horrified. There are papers shoved and crumpled, pencils strewn everywhere, and folders bent and beaten. “Oh my god. You need to organize your bag. I’m getting sick looking at it.” “Rude. I was looking for this.” She pulled something out her lunchbox and held a plastic fork in front of my face. I reach for it, but she moves it out of my reach. “I was going to give this to you, but you don’t deserve it.” “Give it to me.” I shot her a death glare. She was not going to take away my favorite breakfast. “Ok, ok.” She handed me the fork with a small hint of fear in her eyes. I take the fork, and stab though some of my kimchi. I am about to take a bite, but then the girl sitting next to me leans forward and bites the kimchi off my fork. “Wow. You know, this is the first time I have ever talked to you, and I am already starting to hate you. I’m not using that fork anymore. Have the rest of my kimchi, but don’t you dare touch my onigiri.” I say sternly. “Yes ma’am!” She stabs through all the kimchi and shovels it into her mouth. I stare at her with a mixed expression of fear and awe. “What?” she says, through chews of her food. “Do I have something on my face?” “No. How did you eat that kimchi so fast?” I take a bite of my onigiri. “I don’t know. I’m just hungry. My name’s Cherri by the way. What’s yours?” “Aria.” “What are you listening to, Aria?” “Music.” “Ah, ok.” Cherri takes out her phone and inputs a number into it. “Here you go. I put my number in your phone.” “Oh ok- my phone? How did you get my phone?” “I picked it up. It was on the seat.” I grab my phone and look at the contact she put in. The contact says, Best Person in the World. “I’m sorry, there must be a mistake. You put this contact in my phone?” I show her the contact. “Yep.” “Oh, I think you mis-typed the name. You see it says Best Person, when it should say, Mediocre Person.” “Very funny. But I think you missed a part of the contact.” I look back down at my phone and click on the contact. The full name of the contact pops up. Best Person in the World (in Aria’s opinion). “Putting words in my mouth, huh. Not very kind.” “Oh, but I’m not a kind person!” The bus comes to a stop. Students stand up and exit the bus. “Bye Aria. I’ll see you.” Cherri stands up and disappears in a crowd of students. I pack my bag and head out of the bus myself. What a strange way to start senior year.
gay
