It was the day back to school after Christmas vacation, and I was sitting by the open window in my bedroom smoking a joint; rocking out to Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of The Moon’ record.

The air that blew in was cold, and I could feel my fingers starting to freeze. I’d always hated that about Jersey. The winters were bitter cold, and the summers too humid for my liking, fall was alright for the most part, the leaves always looked pretty when they changed colors. I put my joint out in my ashtray just before I heard my dad make his way down the hall and start tapping on my door.

“Nicole?”

I let out at small cough as I exhaled the skunky smoke out the window.

“Yeah dad?”

“Better get a move on, you don’t want to be late the first day back.”

I rolled my eyes and I closed the window, walking across the room, gathering my bag and
spraying a few squirts of my air freshener.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m just grabbing my shit.”

I muttered switching the record player off that sat on a table in the corner of my room; I heard my dad continue down the hall and open the bathroom door before closing it behind himself.

I was in the clear to leave. My parents and I never talked about the fact that I smoked weed, but I’m sure they knew; it just wasn’t something we brought up.

I grabbed my coat off of the rack beside the door before braving the wind and running to my car, a 1988 Pontiac Firefly, parked on the street, it wasn’t much but it was mine. I jumped in and let the vehicle warm up for a few minutes, lighting a smoke before peeling away from the curb.

I made a quick stop at a 7-11 to grab my morning coffee; it was shit, but better than the crap they had at school, so I couldn’t complain all that much. In the end coffee was coffee.

I paid for my beverage and went back out to my car, nearly bumping into to someone and spilling my coffee down the front of my coat.

“Hey! Watch were you’re going asshole.”

I barked, not bothering to turn around as I reached my car.

I did catch a glance at the guy who almost ruined my morning when I sat down in the driver’s seat, noticing his black hair that fell to his shoulders and the Black Flag hoodie he was wearing.

Not caring overly much, I pulled out of the parking lot and made my way to school.

---

I’d been parked in my car for several minutes examining my make-up and doing the odd touch up, willing my blood-shot eyes to go back to normal before I went to class.

I was late, and very stoned.

The teachers wouldn’t notice by Kyle sure as shit would; he wouldn’t let me get away with it either. He’d crack silly jokes and poke fun at me all morning.

I sighed as I flipped my visor closed and took the last drag off my cigarette before extinguishing it in the ashtray.

I was grabbing for my bag in the back seat when a thud resonated through the car, making me look out the passenger window.

There sat a run-down, rusted truck with its driver’s side door wide open.

I dashed out of the car and walking around the back I was met by a boy I’d never seen before; until this morning that is. There stood the guy from 7-11, the one that was wearing the Black Flag hoodie.

“Hey, I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention at all.”

He said, a note of panic in his voice.

I rolled my eyes at him and went to inspect the damage to my car.

There on my passenger side door was a dent, made by the door of his truck. I shook my head, and grabbed for the smokes in my bag, successfully retrieving them and lighting one.

“You should watch where you’re going asshole.”

I said, exhaling smoke right in his direction. It took him a moment but he recognized my voice and looked over at me, realization clear on his face.

“So you’re coffee girl.”

He said, a smirk playing on his lips.

“That would be me, I guess.”

I muttered, looking down at my dirty converse. I heard the crunch of gravel under his shoes as he came to stand beside me, leaning up against the back of his truck and lighting his own smoke. I looked over at him, noticing his black shoulder length hair, the glint of a nose and lip ring, the Black Flag hoodie that seemed a size or two too big on him.

He cleared his throat and extended a hand in my direction.

“Names Frank. Frank Iero.”

I took his outstretched hand and shook it, staring back into his hazel eyes.

“Nicole.”

He released my hand and chuckled a little.

“Just Nicole?”

I smirked at him, flicking the ashes from my smoke onto the ground.

“Just Nicole.”

He smirked back at me and then looked off into the distance, silence settling over us. I finished my smoke, tossing it to the ground and hearing it fizz as it hit the snow covered ground.

“So what brings you to Belleville High?”

I asked fidgeting with my purse strap.

“Ah, I’m transferring here. We just moved here from Kearny over the holidays.”

I nodded, pushing myself from the trunk of my car.

“Well its hell, just so you know.”

He giggled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Aren’t all high schools?”

“True.”

I said, smiling over at him.

“Well I should get to class, I guess. See you around Frank.”

I started towards the doors to the school, turning when I heard my name being called.

“Nicole wait!”

Frank was walking briskly towards me, a back pack slung over his shoulder.

“Yeah?”

I said as he neared me.

“Mind showing me where the office is? I still don’t know my way around yet.”

I blushed red, realizing how rude I had been.

“Shit dude, I’m sorry. Yeah for sure.”

He gave me a smile as we made our way into the school.

We walked down the hallways towards the office, I pointed to various classrooms; which were already in session, leaving the halls empty.

We walked into the office and Frank approached the desk, the secretary typing away at her computer. She looked up at him and asked what he needed help with, after telling her his name and that he was new she got up and went to grab his schedule. She returned and saw me standing in the doorway.

“Nicole, what do you need this time?”

I rolled my eyes and shifted my weight from foot to foot.


“Nothing Miss. I was just walking him to class.”

“So you’re going to need a late pass again?”

Frank looked between me and the secretary as I huffed and walked over to the desk.

“Yeah I guess so.”

I snapped back.

She turned to grab me a late pass, as Frank shot me a grin.

“Here you go Nicole.”

The secretary said, handing me my late pass.

“Thanks.”

I said, turning and walking away from the desk. Frank followed me out, looking over his schedule.

When we were far enough away from the office he threw an arm around my shoulder, making me look up at him quizzically.

“Yes Frank?”

I said, not bothering to shrug his arm off of my shoulder.

“You never told me you were a bad-ass Nicole.”

I laughed and shook my head.

“As if! I’m just fashionably late for everything.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me, obviously not believing me.

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s true, believe what you want.”

He leaned down, his lips barely touching my ear.

“Bad-ass.”

He whispered, sending shivers down my spine. I pulled away from his arm and grabbed his schedule out of his hands, looking it over.

“So you have Math first in room 127. It’s just down the hall from my class so I’ll show you where it is.”

I said picking up my pace, walking towards the west side of the building.

We got to the hall where both of our classes were, I stood by the door to my class, gesturing down the hall towards the door for Frank’s class.

“Well I guess I’ll see you around Frank.”

I said grasping the knob for the door.

“Yeah for sure, thanks for showing me around Nicole, and sorry for dinging your car again.”

I smiled up at him.

“No problem.”

He smiled back and walked to his class, stopping to look back at me before knocking on the door and walking inside.

I sighed sliding down the wall, a small smile still on my lips as I replayed the morning over in my head.

Notes

So here's Chapter Two!
Sorry for the delay, it's been a pretty hectic week for me.

Let me know what you think, rate, review, subscribe.
Chapter Three will be out in a couple of days.

Helena.