PART TWO OF CAST PICTURES :

"C'mon honey please? Just smile. One picture." My dad asked from behind his phone. I had been standing in front of the door for 10 minutes just for him to get a good picture.

"Dad please hurry. This is embarrassing. People can see me." I said through my teeth. My hands holding a sign marked "First Day of Junior Year!"

My eyes darting from my dad to my brothers hiding behind my step mom, Katie, who stood a couple feet away. "Dad why don't they get to do this?" Pointing to the boys who quickly stood up, wiping their grins off their faces.

"Well honey, they're out of high school and it's not their first day." He told me, snapping another picture. I groaned again, Katie taking notice of my irritation and quickly stepped up to the rescue.

"Steve I think that's good enough. She should get going so she won't be late. Important year! Yay!" She cheered. Katie has been in my life since I was 11. Almost 4 years after my mom died. My dad and her got married when I was 14. I only started calling her mom instead of Katie a couple months ago, though the name Katie would slip up sometimes.

I adjusted my backpack and handed the board to my dad, who stopped me from heading out, "Have fun honey, stay focused, stay safe, we love you." He kissed my forehead and walked back into the house, mom giving me a hug afterwards and soon followed.

"Hey Liza Mae! Do you need a ride to school, we can pass by and drop you off." Alex called out from behind his car door. Dylan already climbing into the passengers seat.

I shook my head at them, "Wait where are you guys going though?"

Dylan rolled down his window and let his arm hang out from the seat, Alex starting the engine. "Gotta get some last minute dorm stuff for my room. Want anything?"

"Just get me some snacks, but if you see a bulletin board, can you get me one? I need it to hang some papers."

"Got it lil sis. Love you, have a great first day." Alex and Dylan chimed out the last part as they pulled out of the driveway.

Two minutes later, a familiar car rolled down the street, pulling over in front of my house.

"Get in loser, first day of junior year!" I chuckled as I ran up the car, claiming my usual spot in the passengers seat.

Before getting in, I heard a faint noise of a door opening along with a car speeding dangerously past my house and taking an abrupt stop in front of my neighbors.

I didn't even need to look up to know who's car it belonged to and who's front door just closed. Even though, I still looked up and made sudden eye contact with him. He waved at me, a friendly smile on his face, one I sent back.

Hurriedly I climbed into my seat and closed my door, feeling the stare of someone's eyes I looked up to see Kaylin's eyes burning into my skull from her rearview mirror.

"So?" Opal asked from my side. Opal Carter, my best friend since the 5th grade. She recently got her drivers license over the summer, taking advantage of this, she's been driving me and our other two friends everywhere.

"Fought last night again, he said he was tired of the drama or whatever." I informed the girl, placing my backpack between my knees and hearing the noise of Kaylin's engine driving away.

"Hah! I knew it, you owe me Tay." She cheered back before starting the ignition.

"Yeah yeah, but I bet you Kaylin manipulated him into staying again, like she always does." Tay replied back. Taylor Delfino, Tay for short, was the semi-new guy, he arrived two weeks before our freshmen year ended, and Opal being Opal, she invited him into our group after meeting him in her drama class. He's been here for 5 "breakups" between Kaylin and Sam, even witnessed 2 in person.

"Here you go Liz." May handed me a fruit smoothie from her place in the back seat. Sonya May Greeves, she's the quiet one in our group, but she can surprise you. I've known her since the beginning of freshmen year. She's the most daring person I've ever met.

"Oh thanks guys," I said popping my straw in, Opal starting her way down the street. "I was feeling kinda fruity this morning."

"I'm always feeling fruity." Opal and Tay said in unison.

"Hey Liz, I like your outfit. It's giving me deep Lara Jean Song Covey vibes." May piped up. I turned to her with a smile on my face as Opal stopped at a red light. (red lights stop signs)

"Right! Thank you! That's what I was going for." Thanking her, as everyone else agreed.

*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*

The four of us walked down the junior hallway where most of our classmates had their lockers and rooms stored. Franklin High was the most typical high school ever. Cliques of stereotypical groups of high school were to be seen at every corner.

The theatre kids, were practicing their vocals in front of a room, most of them huddled in a circle, their harmonies heard throughout the hallway. Though there was one girl who I was unfamiliar with, she had a violin case next to her as she was storing things into her locker, her long blonde hair slightly moving at her back. I'll be sure to ask Tay about her later.

Then the classic mean girls. One would technically counts as mean though. Kaylin Adams. She's Sam's girlfriend of however months they were on and off. Her blue piercing eyes glared in front of her as she walked past. And just like the movies, the halls cleared for her. She was your typical cheerleader, with two minions at her side. Surprisingly, Sam wasn't there. It was just Adelyn and Maisy.

Adelyn Cora Delory, who gave me a smile as she walked by, was one of the sweetest girls I've met, she always clapped and cheered for me and classmates during presentations or awards. She was just peppy like that. Makes sense as to why shes also a cheerleader. I just don't know how she handles Kaylin's mean wrath.

And then Maisey Barber. I've always liked her. She's a quiet one who stays to herself. She likes to read, and was always kind to me when we worked together in classes. Though she's not a cheerleader, but she still goes and hangs out with them on the warm up bench. I think Kaylin has a soft spot for her.

I felt my hair move behind me as the trio walked past, my eyes then looking forward to land on the jocks. There he was, I thought.

Sam Sullivan-Vater, William Franklyn Miller and Louis Partridge were the jocks of the school. But the nice versions of the ones you see on tv. I used to hang out with them at Sammy's house whenever they were around, but that stopped once Sammy started dating Kaylin Adams. Now I wish I didn't take those times for granted.

"Okay so, first day, don't forget to text the group chat your schedules when you get them." Opal's voice filled my ears as I put in my books into my locker. Feeling eyes on me, I looked up to see Willie, Lou and Sammy talking, but two of the boys eyes staring at me. I waved at them which they returned back.

"Liz are you listening?" I shook my head to focus. "Huh?"

"I said there's the first home game on Friday, you're coming right?" Her voice sounded worried, she always wanted me to experience the true high school life since she knows I won't do it on my own.

"Isn't it weird that our basketball team is way better than our football team?" May asked from the other side of my locker.

"Eh." I could feel Tay shrugging his shoulders behind me as he took off his jacket and stuffing it into my almost crowded locker, I scoffed at him. "At my last high school, the basketball team were full of ugly guys. At least here, you have a nice view while watching."

Clicking my tongue, I pushed Tay's shoulder. "Liz, tell me you're going to the game on Friday." I slammed my locker shut, putting my textbooks up to my chest and turned to face Opal.

"Nope can't, I might be studying." I started to make my way out of the tight knit circle and towards my first class.

"You're always studying though!" I could hear Opal's pout in her voice.

"It's junior year, pal, junior year!" I cried out, walking farther and farther from them.

"Nice to see you Milady. Notice you've gotten shorter since I last saw you." (Chat Noir who?) Louis said to me as I passed by, pulling me over for a hug and a quick peck on the forehead, earning a scoff. I then hugged Willie at his side, trying my hardest to ignore the third guy.

Louis Patrick James Partridge, probably one of my best guy friends besides Taylor and Sam. We had known each other since the 5th grade when he helped push me on the swing. Always the flirty type that one. Though we both know it's all jokes and we think of each other as just friends (ahhh adrien who now?).

"It's good to see you again, Liz." Willie told me. "Nice to see you both too." I replied back. A subtle cough heard from the corner.

William Franklyn Miller, we met the first week of 7th grade when he had moved here from Australia. He's always been shy and not really one to make conversation first, but I helped him out of that. Though he's still shy, he's a good guy.

Rolling my eyes on the inside, I waved a goodbye to them. And then it was back to normal. Sammy pouring out how tired he was of the drama he was in with his girlfriend, but the next day, he's at her beck and call. And I was just brushed off to the corner like always at the end of every fight. How did it get like this?

༄ gosh i hope this chapter makes sense LMFAO- i tried to introduce a lot of the cast and some of their backgrounds but idk if it was good or not so um yeah

anyways hope you're having an amazing day! next week is my week off so imma try and write/update more often so yeah

don't forget to eat and drink water ! ily <33

- jules

➳ questions ➳

• thoughts on the book so far?