[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/201021/8c6d9fd56a060a3e850342ab943c9469.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/CmoIRLO.png[/img]
[color=face75][h3]════════════⋆★⋆════════════[/h3][/color][/center]
[indent][indent][color=FDF1D8]Ellie was wide awake well before her first alarm rang. In fact, she was already in the bathroom putting on makeup when the familiar chimes of her phone sounded, indicating on a normal day that it was time to get out of bed. But today being the first day of school- not to mention the first day of the brunette’s senior year- meant that it was not just a regular day and she was [i]stressed[/i] about it.   

So many thoughts were running through the girl’s head that prevented her from getting a good night’s sleep. Most of them were centered around test scores, portfolio reviews, acceptances and rejections, but others were focused on tuition fees and purchasing supplies and the vast emptiness of her own wallet. The first day of school brought all of these anxieties to the surface in a way that they hadn’t been illuminated before- the final countdown was beginning and Ellie was running out of time. No matter how hard she worked, she always felt like she was one step behind where she needed to be when it came to her creative prowess as well as her finances. And those fears kept her up at all hours.

On top of all of the nerves she was already feeling about the beginning of her final year of high school, Ellie was also preoccupied with the intricacies of needing to make a good first impression. The students of Liberty High across town started at Rosefell today after their school shut down unexpectedly over the summer, which meant the brunette had more people she needed to appease and impress. The girl wasn’t popular in the slightest, but she didn’t want to fall to the bottom of the barrel when these new kids showed up, especially after hearing from her only Liberty friend, Christian, about how they dressed and acted on their campus previously. And so, the nerves and lack of sleep worked hand in hand to give Ellie ample time to get dressed and ready for the day. 

She had picked her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/20/37/502037bac0cad03ed392ce258c2b074e.jpg][color=face75]outfit[/color][/url] the other evening- some of her best thrifted finds- but spent a decent amount of time in the bathroom applying products and powders to her fair skin to improve her complexion. If there was any day to be fortunate for good genes, it was today, as luckily not one pimple or blemish sullied her delicate features. With one final look in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance, Ellie grabbed her backpack and sketchbook before bounding down the stairs to find something quick for breakfast. 

When she reached the bottom of the steps she was pleasantly surprised to be met with the delicious scent of pancakes that were sizzling on the stovetop, her mother standing in front of the burner flipping each one when they were golden brown and fluffy. With a warm smile, Ellie rested her chin on her mother’s shoulder and hugged her from behind before taking a plate and helping herself. [color=face75]“You didn’t have to make me breakfast you know.”[/color] She commented, standing at the kitchen island and digging in before her food got cold.

[color=fa8c75]“I had a few minutes to spare- besides, it’s your last first day of school! I wanted to do something special.”[/color] Her mother Jennifer replied, continuing to make the rest of the batch of batter in order to stock the freezer with leftovers for the next few mornings. It made no sense to Ellie why Rosefell Elementary started later than the High School did, but nonetheless she was appreciative that it gave her mother, the Elementary School nurse, extra time to keep the house somewhat in order. [color=fa8c75]“Your father had to go to the shop early this morning, but he told me to tell you to have a great day at school and he can’t wait to hear all about it tonight at dinner.”[/color]

Ellie smirked and nodded, continuing to enjoy the fresh stack of pancakes that sat before her. She was always appreciative that her parents worked hard to provide for their family, and didn’t mind that every now and again her mom and dad couldn’t be around for everything. They tried their best, and that was what mattered. The girl ate quickly, wanting to get to the school before the parking lot got too busy, and when she was finished took her plate over to the sink to clean and dry it. Working at the Yellow Rose Diner for all of her high school years had given the brunette a new appreciation for everything her mother did when she was a kid, so she always made a point to clear and wash her own dishes, even when she was running late. 

[color=face75]“Thanks for breakfast, Mom, but I have to go show some of the Liberty kids around before my first class...”[/color] Ellie slung her bag over her shoulder and pressed her sketchbook against her chest. [color=face75]“Miki Park and Richard Diedrikson.”[/color] the brunette recited out loud, having committed the two names to memory. [color=face75]“Don’t you hate that I volunteer for just about everything?”[/color] She mused with a laugh.

Her mother chuckled, turning off the stove before walking over to where her daughter stood and pressing a light kiss on her forehead. [color=fa8c75]“My sweet girl, you just always have to put everyone else before yourself, don’t you?”[/color] The older woman offered her daughter a smile before handing her the car keys that she had previously flung across the kitchen counter the day before.

[color=face75]“One day, karma is going to come back to do some amazing things for me. Until then, I’m at everyone else’s service. Love you!”[/color] Ellie chimed, blowing her mother a kiss before disappearing out the door towards her [url=https://cdn2.carsbidshistory.com/photo/36640998/4T1BK3EKXAU603106_1.jpg][color=face75]car[/color][/url], which she had lovingly named Cammy the Camry. Starting up the ignition, the brunette cautiously rolled out of the driveway and within minutes she was pulling into the Rosefell parking lot. As she found a spot and cut the engine, she took a breath and regained her composure, glimpsing at her reflection in the rearview mirror. [color=face75]“You’ve got this.”[/color] The girl murmured to herself- Lilith had gone on for hours once about mantras and manifesting your future, and for once, her friend had listened to her ramblings and took the advice in stride.

Ellie slipped out of her car, shutting and locking the door before waltzing over to her and Lil’s spot. It was a picnic table in front of the school that was underneath the shadiest tree- the two of them spent hours there when it was nice out, so much so that most people knew to avoid that specific table since the girls had claimed it. She could see that her best friend was a little bit preoccupied with Spike, Minty, Melissa, [i]Rico[/i], and some other people she didn't recognize, but knew she’d make her way over to their spot eventually. In the meantime, the brunette flipped open her sketchbook to the [url=https://i.pinimg.com/474x/61/f5/e1/61f5e1fde848fa7c018f4b6035ebc47d.jpg][color=face75]piece[/color][/url] she had been working on for the past few days and continued to add to it, eraser shavings quickly appearing on the page as she refined her work.

After a few minutes, she looked up to see what was taking Lilith so long. Instead of meeting her friend’s eye, Ellie’s gaze was captured by a fancy looking Cadillac that had just rolled into the parking lot filled with who she knew were Liberty students. She watched as they filed out one by one and began walking towards the school…. which is when she saw him, as he sauntered confidently past the groups of students who seemed to move out of his path. A tall blonde who just didn’t look real, an adonis who she had never seen before but wished she had. He politely nodded and offered his pearly whites to those he passed by, and just for a second, he and Ellie made eye contact. And he smiled.

At first, she thought he was looking at someone else, but only after realizing the smile was indeed meant for her, Ellie felt a flutter in her chest and smirked back at the mystery boy before quickly looking down at her sketchbook to hide the blush that crept up on her cheeks.

Maybe things this year wouldn’t be so bad after all...[/color][/indent][/indent]