The end of the road

"Excited for your first day of school?" My aunt asks taking a long drag of her cigarette.
"Sure. If indifferent means excited." She looks away, making a face. Probably doesn't know what indifferent means. I slip my back pack on and head for the door, no point in waiting around any longer, I can't breathe properly because of the smoke. And I can't avoid forever.
"Not gonna eat anything?"
"What's there to eat?" I could eat ice I suppose, or the spaghetti that's been sitting in the fridge for two weeks. No thanks. I decide I don't want to talk to her anymore and leave before she can say anything else. It's already getting cold out, there will probably be a light blanket of snow on the ground before Halloween. I hope I can get some money before the snow comes.. The holes in the bottom of my shoes are getting worse with practically every step I take. I wish I could just get new shoes. By the end of the day my socks will be soaked. I can see my breath, and it horrifies me to no extent. I shove my hands deep inside my pockets.
I finally make it to the school, five minutes before the bell will ring, that'll give me time to find out where my locker is and my first class. I keep walking through the canyon, there's a swarm of almost fifty kids looking at a long trophy case with sheets of paper taped on it. How can I get passed those kids? I look around and find another wall, opposite the throng. I dash to it and look for my name. Vanessa Scott.. Vanessa Scott.. Locker 690, homeroom 3255. The bell rings and I'm surrounded. Oh my god. I wish I knew where Nikki was. Thousands of kids, pushing, shoving, swearing. I rush to the stairs, I hope they lead to my class. They do. Up the stairs, turn left keep walking. First door to the right. Awesome. The class is already filled with horrifyingly perfect people. Except two. I go take a seat towards them. Two boys, scruffy with black oil stains on their pant legs. Their hands could use a good wash, as could their faces, but they don't look too bad. Just a little dirty. I sit in one of the last available seats in front of them. The blonde one smiles when I sit down. He's tall and lanky, too stretched out for his body. He pulls it off. His sweater has rips in it, and his shoes have holes in the toes. The second has brown hair, he's shorter and bulkier. He has a little bit of stubble under his chin, which makes me wonder if he's older than the rest of us. He's got perfect teeth, which you can tell he's proud of because he shows them off more than necessary. The teacher, a woman rolls out from behind her desk, walking to the middle of the class. Nikki bursts into the classroom, always making an entrance.
"Sorry I'm late man, a different teacher tried abducting me into his class." The teacher gives her a smile and a chuckle then turns around to write something on the board dismissing Nikki. She runs over to me and sits in the desk beside me.
"Dude! I'm so happy you're here!" I hiss at her.
"I wouldn't leave you alone, don't worry." She smiles and takes off her jacket. Good idea, the classroom is warm. Really warm, I slip mine off too then copy the other kids and pull out my binder.

"Why were you late?" I ask Nikki as we walk off to our new lockers.
"Got in a fight with my sister before I left." I nod, Lacey probably stole her makeup again. When we get to the lockers the boys from class are there opening their own lockers. I smile to myself and put my combination in. I'm throwing books onto the bottom shelf already making a mess, when my locker door closes and pushes me out of the way. Blonde boy stumbled into it.
"I am so sorry," he quickly says, "I'm Cole, what's your name?" He smiles the most perfect smile I've ever seen, despite his teeth are perfect too. His blue eyes twinkle and I can't help but stutter when I say, "uh, um, Vanessa."
"Pretty name." He flashes another great smile, then throws his backpack over his shoulders. I giggle and smile at him. Making my best attempt at looking cute. I hope I don't look stupid. Nikki's facial expression is worrying me. "This is Chris," Cole jabs a thumb at brown haired boy, who waves at me then smiles at Nikki.
"This is Nikki." I say realizing I should probably introduce her, too. She smiles and shakes their hands. "W-what are you doing?" I ask laughing, the boys are chuckling too.
"Trying something new, no one shakes hands, thought I'd bring it back." She winks and slams her locker door.
"Of course, what else."
"What class do you guys have next?" Cole asks taking a step toward me when we start to leave.
"Social studies with Ms. Andrews. You?"
"Same. Wanna walk with us?" We smile and eagerly agree.


Nikki and I meet at the lockers at the end of the day. Cole and Chris aren't there.
"Are you coming over today?" She asks shoving something into her bag.
"Yeah. I don't wanna go home."
"Wanna stay the night?"
"Sur