"Strike First"

🥋

Lilith was woken up by her phone ringing. She groans, and reaches for it. "Hello?" She asks sleepily.

"Hey Alex. Do you think you can pick me up?" her friend, Demetri asks.

"Yeah, I'll pick you up at seven." She says tiredly.

"Okay thank you." Demetri says before hanging up. Lilith sets her phone down, and pushes the covers off of herself. She gets off of her bed, and goes to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

After showering she changes into a light pink skirt, and a white shirt. She does a little bit more makeup than she usually does for school, since it's her birthday. She walks into the kitchen, to see her mother cooking. "Hey honey, happy birthday." Alexandra says with a smile.

"Thanks mom." Lilith says, returning the smile. Alexandra sets down a plate with pancakes on the table.

"Now, eat, before you leave. You can open your present." Alexandra says motioning towards the wrapped gift on the table.

Lilith smiles at her mother, before reaching for the present. She quickly unwraps it, to see a journal. "I love it mom." Lilith says. She looks through the journal, the pages have flowers on the corners, and the pages are a light pink. The gift, although simple, is greatly appreciated by Lilith, since she had gotten into writing at a young age. It's something that her father had liked doing as well.

"If you don't have plans today with Eli and Demetri, we can go eat dinner at your favorite restaurant." Alexandra suggests.

"We didn't make any plans. So we can go eat dinner together." Lilith responds. Alexandra nods happily.

"Good, because I already made the reservation. Your grandfather said that his present is a little late. But, it should be here by tomorrow." Alexandra says.

"What about my uncle? Is he coming this year?" Lilith asks.

"No, he said he couldn't make it. But, he said happy birthday." Alexandra sighs. Lilith nods, disappointed. Alexandra walks over to Lilith and hugs her. Lilith hugs her back.

🥋

Lilith had left after eating. She was at Demetri's house now, waiting for him. She finally sees him walk out, holding a gift bag. He opens the back door of the car, and gets in. "Happy Birthday." He says handing her the gift bag. She opens the bag, and it's two books.

"Is this?" Lilith asks excitedly. Demetri nods. She takes the books out, the first one is a signed copy of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, the second is the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

"Thank you, thank you!" Lilith says smiling.

"You're welcome. I remembered you talking about wanting to read the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. So I got it for you." Demetri explains.

"Thank you Demetri." Lilith says.

After that, Lilith drives to Eli's house. He's already waiting outside. He walks to the car, and opens the passenger door. "Happy Birthday." He says handing her a small box. She opens it, it's a silver bracelet with flowers on it.

"Thank you Eli." Lilith smiles. He reaches for the bracelet, to put it on her wrist.

"There." Eli says. Demetri raises an eyebrow at the interaction.

🥋

After arriving at school, they go their separate ways, since they have different classes during first hour. Lilith was headed to History, when she bumps into someone. "I'm sorry." She quickly apologizes.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." The boy apologizes, with flushed cheeks.

Lilith looks at him. "Are you new?" She asks him. The person next to him interrupts before he can say anything.

"Yeah, it's our first day here." they says.

Lilith smiles at them. "Do you need help getting to class?" She asks.

The boy nods after snapping out of his trance. "We can't find where History class is." He says.

"Well you're both in luck. That's my first class. I'm Lilith by the way." She says.

"I'm Selena, and this is my cousin, Miguel." Selena says. Lilith nods, and after that, they walk together to their history class.

🥋

It was finally lunch time. Lilith was walking to their usual table, when she sees Demetri talking to Selena and Miguel. "Sorry, table is really blowing up right now. I can put you on the waitlist, but it's probably next semester at the earliest." Demetri says sarcastically.

"Okay." Miguel says, as they start to walk away. Lilith approaches the table.

"He's kidding. You can sit." Lilith says, setting her tray on the table. Selena smiles at her.

"Miguel." Miguel says introducing himself.

"Selena, Miguel's cousin." Selena says.

"Demetri. This is Lilith and Eli." Demetri says.

Miguel nods at Eli. "He's a man of few words." Demetri explains.

"We met Lilith earlier." Selena says. As she says this, Yasmine, Samantha, and Alicia walk past their table. Miguel stares at them, as they walk by.

"Dude, don't torture yourself. Those are the rich girls." Demetri says.

"Do you ever talk to them, or..." Miguel asks.

That makes Lilith stifle a laugh. "Yeah, all the time. We hang out after school, make out, give each other hand jobs. Eli here is the homecoming king. Gets laid more than anyone, besides Lilith. Isn't that right, Eli?" Demetri says sarcastically. Lilith grins at the Díaz cousins. Eli turns and smiles at Miguel.

Miguel rolls his eyes at Demetri. Selena just looks at him, completely unbothered. "Talk to them? You realize what table you're sitting at, right? You've pretty much signed away all hopes of losing your virginity before college."Demetri responds.

"I don't count in the last statement. Remember, during summer break? With the hot Italian guy?" Lilith says. Demetri nods. While Eli looks down at his food tray, before looking back up and noticing something.

"Oh shit, Yasmine's looking at us. Probably just making fun of me." Eli says.

"If she is, I'll kick her ass." Lilith retorts. Miguel looks at them confused.

"I don't think she's making fun of you. I mean, just because they're hot doesn't mean they're mean." Miguel says. Demetri and Lilith make a face at that statement.

"Trust us, they're some of the worst people at this school." Lilith says.

The three boys continue staring at the popular girls. Selena rolls her eyes at them. "I don't care if Yasmine is the meanest girl in school. I'd kill you four just to get her to spit in my face." Demetri admits. Lilith silently flips him off.

"If you don't make a move, you'll never have a shot with her." Miguel responds.

"True. But I'll also never suffer a humiliating rejection. I'm at peace with my depression. Last thing I need is to be suicidal." Demetri explains.

"And the fact that you're too awkward to talk to her. Or most girls for that matter." Lilith shrugs.

Demetri nods in agreement. "That is also true." He says. Miguel continues staring at the girls, specifically Samantha Larusso. He gets out of his chair.

"What are you doing?" Demetri asks.

"Striking first." Miguel responds.

"Oh, shit. Hope we don't get hit with the shrapnel." Demetri mutters.

"Dumbass." Selena says. Lilith shakes her head, knowing that it wasn't going to end well.

They watch as Miguel walks towards them, before Kyler and Brucks sit down with the girls. Kyler waves at Miguel mockingly. Miguel walks back to their table. "So how'd it go?" Demetri asks. Miguel makes a face. Selena flicks his forehead.

"Ow." Miguel says.

"You deserve it, stop being a dumbass." Selena says.

nancy speaks<3

I hope this is written better than it was originally. Thanks for reading