"you owe yourself the love that you so freely give to other people."
---

Today is my second day of going to school at Crean High. Yesterday wasn't as bad as I thought.

I did make a new friend and Willow seems super sweet. Definitely not the kind of friends I use to have back in Jersey. But I like Willow. I feel comfortable around her, and I feel safe if that makes any sense. For some reason, she reminds me of my mom with her smile.

One thing I remember well is my mom's beautiful bright smile that would always brighten my day when I was around her.

"Okay, so you know all of your classes, right?" Wes asked as he pulled up to the parking lot of the school. "I have to go to morning practice, and I know I didn't show you around yesterday."

"Yea, I am good," I assured him.

Wes and I both grab our school bags and get out of the car. Once Wes locks the car, he runs over to his group of friends who are sitting by the entrance of the school.

They all looked like your regular high school football players. They had the typical jock look with the varsity jacket that had the blue and white school colors and also a wolf patch on the back of the jacket that was grey.

"Alexis!" I heard my name being called making me look away from Wes's group and at Willow who was sitting at the wooden table, we sat at yesterday for lunch.

I also noticed that there was a boy who was there sitting next to her. He had dark brunette hair, almost black, and I could see his bright blue eyes from here. His jaw structure was also very prominent.

I walk over to them, and Willow showcases her bright smile. "Hey," I said with a small smile.

"I want you to meet Ben Walker. My best friend since forever." Willow said pointing to Ben who was looking at me.

"Nice to meet you, Ben."

"Alexis, right?" He asked and I nodded my head. "I hope Willow didn't embarrass me yesterday," he said as he narrowed his eyes at Willow.

"Well, there is nothing really bad to say about you Ben, so I have no choice but to say nice things about you," Willow said while also pinching his cheeks.

I lightly chuckle while watching them converse. They do seem super close. I don't know how long they have actually been friends for or how long they have known each other but they seem so comfortable together.

"Whatever, So where did you come from Alexis?" Ben asked me.

"Jersey."

"I have been there a few times. I have some family out there so I kind of have no choice but to go there."

"Jersey really isn't all that. I lived somewhere very small, so it was pretty quiet. It was kind of boring there. Nothing really to do except go to malls and parties."

Before Ben could say anything to me the bell rang making everyone start walking towards the entrance of the school.

"Well Ben, Alexis, and I have math and we can't be late so if you would excuse us," Willow said while grabbing my arm and pulling us inside the school. "Ben would usually walk me to my class but now that I have you with me in my first period, I can walk with you. He has soccer practice before and after school, so I don't really get to see him then."

"Is he good at soccer?"

"Hell yes! He is the captain of the team. He plays striker and he is amazing at it. I love watching him play."

Willow and I walk into Mrs. Bryant's class, and we take our seats that were by the big window where you could see the parking lot.

"Good morning class. I hope everyone had a good night's rest because today we are going to be learning about how to..."

I zone out while Mrs. Bryant started talking.

Instead, I take out a book I brought with me and open the page of it.

This is a poetry book. I usually read poetry because while reading poetry all of the words trap me in the books. Once I start reading, I can't stop and sometimes I even relate to what the words are saying.

I turn the page of the book and look at the text.

'I have scars and bruises in places where you'd have to know me better to see them. On the sides of my heart, in ridges of my bones, etched deep into my soul. These scars and bruises are very different because they are so close to who I am. They are a part of me, and every time I love too deeply or care too much, they re-bruise and-'

"Oh my god, he's here." I heard some girls whisper, making me stop reading.

The girls who said that were looking at the window, so I look away from my book and look where the girls are looking out the window.

I see a blacked-out Audi R8 speed inside the parking lot.

The car this person was driving looked very expensive and I know how much Audi's can be. I then see two other cars drive inside the parking lot; all parking next to each other. One of the cars looked super familiar, it was the matte black BMW that I saw the other day. The other car was an all-black Porsche 911 that also had black rims. Again, another very very expensive car.

"And there they are again," Willow muttered making me look back at her with furrowed eyebrows. "The rest of the boys that I told you about yesterday. Ethan Drake, Mathew Baker, Grayson Reid, and Kayden Black." I look back at the window and see some other heads turn to look at all of the boys who were now getting out of the car.

"They all have really nice cars," I stated.

"Yeah, I heard that they are into racing." Willow shrugged. "But you already know Ethan and Mathew from yesterday," Willow said as I saw them both get of out the car and Mathew locking it. "Then the one in the black fitted shirt coming out of the Porsche is Grayson Reid," Willow said as I saw someone get out of the Porsche 911.

Grayson looked like someone I would have a crush on when I was a few years younger. He looks like someone everyone would have a crush on. He has light brown hair and also a very fit body structure. He looked tired though. I could tell he barely tried while getting ready today, but he still managed to look good.

"God he is so cute." I heard one girl whisper to her friend.

"And then Kayden Black who is walking out of the blacked-out Audi. You're cliche bad boy who almost every girl in the school is obsessed with."

"You sound like you are in love with him," I said sarcastically making Willow chuckle.

"I am far from in love. I had a project with him a year ago in one of my classes and he was a total ass. I had to do the whole thing by myself. He is rude and seems only to care about himself. He doesn't spare one glance at anyone, and he doesn't care about anyone but himself." Willow said while rolling her eyes.

I turn to look at Kayden and I can see why so many girls fawn over him. He is wearing a black fitted shirt and a leather jacket. It wasn't those leather jackets where it was fitted and could look classy on someone but on him, it looked rugged because of how old it looked and was probably one size bigger on him. His hair was messy, and it looked like he didn't even try to make it look nice but somehow, he still looked decent.

"So, we have a pop quiz today." Mrs. Bryant said, and I focus back on her instead of the boys who were walking away from their cars.