"To be a joke and look
Another line without a hook
I held you close as we both shook
For the last time, take a good hard look"
I'm Not Okay – My Chemical Romance
Louise
Louise leaned back against the chair in Mr. Frond's office. Its coarse fabric scratched her skin anytime she moved.
Mr. Frond sat across from her at his desk. His fingers were intertwined, and his irritating smile, which was meant to comfort Louise, did the opposite.
"Good morning, Louise. Thank you for taking time out of your morning to meet me here today."
Both Louise and Jessica had been grumpy about having to wake up earlier than usual to get to school. Louise had told Jessica many times that she did not have to come into school early for her. Afterall, it was Louise that had a stupid appointment with Frond. However, Jessica being a good friend, or simply too lazy to walk, decided to get up early and get a ride with Louise.
"It's nothing," Louise grumbled.
"How was your summer?"
Louise sighed, and read the inspirational posters that were hanged behind Frond's head. Posters with quotes like: I AM CAPABLE OF DOING HARD THINGS, NOTHING WILL WORK UNLESS YOU DO, and Louise's personal favourite, THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IS IN THIS ROOM. Way to make her feel bleak.
"It was fine, didn't do much, I worked at my family's restaurant as you know."
"Mmhmm," Frond took some notes, Louise had a suspicion that he wasn't actually writing notes, he was just scribbling. "You work hard at your family's restaurant, did you do anything fun? Anything for yourself?"
Louise shrugging, "I saw my friends," it was true, she had seen her friends, maybe not as often as she should have but she did.
"What did you do with your friends?"
"I don't know, hung out at the beach, hung out at Wonder Wharf…"
"Louise, I'm getting the feeling that you don't want to be here."
Louise couldn't help but laughing, "no, Frond, where else would I like to be, an hour before school starts?"
Frond leaned back against his chair, folding his arms, and smiling at her politely. "Might I remind you that it was you who requested appointments with me last year. And it was you who approved this meeting this morning."
Louise ran a frustrating hand through her hair. "I-I just… It's been a hard summer, alright?"
"What happened?"
"Logan cheated on me."
There was a brief pause, the only sound was the clock that hanged above the door.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Louise shrugged again, tears stinging her eyes. She wiped them away before she started crying. "I feel so stupid, like, I spent so much time on him, on that relationship. I neglected my friends, I gave him everything, I…"
Frond nodded, moving a box of tissues from the edge of his desk, towards her.
"I'm not going to cry," Louise snapped.
Frond ignored her, "It sounds like you had a very stressful summer. Were you able to find support from friends and family?"
Louise nodded, sniffling. "I apologized to my friends for being M.I.A., and told them what had happened, they were forgiving, and they're there for me. But I still feel like a shitty friend. And of course my family was supportive, they always are."
Frond nodded, "Were you surprised?"
"That Logan cheated?"
Frond nodded again.
Louise took a deep breath, and looked at the ceiling above her. Had she been surprised? She pondered the question, her heart sinking into her belly.
"No, I'm not. I guess I should've seen it coming."
Frond sighed, leaning in closer, "I seem to remember the reason you requested to see me is because you were having relationship troubles with Logan. Constant fighting, gaslighting on his part, not to mention when he got angry when you wanted to hang out with Jessica instead of him."
Louise took in a shaky breath, "yeah."
"Have you thought maybe this is a good thing?"
Louise would be lying if she said no. Of course, she'd considered it being a good thing. It didn't feel like one though, it felt like a brutal, awful thing. But Frond was right, as much as she'd hate to admit it.
"He wants to get back together, but I want to move on. I want to hang out with my friends, and just be around people who love me."
Mr. Frond nodded, "I think that is a great idea, and you should definitely make more connections! Like, the new international student! There was a reason I picked you for the job of showing him around!"
"Uhh, what?"
Frond leaned back against the chair, "you were having troubles with Logan, you were distancing yourself from your friends, I thought this would be a great opportunity for you to get out of your comfort zone a bit-"
"Ugh!" Louise sunk into her chair, "Frond! This is not why I told you all of these details about my life!"
Frond held his hands out to settle her, "Louise, I understand that you're nervous, but this is going to be so good for you. Introduce him to your friends, ask him about Canada! I'm sure you'll learn a lot!"
Louise put her hands over her forehead, "you are seriously making me regret coming to these sessions."
Frond ignored her, "you still have half an hour before classes start, go, get yourself prepared, and then come back and meet me in my office to introduce you to your new best friend!"
Louise grabbed her backpack, and headed for the door.
"Just remember, Louise, be back here in half an hour!" He called after her before she slammed the door behind her.
Bradley
There was a sudden relief when Bradley walked into the local coffee shop by the high school. Anytime that Bradley travelled, he always went out of his way to find the best local café, and avoided chains like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Allen liked to call him a coffee snob, but Bradley saw it as supporting local business. However, he did enjoy a really good cup of coffee.
Turns out, there was a really good local café a block from the school, and the familiar scent of coffee beans and baked goods helped relax his nerves.
He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket as he eyed the menu above the counter. He reached for it, hoping that it was Allen. He wasn't surprised to see that it was Teddy, his "host father".
Bradley! Just sending you a message to remind you that you are going to do great! And you'll love, Louise! She's my best friend's daughter!
His host father came on strong when they first picked Bradley up from the airport. Holding a big sign that read "WELCOME TO AMERICA". He remembers emailing back and forth with the couple, and reminding them that he had been to the U.S. before. But decided to let it go. Despite Teddy engulfing him in a hug, and trying to get him to play catch that night, Bradley was thankful for the host family that he got. He couldn't remember the last time his own father was that excited to him.
He put his phone away, looking back at the menu when he was overcome by the smell of…strawberries?
"I always get the caramel macchiato," a glimmering voice said from behind him.
He turned and stood face to face with a beautiful red-head.
She looked up at him with a wide smile that reached her big green eyes. He noticed the freckles that scattered over her nose and cheeks, adding to her general cuteness.
He couldn't help but smiling. "Yeah?"
She nodded, her hair bouncing with her every move. "A caramel macchiato, half-sweet, and non-fat. I get it all the time, today's no different. I'm going to need something to get me through the first day of school. Do you go to Huxley High?"
Bradley practically beamed, "I-I do! Well, I'm starting today, I'm actually here on an international program. I'm from Canada-"
"Ooo! I was in Canada last summer! My parents took me to Toronto, it was awesome, I would love to go back sometime."
Bradley felt the tips of his ears go red, he wasn't sure what it was about this interaction that was leaving him flustered. Perhaps it was the fact that the first person he met was a really cute girl that happened to go to the school he would be attending.
He hadn't dated anyone since him and Shelby broke up two years ago. Allen had been constantly pushing him to date someone new. Perhaps he'd be happy to hear about this girl.
"Sorry," Bradley said, "I didn't catch your name."
"Chloe Barbash," the girl smiled wider if that was even possible. She held her hand out for him to shake.
"Hi Chloe, I'm Bradley Bosler," he almost panicked after saying his name. His real name. Maybe he should've changed it. Maybe someone would recognize the name "Bradley Bosler" and his cover would be blown! Maybe-
"Nice to meet you, Bradley! And welcome to our town! Now, shall we order?"
Bradley nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. "Lets."
The pair ordered their drinks, Chloe her regular Caramel Macchiato half-sweet and non-fat, while Bradley ordered a simple latte.
They sipped their drinks as they exited the café.
"Well, I actually have to get going, want to be early starting my senior year! But hey, before I go, can I have your number?"
Bradley almost spit his drink out. Being hit on was definitely not how he expected his first day to go.
"S-sure!" She handed him her phone to put his number on, and almost dropped it on the ground. He hoped she didn't see his hand shaking as he handed it back to her.
"Thanks! See you around!" She turned, about to turn a corner when suddenly she collided into two girls, spilling her hot drink onto one of their shirts.