Sweetheart

14

Lizzie
September 2020

First day of school. Somebody, please kill me.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to meet new people and take new classes, but that doesn't change the fact that I am scared. Really fucking scared.

My heart is pounding in my chest, kicking my ribs like a crazy horse, and my lungs stretch and fill way too often. I need to calm down. My hands are almost drooling sweat, for God's sake.

Last night Nate told me he can drive me to school in the morning since it's a bit far from where we live. On the drive there we'll also pick up Cam, Davina, and Caleb, whom I haven't seen in a while.

About Nate, though... I'm giving him another chance. I just can't hold anything against him when it barely touched me. Plus, I believe in second chances. If he's not the right one, he'll mess up again and let me know.

I jog downstairs, again stumbling on Milo, and enter the kitchen. My stomach is tied, so I simply grab something and throw it in my backpack. I'll eat it when I'm not about to puke my soul.

"Good morning," someone says behind me. "Excited for today?"

I meet Nate's blue eyes with a smile. "Scared, but yeah. Do we have to leave now?" I ask him, checking the time on my phone. I see a text from my mom, saying something about behaving today at school, but I don't reply.

Nate stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. I'll go start the car," he replies, smiling back at me.

"Wait. We're not waiting for Aaron?" I stop him, approaching him with a frown.

Unsurprisingly, he grimaces. "No. He already went on his own. Come on."

Without any further questions, I follow him outside and we climb in his car. I sit on the front seat, and I don't mind it one bit when his hand moves from the gear stick and wraps around mine, entwining our fingers.

Smirking, he brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses the back of mine. I blush and lower my head embarrassed. My heart slows down a little.

"Are you going to join any of our teams? Volleyball, ski...?" he asks me, taking his eyes off the road for a blink.

I shrug. "Don't know yet. I like snowboarding, though. But I never really tried it for more than a minute years ago," I admit, remembering the first and only time I saw snow, back when my parents took me to our house in Vermont. Then they got annoyed by my presence and asked my nanny Rosy to keep me with her. On Christmas, too.

When Nate makes an irritated sound, I frown. He seems to notice my confusion and explains, "Aaron is part of the snowboarding team. Just saying."

I sigh. "Well, I won't let his presence ruin my experience here. I'm sure I'm a better snowboarder, anyway." I wink at him, and he grins amused. We both know that with those legs, Aaron is one of the best. If not the actual best.

The car stops in front of Cameron's mansion, and she runs towards us smiling happily. She climbs in and sits in the middle, leaning forward to say hello to us. "Hey, guys! What's up?" she trills.

"Nothing much. You?" I answer, briefly glancing at her. Her eyes are stuck on my hand in Nate's, and she smiles knowingly.

"Same old same. I wish summer lasted longer," she confesses with a giggle, sitting back again. "Davina and Caleb are waiting at the corner of their street like last year. They're neighbors," she specifies for me.

I nod, but my phone catches my attention.

Mom, 7.31 a.m.: We have a meeting with our lawyer today. I'll keep you updated.