(Serena POV)
Another metal door slammed shut, resonating echoes through the hallway. Lockers left, right and centre was being punched, pushed, abused really all around us as we entered the main hallway for our year.
I was still shaking from that maniac speeding down the main road by the beach on our way here. Of course, first impressions play a part, so I really think Ash was just trying to show off. Of course, I know how to drive myself with my own licence, but it's so handy not needing my car out here when Ash has his own.
Don't get me wrong, the car is beautiful really. Leather seats with built-in heaters, which will be perfect for the next couple of months once the temperature drops, lots of leg room, just a comfortable all round job. But Ash was showing off, so he did alright there.
I mean, I certainly don't have any feelings towards him. I don't mean feelings as friends, of course, he's a great lad, open, easy to talk to and the person you can say the toughest stuff to as I found out over the weekend of bonding we all did, but romantically no. Sure, it might be possible in the future that I could in some way shape or form but for now, he's just a friend and dorm-mate.
"Did you enjoy that then?" The certain male I was just talking about asked me as he opened his locker, which coincidentally was somehow located next to me on my right, when it was someone else's last year, meaning they've left or changed location, placing his basketball and some drinks in there.
"What, the drive?" He nodded the response to my question. "Yes, it was fun thanks." Way to contradict yourself, Serena, jeez.
"No problem," he smiled. I don't know what it is about his smile, but whenever he does, it seems to place a paralysis spell on me. Maybe it was that he closed his eyes and went full cheesy, teeth showing and everything, or he just had that one smile.
"Christ Serena, pull your act together. You've only just spoken to the kid for the first time." A familiar voice broke my concentration and paralysis as she opened her locker on my left. The shade of dark blue hair meant it was only one person who it could have been as she wrapped her arms around me.
Dawn Berlitz. My best friend since I've ever known her. Partnered up with me on a languages project once, we were inseparable from that point. The main thing that made us so close was how we met up to do that project.
We decided on the local bakery cafe. As I walked in, she was sitting there tapping the table frantically with her pencil, while looking in the direction of the bar, where I had just ordered myself a drink and slice of cake.
"What are you looking at Dawn?" I asked as I took my jacket off.
"He's sooooooo hot," She whispered, before turning my attention to the barista behind the counter, a light flush on her cheeks. "I'd do very naughty things to him, damn."
"The first part yes," I had to agree the guy was hot. "But not the second part." I sniggered at Dawn's dirty mind as she continued to swoon over said guy, who threw her a cheeky wink.
"You need to be less closed in girl, that's how you can improve as a friend and meeting new people." And that comment is what helped me to come out of my shell. From then on, any project we had, Dawn would always partner with me. She introduced me to her good friends May, Mallow and Clemont.
May Maple is a gluttonous monster, devouring anything in her path. And somehow she stays relevantly skinny the whole time. Probably because she had a little brother to run about after, and is usually out exercising most of her spare time.
She gets that appetite from Mallow Ramsey. Mallow is the greatest cook in the world, no lying. She runs her family restaurant mostly by herself, so is not usually able to come out often, but when she does, do we all have a good time. Recipes and tips fly all over the place between the two of us, while she is also the most carefree person ever.
Finally Clemont Prost. He is my defacto brother. There have always been rumours we were closer then we are, but it's easy enough to understand our situation. Bonnie, Clemont's little sister is so cute and always try to find him a girlfriend, when he always uses his inventions to get his way out of dodge. Did I mention he has a scholarship already waiting for him at uni for robotics? That's been saved for him for the last three years, so we all know he's off to improve the world somehow.
It was the five of us as a group until May and Mallow both got boyfriends, these two being Drew Hayden and Kiawe Alli, who know Ash as good friends. Both are the most chill dudes ever. Kiawe helps run his family farm and does a delivery round of food and papers every day. He can be fiery, but somehow Mallow won him over in the end.
Drew, meanwhile, was the biggest flirt in existence till he got May in the bag. Roses for her every day weren't uncommon, along with small presents and food. She always used to get annoyed at him for it but saw his good side after she relished what those feelings were that she was hiding. So this has been the group for the last two years.
Now with Shauna, Ash and Gary, if they ever want to hang with us, then do a big number, but the more friends we have, the better life we can all have. For now, all that mattered was getting to class, as the bell rang.
"I'll see you at lunch Serena!" Ash called me as he went the other way, Gary tagging with him as I waved behind me and ran to my class with Dawn in tow.
"How have you managed to land Ash? Go on Serena," Dawn laughed as she caught up, giving me a shove.
"I haven't caught Ash for crying out loud," I moaned as we walked into the room and sat at our desks, getting out my laptop I use for notes. "He's simply in my dorm."
"Wait, repeat that again."
"Ash is in my dorm," I told her. Ash had always been seen as the popular boy, but I'll admit, last week was actually the first time I had spoken to him ever. I had always heard the rumours about him being a douche sometimes, but I think it might just be a blockade of his actual self.
"And we will now begin class. Welcome to your last year of English," our teacher Mr Young walked in, causing some other girls in our class to swoon over him. He was known as one of the sweetest and best teachers, and I was glad to have him for the third year in a row.
He always was gentle speaking, hardly ever raised his voice and let us all have fun. His lessons have been some of the best ever, and I honestly can't wait to see how much he has helped me once our exams have finished.
"Yes, we are in luck!" Dawn whispered loudly in my ear as she placed her notebook down, ready to delve into whatever we were going to do. I could only nod in agreement as the PowerPoint came to life on the board.
It had been a quiet day in terms of first days as I walked into my last class before lunch, and my favourite of all, history. I don't know what it is about this subject but whenever I have it, I just seem to do amazing.
I guess it's from reading a lot of history books when younger and watching documentaries. My personal favourite era is the topic of modern conflict. WW1 and WW2, the Falklands, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. All have different ways in which they have impacted the world, and that's I like about it all. To be able to compare them, see how they differ and why they do, as well as how they planned out, it's mostly just fun to me.
"Aha, so you have this class too?" The main man of the hour sat down next to me in the empty seat on my right. Of course, he had to, looks like fate sorted out my hand and gave me the worst luck.
"Yeah, I suppose you just want my help," I teased Ash, who puffed his cheeks out in annoyance.
"No, I'm very capable of doing history by myself." He slouched back in his chair, his hood carrying itself back over his hair.
"I mean, you didn't have to sit here is all. I told him. "I mean, look Kiawe is over there." I pinged out our dark-skinned friend with the orange highlights in his black hair, who saluted towards us.
"I know, but I'm your friend too aren't I?"
"Yeah, of course, Ash," I poked his cheek as our lovely teacher Ms Ireland came in. I have been compared to her many a time as her daughter, as we look very similar: blue eyes, blonde hair, very young looking (even if Ms Ireland is in her early thirties!) and cheery and timid attitude. That's why we seemed to bond so well as a pair. "I just thought that Kiawe would have been a better option to sit with. I'm not that much of a good talker."
"That doesn't matter Serena," Ash spoke with a light tone as he swept a strand of his hair out of his face. "I like to get to know people, and with sitting here, it's the best opportunity for me too." I could only lightly giggle at the male beside me as he started to scribble down rapidly the stuff that Ms Ireland was blaring out.
(Gary's POV)
The trudge to the cafeteria/restaurant at lunch was a long but exciting one. It was time to go and buy the usual. And by the usual, I mean a Starbucks and a meat feast pizza. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous that we have a Starbucks here, but it's only an outlet, so it's busy as fuck. But it's still Starbucks, so it's a win-win situation if you ask me.
After buying both aforementioned items, I did the usual and sat down at our table. Our table, although not owned rather 'claimed and if you're not Gary or Ash, get the fuck out of here' deal, belongs to me and Ashy Boi.
I honestly felt like the two of us looked like loners most of the time, but Ash had so many younger girls, who are friends with his sister, asking for his autograph or a picture most of the time, that we didn't get a minute's peace. If we did, it was mostly about how his brother played the night before if Red had a game, or about our lives in general.
The thump of his messenger bag on the table alerted me from the heaven that was my iced cappuccino as Ash sat down, looking very worn out.
"Those younger ones been after you again?" I asked as Ash ripped into his chicken sandwich.
"No," he sighed relieved. "But I've just had the most brilliant lesson ever." He said as food dropped out of his mouth, the usual Ash thing. I looked around absentmindedly and saw Shauna sitting by herself drawing in a book of some sorts.
"Yeah, what was that?" Shauna seemed to be in a world of her own, alone. She looked like she didn't mind being alone, although it would some good common respect of me to go and see what was up with her.
"Did you hear what I just said?" A pair of fingers snapped in front of me, breaking me out of focus.
"Uh, what no?" I said as I spotted Serena walking over to Shauna out of the corner of my eye.
"I said that I sit next to Serena in history mate." He smirked.
"So?" I focused back on him.
"Dude, haven't you heard? She's on course to get 100% on every history exam." He exclaimed, rather too loudly, causing everyone to look at us, causing me to snigger as Ash sunk down in embarrassment.
"Dude, that's good then. Ever thought of asking her or in the future possibly?" I asked, looking back towards the girl we were talking about as she consulted our dorm mate.
"I don't know for sure. I mean, she doesn't give me any of those fuzzy feelings yet, but I guess it's called trying to make friends for now." He said as he relaxed back in his seat before the bell rang for next lesson, the second to last of the day.
"What you got now?"
"Addition fucking maths," Ash muttered under his breath. "You, Sir Oak?"
"German faggot. I'll cya later Ashy Boi!" I walked off chuckling to myself as I heard a very angry raven-haired boy shout something back at me as he headed off in the other direction about an oak tree. Not like I gave one though, cause I'm Gary motherfucking Oak, what you gonna do?