High school.
The words alone made my stomach churn with a mixture of excitement and dread.
It was the beginning of a new chapter, a fresh start for some but I had a bad feeling. I had a horrible feeling that things were going to get worse for me and Ethan.
That summer was the worst summer.
Ethan and I barely spoke to each other. He was always with Cole and Gavin.
I spent most of the summer with Clara and Ellie, we would go to the beach and just lay there talking about anything and nothing.
The first day of high school arrived like a monstrous wave, ready to sweep me away into uncharted territory. I walked to the school nervously. I was not looking forward to seeing Ethan. I didn't know how to speak to him anymore.
I spotted Clara and Ellie by the gate and walked towards them. We hugged and walked inside the school together.
"It's so good to see you both again, I missed you guys." Honestly I don't know how I would be by myself. They both smiled. "come on we are late, let's go quickly" Ellie said and we started heading.
The halls were a chaotic symphony of laughter and nervous energy. I felt so out of place. I was with my best friends but I felt alone.
We walked inside the gym where the welcome assembly was taking place. It was my first time at the school so everything felt so huge. We were able to find seats in the middle.
Just as I sat down I saw Ethan walk in. He looked different. He was taller. His face was sharper. He had a new haircut. He was no longer my Ethan. He was just... Ethan.
He was laughing with Cole and Gavin, who also looked very different. It was like all the boys were going through their glow up phase while the girls were... the same. I couldn't help but stare.
I noticed a girl next to Ethan. She was very pretty. She had long blonde hair she was also wearing very extravagant clothes. She reminded me of those mean girls movie. I wondered who she was.
I felt something sting my heart as I saw her putting her hand on Ethan's shoulder and him smiling back at her. He smiled at her. A genuine smile. A smile he had not given me in a long time. I looked away, trying to ignore the burning sensation in my cheeks.
The assembly was a blur of announcements and introductions. I tried to focus on what was being said, but my mind kept drifting back to Ethan. I saw him glance at me a few times but then he would turn away with a smirk on his face. He was different.
After the assembly, Clara, Ellie, and I navigated our way through the crowded halls. I tried my best to avoid looking for Ethan, it was hard he was like a magnet. I was trying to make conversation with my best friends but I felt like I was a different person.
We finally made it to our first class. The school was divided into different sections for the new students and the higher years. It was a confusing system.
Just as we were about to walk inside the class I heard a familiar voice.
"Lily!" I heard Ethan call me. I froze. I didn't want to turn around but I also wanted to. I turned my head slowly. He was there with Cole and Gavin and the blonde girl I saw in the gym. That's when he introduced me to her.
"Lily, this is my girlfriend, Maya" he said with a smirk. Girlfriend. The word hit me like a punch to the gut. Girlfriend. He had a girlfriend. My heart did a weird backflip. I didn't know how to react. "Hi," she said with a very fake smile.
"Hi," I said quietly. I was still processing the information. Girlfriend. Ethan had a girlfriend. I felt my heart breaking into a million different pieces. This was not how I imagined our first day of high school. I was not ready for this new chapter. He had changed. The boy I knew was gone. He was now someone else.
"We should get going," he said with a smirk looking at Maya. "Yeah, let's go babe," she said as she held his hand and they walked away. I stood there with my two best friends, speechless. I felt so lost and broken.
The first day of high school was the beginning of the end.
Our childhood was officially gone.
This was just the beginning of our new chapter. I didn't know what was going to happen but one thing was sure, things were not going to be the same anymore.