A soft knock was the first thing to greet my ears that morning. I groaned and shifted my weight to look at the clock. 6am.
I heard the knocking again, this time slightly louder.
"I'm awake." I said, swinging my legs over the side of my bed and digging my toes into the carpet.
"Alright sweetie. Breakfast will be ready soon." My mother said. I listened as her feet shuffled away from the door and receded until I couldn't hear them anymore.
A beam of light danced across my bedroom wall, and I could hear the birds chirping from the tree outside my window. It was normally unbearable at this time of day, but for some reason they'd decided to give it a rest today. I liked birds. I used to have a bird when I was little but he flew away and we never found him again.
I changed into a simple white top and jeans and slipped on some trainers. I couldn't be asked with appearances. As I walked past, I caught myself in the mirror. I looked, as I found myself doing quite a lot. I wasn't ugly, but I wasn't beautiful either. I did like myself. I was confident and pretty enough, but I wasn't anything remarkable. I got good grades, I had friends and a boyfriend, loving parents and lived in a house in a good neighbourhood with both parents earning enough money for a relatively luxurious life. I had everything. And yet I'd always thought something was missing. I shrugged and walked to the door, grabbing my purse as I did.
I practically threw myself down the stairs the second I smelled breakfast. It was then I realised how hungry I was. I slid into the kitchen and sat at the table, grabbing a piece of toast and buttering it. My sister, Zoe, followed into the kitchen soon after and gave me a grin.
"Morning Zoe" I said, returning the grin.
"Morning Masie. Is Tess picking us up today?" She asked, taking a pop tart and stuffing it in her mouth, earning a dissaproving look from my mother. I giggled, getting the same dissaproving look thrown in my direction. I took a bite of my toast.
"Yes, she is picking us up." I said. A loud car horn sounded outside.
"Speak of the devil" My mother muttered as I shooed Zoe towards the door.
"Love you mum" I said as I walked out and closed the front door. The crisp early morning air greeted my face, but the warm sun reminded me that it was almost summer. I grinned and ran to the car, helping Zoe get in and then getting in myself. Tess and Bea were already in the car. They were sisters, but complete opposites. Bea was controlling and sensible, but really kind. She was the mum friend of our small group and the one I always went to if I needed anything. As much as we teased her, we all loved her to pieces. Tess however, was the complete antithesis of her sister. She was rowdy and had no common sense whatsoever. She was the type of person to try and jump off a roof simply to 'see what it was like', something she had done drunk at my house. She broke a leg and an arm and ended up in hospital for three weeks. My mother hated her, always saying how she was a bad influence. They were both like family to me.
Tess turned on the radio and grinned at Zoe, who grinned back and started telling us about a project she was doing for school. Bea offered to help her and they chatted about ideas until we arrived at her elementary school. She hopped out the car and I gave her a hug before she ran to the school gates and started chatting with her friends.
Tess turned up the radio and I shuffled to the middle seat. We all talked for a while until the school's car park came into view. I hopped out and they followed. We talked and laughed all the way up to the entrance, where we parted ways to go to our lockers. I opened mine up, grabbing my books and supplies and then heading over to the art classrooms. A rough hand grabbed my arm as I walked and I whisked around, only to see a tall boy looking back at me. I grinned and wrapped my arms around him.
"Hi Thomas" I giggled. He grinned back at me.
"Hi princess. I gotta dash but I'll see you at lunch" He planted a kiss on my cheek and I blushed. He ran off and I sank against the wall. I did love him. I think. He's lovely. It's not like I don't have feelings for him but... It just feels like he's not right for me. The bell rang and I shook the thought out of my head, walking into the classroom. The smell of fresh paint and drying canvases made me feel calm, and I took a seat at my normal desk. Other students filed into the classroom and I sighed and started doodling on the corner of the wood, etching the shapes in with a random piece of plastic. A sharp cough made me look up and my eyes were drawn to a girl with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. My eyes fixed on her as I felt butterflies rise in my stomach. This isn't right. I shouldn't be acting like this. I'm not-
"This is Millie Smith and she'll be joining this class for the semester. I expect you all to make her feel comfortable and welcomed here." A few people groaned quietly and our teacher threw them a dirty look. Millie walked through the aisles, eventually stopping and taking a seat on the desk next to me. She smiled at me.
"Hi. I'm Millie" She said.
"I'm Masie" I said, and smiled back.
"This seems like a nice school." She said. I scoffed.
"Just you wait." I giggled and she grinned. "You can come sit with me and my friends at lunch. I mean- only if you want to of course"
She smiled. "I'd love to."
Her gaze lingered on me for what seemed like too long, before she turned her attention to the teacher, who was talking about some art trip he'd been on over Christmas. I drifted into thought. She was pretty, but not like that, right? I mean- I wasn't attracted to her, was I? No. That's ridiculous. I sighed and went back to sketching on the table.
The lesson stretched on for what seemed like days, and by the time the bell eventually went dismissing us for lunch, a knot had formed in my stomach. Nothing made sense in my head. I shouldn't be thinking these things. I collected my things and looked at Millie. She smiled at me.
"Ready to go?" I asked, slinging my bag onto my shoulder. She nodded and led her out of the classroom and towards the Cafeteria. I immediately spotted Tess and Bea and ran over, Millie following me. I put my bag down.
"This is Millie. She's new" I said motioning to her. She smiled and waved and I sat down. She sat next to me. The knot in my stomach got tighter as soon as I saw Thomas walking towards us. He smiled at Millie and sat opposite me.
"Hi princess." He said and I smiled. He turned to Millie. "Hi I'm Thomas. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Millie." She returned the smile.
We all talked for a while, the knot in my stomach slowly loosening as I started trying to make sense of everything. I put it down to a simple misunderstanding of my own emotions and nothing more.
Eventually the bell rang again and we all made our way to our separate classes. The day went by at a snails pace and by the time I climbed back into Tess's car to be driven home I was exhausted. We picked Zoe up and she talked about her day while I was only half listening.
Tess dropped us home and I blew both Tess and Bea a kiss and giggled. They drove away and I stumbled into the house and upstairs and collapsed on my bed, already falling asleep .
"Thank god it's friday" I murmured to myself as I slipped into sleep.