. . .

CHAPTER ONE

SUMMER ENDING

"I have your back. I didn't mean only when it's easy. All the time."

Veronica Roth, Divergent

I awoke to humming, not necessarily a bad way to wake up, but definitely not my usual.

My typical morning would be my bear of brother waking me up, normally by jumping on me. And I do mean bear, ever since Teddy (Theodore was his full name not that anyone ever calls him that besides our parents) hit his growth spurt in middle school, he soon gained the nickname of Bear. However despite his large stature his personality is more in common with a puppy, which is why most generally call him Teddy, like Teddy Bear.

The humming soon changed to singing, the soft female voice was soothing. It had almost lulled me to sleep, until it stopped, "So how are you feeling?"

I rolled over, toward the voice. My eyes fell on the owner of the bed I was currently lying in.

Opal Cadence was what most would describe the stereotypical cheerleader: blonde, hazel eyes, and petite. Even her room corresponded with the cliché concept. Her room looked like something you'd find on Tumblr. Fairy lights, strung all around, although since it was day time they were turned off, the soft cream colors; pink, white and gold, and pictures on the walls of friends, and scenery. However Opal wasn't just a cheerleader, she was a musician. And I'm not just saying she's a good one, because I'm her friend. No, she's a damn good one. Which is why her and Josie, have been competing against each other in almost every talent show since grade school.

"I'm okay." I gave her a fake smile.

She snorted very un-lady like, something my aunt would have sneered at if she had heard. "Don't bullshit me. I've known you too long for you to try to sugar coat things around me."

"Okay, I'm as fine as I can be, I mean…my cousin…just…died."

Opal stayed quiet, watching me from her window seat. She crossed her legs, then took a breath, "Yeah, but you haven't spoken about him. Everyone has a way of coping with loss, but this whole depressed state, isolating yourself, not going home. You're avoiding, your parents. Your aunt is even worried, she called my mother, which we both is a big deal."

I let out a quiet chuckle, my parents' worry must be bad if my aunt's involved, especially for her to call a woman she hates almost as much as Alice Cooper. I bit my lip as my vision slowly got more blurry, "Jason Blossom was charming, and caring… I miss him. He was co-captain of the football team, and captain of the water polo team. Everything I wish I could be like…he never believed anything was impossible.. It hurts my heart, that he's no longer here, it doesn't quite feel real." I looked back toward Opal, her face remained neutral, but I could see it in her eyes the sympathy. I looked up to keep more tears at bay, but I could feel them at the corners of my vision. "He was my favorite cousin, obviously I can't say that around Cheryl, she'd get her feelings hurt…" I smiled softly, Opal moved from her window seat to on the bed by my feet. "Jason, would know all the right things to say. He's the one who told me Archie was pathetic and didn't deserve me. Jason was there when…" I tried to cover my mouth to prevent the sobs that wrecked through my body from coming out, but they wouldn't stop.

Opal reached for my hand, and held it tightly as I cried. "It's not wrong to miss someone, in fact you should always cherish their memory. That doesn't however translate to while mourning, you forget who you are."

. . .

After my little cry session, as Opal called it, we pulled out her laptop and began watching Chopped on Netflix. We had just gotten to the desert round, when Midge Klump slammed the bedroom door open.

Midge Klump, otherwise known as Minnie, was the definition of bold. Extremely athletic, her energy knows no limits and her decision making isn't always thought through. If you need an example of her crazy decision making look no further than last year during lunch period, when she decided she didn't like her long hair and cut it off in the bathroom with a pocket knife. I can still hear the screams of her mother when she came home from school with short hair, and a detention for having a pocket knife on school grounds. Minnie definitely could be described as the tomboy of our little group, more into being cheered for then being the cheerleader. Main reason she's on the volleyball team with me.

"What's up, guys!" Minnie shouted before jumping right on top of us.

"Damnit, Minnie!"

"My laptop!"

"Oh shit, sorry Oh." Minnie hurriedly got up, and check to make sure Opal laptop was okay.

"Well that's one way to make an entrance." I turned my attention to my final best friend, Nancy Woods, looking glamourous as always.

When describing Nancy Woods, a couple words come to mind: beautiful, artistic, and elegant. Nance is also the editor of the Blue and Gold, otherwise known as our school's newspaper. As well as sophomore representative alongside myself. She's definitely the calm one of us, similar to Opal, both of them are the artistic ones of our group while Minnie and I are the sporty ones. Nance our resident artisan: calligraphy, watercolor, or photography. Never a hair out of place, that is unless her boyfriend Chuck Clayton and her on the outs, then expect her to a temper that would rival Hera of Greek mythology.

"How you been Nance," I asked, she held out her arms to hug me. I immediately fell into her arms, she was one of the few people in this town around my height of 5'10. Also I can say with total confidence, one of the best huggers I know.

"Alright. Chuck and I are over, and my creativity is at an all-time low." She said after pulling away from the hug. Her eyes searched mine for a second, "How have you been?"

"I'm…" I turned to look at Opal and Minnie, both seemed consumed with finding out whether or not Minnie broke the laptop. "I'm okay, I'm sorry for not being there for you when Chuck and you ended things."

"Sweetie, its fine. Chuck and I's, Ed and Blair like break ups are common. If anything we'll be back together before the first game of the season."

God I hope not. "Well you know, I'm always here for you."

"Enough of the pleasantries," Minnie interrupted, "we haven't been together all summer it's time for a catch up sess. Oh does your mom have ice cream?"

"Yeah, I think my mom just bought some."

Nancy added, "You would not believe some of the stuff I've heard from the cheerleaders."

"Um I'm a cheerleader why haven't I heard anything?" Opal asked as we began the walk down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Because you hate the cheerleaders and don't hang out with any of them, unless it's practice." Nancy said matter of factly.

As we sat at the counter in Opal's house, gossiping and laughing about our summers. I couldn't help but think, how grateful I was that I had these girls in my life.

Unedited 4/25/17

Hello!

First off I love you! Secondly thank you so much for reading this story!

I have a good idea of where this is going, and how my OCs (yes there is going to multiple) are going to fit into the story. This is a Reggie Mantle x OC story but I might have other characters be with OCs too. Also the characters of Midge Klump and Nancy Woods are actual Archie Comics characters, though I have changed them to fit my story. Midge Klump still be the girlfriend of Moose Mason in my story, you'll see where I go with that one;) And Nancy Woods in the comics is the girlfriend of Chuck Clayton, and for the purpose of my story is will be as well. For now at least.

Anyway please review!