“Good morning Murphy!” A teacher calls Monday morning as I’m walking into school. “Morning, Mrs. Shepherd.” I answer waving as I walk past. “See ya, Murph.” Tyler calls as he cuts down to the library.

The main hallway is barely filled, with two, maybe three people leaning on the walls. Normally, the hallway is filled to the brim with students socializing in the morning, with barely any walking space. But, per usual, my bus drops me off 20 minutes before the first bell.

I make my way to the locker rooms.

Please be open. Please be open. I recite as I pass the gym, getting close to the locker rooms.

I pull on the door and it opens. Yes. I smile, happy that so far this day is going good.

I drop off my field hockey stuff and start to make my way out.

“Murphy! Hey!”

I turn around quickly at the sound of her voice.

“Morning Barbie!” I answer to the perky blonde. She smiles.

“How was your weekend?” She asks as I pull open the door.

“Painful” I say smiling at her as I hold the door.

“How so?”

“Well,” I say pulling my face into a smirk, “Tyler’s hamster died..” her face twists into a frown, “but don’t worry that thing has lived long past it’s expiration date.”

“Like 5 years?” She asks with her eyebrows raised.

“More like 10.” I laugh. She smiles with me.

I proceed to tell her all the details, with a funny twist, of the previous Sunday while we continue to walk.

“All that for a hamster that might not even be a freaking hamster.” I say, smiling as she’s giggling furiously. By now, we’re sitting on a bench that me and my friends sit on every morning.

She finally gains control of her laughter and sighs.

“Well tell Tyler my condolences anyhow.” I watch her as she stands to leave. “I’ll see ya later Murphy. It was nice talking to you!” She says as she turns away. By now, the hallway is filled, and her figure is easily lost after a few seconds.

“Hey M. How’s it hangin.” Sammy says as she steps over the bench to sit down.

“Hellllo.” Giana calls as she sits next to Sammy. I peel my eyes away from the spot where Barbie vanished.

“Hey.” I say turning to them. I notice that a bunch more people are around our bench than I thought.

“You okay?” Giana asks leaning over Sammy.

I wave her off.

“Yeah I’m fine.” I look at them. Giana is wearing skinny jeans and a big sweatshirt that looks almost comfy on her and her tall, lean body. Sammy, on the other hand, is wearing high waisted trash bag pants with a high neck cropped tank top and combat boots.

“Nice outfit, Sammy.” I say smirking at her great sense of style.

“You too.” She says looking at my outfit, which consists of platform doc martens, mom jeans, and dad shirt over a turtleneck.

“And I did it on purpose,” she says before I can say thanks. She leans back so that Giana comes into view. “There is a new boy in our midst.” She grins while rubbing her palms together.

“Is he cute?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

“No.” She says sarcastically. “I just spent all night slaving over which Blackpink inspired outfit I would go with  because why not.” She shrugs dramatically.

“Whatever.” I say, while rolling my eyes with a smile.

Giana leans over.

“What’s his name?” She asks.

She’s a sucker for a cute boy. I lean in. So am I.

“Damien.” She says, her sharply lined eyes glittering.

“Cooool.”

“Nice.”

We all lean back in approval. Until suddenly, Sammy bolts up.

“That’s him!” She says.

I laugh into my palm at her bangs in disarray.

“Oh shut up. Look!” She says nudging me and pointing in his direction. I turn to look at Damien.

He’s tall, at least 6’0”, with curly hair and medium dark toned skin. His smile gleams as he walks towards his friends. He looks past us, at something in the distance, and we get a glimpse of his pale gray eyes.

“Wow.” Sammy and Giana say together.

Wow indeed.