With a bounce in her step, Nia ordered “the best burger in the entire country” from the local owned burger shop. The sun was now high in the sky, her Mother was getting off work early to come get her, thanks to the little old lady who owned the shop. Nia prattled on about her school, how she has still not made any friends but this is her year. Jackie listened intently, they weren’t the same age, meaning they wouldn’t be in the same grade. But Nia would be her first friend, a worthy friend. Jackie would have to try here, sixteen was an age that she would not waste sulking in this small town, she would take advantage of the place.

“My friend is going to pick me up in half an hour, he’ll be in your grade,” she said smiling. “And – And my step-dad is an English teacher at our school, he takes grade elevens, which you’ll be,” she ranted, picking at her fries, pastel pink nails a bright contrast against her dark skin.

“Oh great,” she chuckled, already weary of how she is going to grade in that class. “What are our fellow youths like at our school?” she asked, her finger tracing the lid on her bottle of soft drink.

“They don’t talk like you do,” she chuckled, her smile fading as she thought on the kids at her school… their school. “We are really… diverse and yet segregated,” she took a long swig from her own drink before continuing. “We have a lot of students come and go, and because you’re coming in with the rest of us, when the year begins, I don’t think anyone will really notice you’re here,” she smiled softly. Nia’s dark eyes stared down at her food.

“That sounds… aggressive,” she nodded, swirling a chip into her mouth. “But I heard there is no uniform, and no uniform policy,” the smile on Jackie’s face made Nia chuckle.

“Every school has a uniform policy,” she shook her head, thick curled spirals dancing with the movement.

“I went to your school to get enrolled, nowhere did it say we had a uniform or what was required, in my books that’s a lack of policy,” Jackie said. Leaning back in her chair, she let her legs stretch out beneath the table. “My old school had a uniform, it is so hard to keep up a washing schedule.”

“Sounds unlucky,” Nia frowned, picking up her phone and clicking away at it for a second. “What do we want to do now?” her eyes were pleading to stay with her for a little longer.

“This is my first time out on the town, you tell me,” Jackie said, packing up her rubbish from off the table. Nia seemed to contemplate her words for a while, deep in thought as she too cleaned up the table.

“Oliver, the friend I’ve been telling you about, he works in a bookstore down the street,” Nia said, throwing her things into the bin. Jackie felt like she knew a lot of Oliver’s character, especially considering that Nia’s every second sentence involved the boy, at least it paved a pathway to grant her a friend when the school year started up. It started up in less than a week. Jackie didn’t know if she was dreading it or hopeful. The sooner it started, the sooner she could understand what her future here would be like.

“Let’s go there,” Jackie agreed, letting Nia lead the way. Jackie hadn’t been passed the food stores, had only made it to the clothing section before she had met Jackie roughly two hours ago. More fresh food presented itself to her. Fish, cakes, hotdogs, lollies and more replicas of that.

“Across the street,” Nia nudged Jackie onto the road, the pair running before the cars passed. Smiling, Jackie looked up at the bookstore. Before her stood a shop that belonged in an old romance movie. Its dark green paint peeling, the door had a bell above it and the display window was huge and well looked after. Jackie was so in awe that she even made Nia take a photo of her posed out the front.

“This place is an aesthetic that I can’t handle,” she gushed as Nia dragged her inside. It had started to get cold outside, the only sign Jackie had shown was a shiver every now and then, but once she stepped inside the small bookstore, she was warmed. She hadn’t been in many bookstores, and when she had, they were airconditioned. There was no sign of an air conditioner in this place, though. The room was filled with old books and new. Everything smelled of paper. The floors were a gorgeous brown wood, old but still not old enough to warrant replacement. Jackie couldn’t find words to describe it.

“You’re lucky, I just got off,” a masculine voice interrupted her peace, his words making her blink back in shock. Turning around, Jackie was met with a boy around her age wear blue baggy jeans, similar to the ones she had one, and a black hoodie. His black hair was spiked up with a master’s hand, styled to perfection. She nodded in appreciation at his look. He almost seemed lazy, with his choice of style, worn in jeans and hoodie, but his hair gave it away. This was a style, or a form of rebellion. Or maybe he just really liked this outfit combo.

“That’s great, I have someone I want you to meet,” Nia said to the boy. Jackie’s eyes fell to his name badge, Oliver. Eyes going back to his face, she had not expected any boy from a small town like this to be this level of attractive. “Jackie, this is Oliver, the guy I’ve been telling you about.”

“Nice to meet you, man,” Jackie extended her hand, noticing Oliver eye it. He clenched his jaw, showing a chiselled, sculpted face, but he shook her hand.

“Haven’t seen you around before,” He bluntly stated, folding his arms and adjusting his stance. She tried not to scoff at him.

“Yeah, I’m kinda new around here,” she cocked her head back, picking up on his cold vibes that was throwing off her groove. Looking down at Nia, she watched as she stared up at them with stars in her eyes. Letting a tense breath out, she looked back up at Oliver. The people of this town aren’t used to her city interactions. They were all too soft… too sensitive. “Nia has told me a lot about you, we’ll be in school together.”

“Funny, Nia has told me nothing about you,” he squinted his eyes at her, eyelashes thick and dark, hiding his glowing brown orbs. Jackie could have scoffed out a laugh, had she not wanted to antagonise him. Being locked up in a small town, in a small shop, did not do wonders for his… attitude.

“That’s what being new around here means,” she laughed to herself a little, a sly grin creeping across her face. The testosterone levels secreting off the teen were almost suffocating, almost as suffocating as Nia’s perfume.

“Why would anyone move to a crap-hole like this?” Oliver scoffed, leaning against the books on sale sign. He was moderately defined, she guessed logging books around all day would leave one with some tone to one’s arms. But she still believed she could out flex him.

“I, a minor, must do as my Mother tells me. I don’t fancy being emancipated,” she shrugged, running her hand down one of the spines on the books. The texture of the spine was pleasing, she had always liked the way old books felt. She let them dance down the book as Nia and Oliver argued quietly, trying to not make it seem like they were talking about being nicer to her. A song played in her mind as her fingers flexed, expanding and gently brushing the books as if they were a piano. The music was a soothing sound, it made outside seem brighter, like it wasn’t getting colder. It made everything simply… outside became like the bookstore. She could see how a weight from the sky had been lifted and that it wasn’t supposed to be dark or cold. Wrenching her hands away from the book, she rubbed her palms, this wasn’t a time to get into the piano.

“You’ll have to pardon Ollie, he is a bit of an ass,” Nia broke the silence she had felt, turning back to Jackie. “But I promise he’ll grow on you, like a fungus,” she whispered the last part, a grin on her face. Jackie chuckled, because by the look on Oliver’s face, he had heard her. “After all, starting next week, she’ll probably be in some of your classes,” Nia cheered excitedly. Oliver seemed all too thrilled. “You’ll definitely help show her around, so get comfortable.”

“It’ll be a hoot,” Jackie said, trying to see the uplifting side of things. Potentially steady going friends stood before her in the form of a fourteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old.

“I need to have you home soon,” Oliver directed his bored gaze back to Nia, obviously addressing her. Jackie made a mental note to not let her sass get the better of her while she was dealing with someone Nia clearly looked up to. She liked Nia, doesn’t mean she had to necessarily like Oliver. But Nia was right, he was an ass. “Say goodbye to your friend, bye Jack.”

“I dig it, Olive,” she smiled, extending her hand for yet another handshake. “I’ll be seeing you around,” she shook his hand before warmly turning to Nia. “You have my number, I had a really nice time today,” Jackie could have choked on her words. It had been a long time since she had to make new friends completely from scratch.

Nia didn’t miss a beat before she wrapped her arms around Jackie. A tight grip, the girl clearly didn’t want to let go. “I will definitely be texting you – we definitely have to work out what I’m going to wear to school for the firs day back.”

“You haven’t already picked something? Nia, first rule,” she shook her head laughing. “Always have the big outfit ready,” Jackie felt great again, that sense of pride like when she made Nia fall in love with the midriff. Nia nodded like she was genuinely taking a mental note, interested in the insight Jackie had to offer.

“I will go home and be ready,” she said to herself, turning to Oliver who seemed distracted. He had his keys in his hand, twirling the many sets that were on them. “We can go now,” she said to Oliver, who had completely tuned out of the conversation. “Good bye Jackie,” Nia said sadly, waving goodbye at the older girl. Jackie waved them out the store, her eyes never leaving the two as they walked down the street.