It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This

We were sitting there celebrating our 5 year anniversary when I felt like my soul was being ripped out of my chest. I looked around and felt myself, I was fine why did my heart ache so bad? I looked across the yard to see Xavier standing there his mouth slightly open. “Babe what’s wrong?” I walked towards him when he suddenly fell to the ground. That’s when I see him standing there with Xaviers heart in his hand. I fell to the ground screaming. This wasn’t happening. “I told you, you’d be mine eventually.” I turned and started running as fast as I could. I had to get away I could let him get me, not after all this time. “You can run from me forever my little Luna.” I couldn’t give up. I kept running when I felt someone grab me and cover my mouth, everything went black. My life was over. He found me and he killed my Xavier. I suddenly felt myself jerk awake, I looked around the room confused. Where was I? Why did this place feel so familiar. *** “Avery wake up it’s time for school.” I finally heard my mom yell from the kitchen after what I assumed was the 20th time. It’s the first day of my senior year and she nor I wanted me to be late. I stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, I was average build a little chubby and roughly 5’4 with blue eyes, let’s not even talk about my hair, unruly red curls just spewing any way they pleased out of my head, and pasty white skin, thank you mom I was literally a copy and paste of my mom. I turned around and started the shower as I slipped out of my nightgown, once I hopped in I washed my hair and my body and stood there for a few more minutes taking in the fact that it was finally my last year of school, I was a few weeks away from turning 18 and finally being free to do anything I pleased, granted I had no idea what direction I wanted to go in yet. Once I was finally done I stepped out and wrapped myself in my favorite teal towel and brushed my teeth leaving my hair to air dry for a little bit. I decided I should probably throw on some form of make up and go all out since it is my first last day, you only get to do this one time right? I stepped back into my room and went to my closet, I went for a simple look today and pair of light wash skinny jeans a simple black t-shirt and my favorite pair of gray hey dudes, I stepped back into the bathroom to tame my hair not doing much just throwing some mousse in and letting my curls fall whatever way they please, there wasn’t much taming them these days. Once I was finally done and satisfied with the way I looked I went down to the kitchen. “Good morning mom,” as I walk in she turns to look at me, “what’s for breakfast today?” She looks beautiful even with her red curls pulled back into a ponytail and just a simple gray robe on. “I figured you’d be in a rush today so I didn’t make anything,” she said her back now towards me as she pours herself a cup of coffee. ”do you want some?” I nod. ”lucky charms it is then” as I smile at her. “AVERY!” My little brother yells as he comes running up to me and hugging my legs. “Well hello there Felix,” as I bend down and give him a kiss on the head, ”where’s dad?” Usually dad is the one to take care of Felix while mom makes breakfast, but seeing as he’s still in his Batman pajamas and his brown hair is still resembling bed head I assume he got himself up today. ”oh dear I’m sorry I thought we had told you yesterday he would be working early “, mom says now handing me my cup of coffee, ”you probably did I just forgot,but with that I should probably head to school I know Layla is probably waiting for me outside by now.” I look at the time and it’s already 7 o’clock, crap I’m gonna be late. I rush upstairs and grab my bag and check my phone before rushing back downstairs and giving my mom and brother a quick kiss as I head out the door. Sure enough Layla is already sitting outside, ”hurry up Avery we’re gonna be late!” She says as I’m climbing in the passenger side of her convertible . Layla and I were polar opposites, she had dark brown almost black hair and brown eyes, she was roughly 6’ with a slender body and always wore make up even though she didn’t need it, she was beautiful without it. And just like that we were off to our first last day, I lived about 25 minutes away from the school but with all the buses and parents dropping there kids off it would take a little longer. Just then I felt my phone buzz, ugh it was Dylan my ex boyfriend he dumped me over summer because I was “too busy with family” “Are you almost here?” I decided I wasn’t going to pay him any mind right now, we hadn’t talked much after the split but still remained friends he would occasionally send me pictures of him by the pool or on his hikes and I would send him pictures of me while we were in Colorado, Mexico, and Maine obviously including some to die for bikini pictures in Mexico just to make sure he knew what he had lost, “how do you think today’s going to go?” Layla asks pulling me from my thoughts I didn’t even know I was so deep in. “Honestly I don’t know, I’m hoping and praying that I don’t have any classes with Dyl this year.” Knowing my luck I would. We finally rolled into the school parking lot around 7:35. Camden High, located in eastern Florida with a student body of roughly 450 students give or take, we lived in a smaller town but obviously not the smallest, Layla finally parks and I step out and take a long breath as she meets me in the front of the car. This is it, my last year here. We head towards the front of the building when I noticed a lot of the students huddled around the front door. What is going on? As I step closer I start to hear the whispers “rumor is his dad is part of the mafia,” who’s dad? “I don’t care what his dad does I want a taste of mister tall dark and handsome” With that I roll my eyes and start to make my way through the crowd, with Layla’s hand in mine. We finally make our way to the front of the crowd and that’s when I see him, he’s easily 6’4, thin but muscular, dirty blonde hair and piercing pale blue eyes that instantly lock with mine. I instantly look away, but I still have this weird feeling I’m being stared at as I turn to look at him again and surely enough he’s still staring me down, why was he looking at me like that? “Earth to Avery,”Layla says as she snaps her fingers in front of my face, ”sorry I didn’t even realize I was zoned out.” I look at her with an apologetic look. “It’s okay, any idea why mister dreamy over there was staring at you so intensely?” I shake my head no, ”well I have a feeling we’re about to find out.” She says when I suddenly feel someone tap on my shoulder. I turn around and see him standing there again a few people look at us as some of the girls start murmuring “what would he want with her?” I just rolls my eyes and look back at him. “Can I help you?” I ask coming out a little more snarky than intended, but he’s still just staring. I look at Layla who just looks at me with this what is going on expression and I just shrug my shoulders. Looking back at him now, I sigh, ”okay well if that’s all I’m gonna head to class now.” And I just walk away. Feeling flustered I head to the bathroom as fast as I can when I run into someone “oo hey Avery”, I hear that familiar deep voice that would have made me swoon a few months ago and now it just makes my stomach churn. I look up to see Dylan his brown eyes gleaming into mine, I instantly turn back around but not before he can grab my hand, ”Avery please talk to me,” he begs as he smiles at me with that smile oh that big beautiful smile that makes his nose scrunch up, I can’t say no to that. ”fine, what do you want?” I really don’t hate him but I kind of want him to think I do. “I just miss you,” he says still holding my hand, I roll my eyes and pull my hand away “I can’t talk about this right now Dylan, it’s the first day and honestly that happened months ago I don’t want to talk about it now,” he nods his head and I walk past him to go to the bathroom. I finally reach the restroom and step in to look at myself in the mirror, ”breath Avery it’s gonna be okay, it’s a new year and you’re a new you, you can do anything you put your mind to.” I remind myself before taking in a final breath and heading to biology. The day goes by in a breeze and before I know it I’m back in Layla’s car headed home. “So are you going to Lexis party this weekend?” Layla asks pulling me back to earth, Lexi is one of the more popular girls at school and she always throws a back to school party and rumors are this weekend her parents will be out of town. “Um I haven’t given it much thought, but more than likely” I say looking over at Layla. “Good, we need to go shopping then!” She squeals. I don’t know why she likes shopping so much. She finally pulls up to my house and I hop out, “I’ll drive myself tomorrow okay?” She nods and then waves goodbye before speeding away. Just then my phone vibrates Mom~won’t be home until 5 please make sure your brother makes it home from the babysitters okay~ My mom is a nurse at the local hospital which means sometimes she works longer than expected or she’s sometimes called in on days she’s not supposed to be. I send her a thumbs up back. The next few days fly by and before I know it it’s Friday night and Layla is dragging me off to go shopping for a new outfit for the party tomorrow. We go to a few different stores before finally heading into Unity, it’s this cute little boutique store. I walk around before picking up a black denim skirt and holding it up for Layla to see, “yes girl your butt will look so good in that” I’m a little chubby but I carry all my weight in all the right places, “I think I have a red crop top at home that would go perfect with that!” She says giving me a smile. We ended up leaving with the skirt and Layla bought a skimpy pastel blue dress that will go perfect with her hair and skin tone, she’s tan, I don’t know if it’s from the natural sun or a tanning bed but either way her skin tone is absolutely beautiful it’s almost an almond color with little to no flaws. We stop and grab some food at a local pizzeria and head home to veg out and watch scary movies. We have since, for as long as I can remember spent almost every weekend together we started out watching cartoons and now we’re onto horror films it makes me sad to know this is probably going to be our last year doing this. “Whatcha thinking about?”she ask and I realized I’ve zoned out once again, ”oh just the fact that this is probably going to be our last year being able to do this,” I say tilting my head down trying not to cry I’m going to miss my best friend, ”Of course not silly, you know I will be coming to visit you constantly no matter where we end up!” I really hope that’s true. We must have dozed off because next thing I know I’m waking up to the smell of pancakes, burnt pancakes to be exact, dad must be cooking. I groan and roll off the bed. Walking into the bathroom to take a quick shower and slip on my favorite sweats and a blue t-shirt. “Good morning dad,” I see my dad standing in front of the griddle as I walk into the kitchen ”do you need some help?” I giggle. “Thank you Avery but I’m an expert,” he says as he flips a very burnt pancake over. “Don’t worry I’ll order something in.” Just then I hear my mom come in “Jackson what have I told you about cooking unattended” she sighs. “Now listen Mrs. Delilah like I just told Avery here I’m an expert I’ve got this!” We glance at each other and I mouth ‘I’m already ordering food’ she breathes a sign in relief. By the time our food gets here Layla and Felix are downstairs ready to eat and I’m just ready to get today over with so we can go to the party, soon enough it’s almost 7 and we start getting ready, “Lay are you sure this looks good?” I ask her as I put on my strappy black sandals. “Yes I’ve told you a dozen times it looks great and let’s not even talk about that ass.” I laugh and turn to look at myself in the mirror, I let my curls to do whatever they please once again and I have on eyeshadow looking “Smokey” as Layla said whatever that meant. Finally ready, we headed downstairs “where are you girls going?” I hear my mom ask from the couch. “To Lexis for the back to school party.” She glances up at us, ”oh well don’t have to much fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She yells as we head out the door. “Love you!” We yell in unison as the door finally closes. We walk down the road to Lexis house she doesn’t live but 5 minutes away as we walk in I scan the crowd nonchalantly looking for Dylan when I notice him, him who’s name I don’t even know yet and his eyes are already glued on me. When I hear this tiny voice in the back of my head “go to him” stunned with myself because that didn’t sound at all like my voice. What the heck was going on and before I could even move again, he was right there in front of me. “Xavier” that’s all he says to me, I don’t know what’s happening “kiss him” there it is again. Before I can even react “who’s this we have here” I hear Lexis annoying shrill voice, I don’t hate her she’s just annoying and talks and squeals way too much. He doesn’t move or even look at her, “Xavier is his name,” I responded as she wraps her arms around his and I take that as my opportunity to get away while he’s semi sort of preoccupied. “Don’t walk away from him” this is getting to be too much. I pull out my phone to text Layla. M~Layla I have to go home I’m not feeling well~ L~oh girl I’m sorry do you want me to come to?~ M~no it’s fine, stay have fun for me! I’ll let you know if I need you though, okay?~ L~promise?~ M~promise!~ As I’m walking out the door, I run into someone almost losing my balance I feel strong arms embrace me, I look up to seeing those piercing pale blue eyes looking at me. “Oh my gosh I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there!” I feel my cheeks flush, “I was just leaving” he’s just standing there looking at me arms still around me, “I um okay, you can let me go now” still nothing and then he just kisses me. I don’t know how long he kissed me for all I know is I’m pulled back to earth by someone coughing behind us, I look over and see Dylan. Oh crap this isn’t good.