“Sounds like you’ve made a friend.” Ashley laughs after I tell him about Andy. “Told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I know.” I chuckle. “So what should I wear tomorrow?” I ask him. “I need to look amazing since it’s the first day of school.”

“You’re asking a guy this?” He laughs, causing me to laugh as well.

“No, I’m asking my very fashionable cousin this.” I correct him. “Plus you know my closet better than I do sometimes and that fact alone scares me.”

Ashley let’s out a chuckle. “Wear a pair of your ripped jeans and maybe a band tee?” He suggests. “I really don’t know Anna; does it even matter what you wear?”

“Ashley, I’m a fucking girl,” I chuckle. “So yes dammit, it fucking matters.” Just as I say that, my mother walks into my room.

“Annabel, it’s almost midnight,” My mother says. “Get off the phone and go to bed; you’ve got school in the morning.”

“Ashley, I love you and all but your aunt is telling me to go to bed.” I tell my cousin as my mother walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.

“Ha, ok.” he says. “Just call me when you get home from school, why should we break tradition?” I just laugh. It’s always been a tradition of ours; as soon as I get out of school I’d call Ashley just to complain about the teachers and just school in general. We’ve been doing this since middle school.

“Alright, talk to you tomorrow.” I say before hanging up on him. I sigh to myself as I curl up in my bed, turning the lights off before laying my head onto my pillow. Absentmindedly I reach for my Jack Skellington stuffed toy Ashley got for me and cuddle up with it. I can’t help but think tomorrow is going to be a long day…

Andy

I walk into the school and immediately I could hear the name calling begin. I just roll my eyes as I walk the hallways with my head down low. But as I’m walking pass the office, my head snaps up when I hear Annabel’s voice, thanking the office worker. She looks at me and instantly a smile creeps onto her perfect lips. “Hey Andy!” She greets me as she strolls over to me. “How you feeling?”

“I’ve been better.” I mutter as I continue to walk down the hall.

“Aren’t you going to show me around?” She asks as she runs to catch up with.

I sigh to myself before turning towards her. The look on her face was of pure confusion. “Look, you’ve got a fighting chance that people will like you in this school and you’re not going to get that by hanging out with me.”

“Do you think I care what people think about me because of who I decide to hang out with?” she questions me. “First of all, people are going to hate me as much as they hate you. Not only am I new, but I’m the fucking mortician’s daughter. No one’s going to want to hang out with me. And second of all, I’m pretty damn sure you’re better then everyone in this school, even if you won’t let anyone else in.” With that she strolls away with a very disappointed look in her eyes…