Once inside the High School I wander down the same halls and through the same crowds of old and new faces. Most of the friends I made last year have already graduated though, so it’s like a fresh start for me.

 

The interior of the High School is still the same shade of aqua, lined with a diamond pattern along the wall. Blue and white lockers line the walls and match the same blue and white floor tiles. The halls are all very long and wide enough to fit about 5 people side by side counting the lockers, possibly 7 without them. But it was roomy enough how it was and gave people the ability to get from place to place with little trouble. There were also numerous, green doors that all had a sign on them to let people know where they led to.

 

“It’s good to be back,” I sigh after reaching my locker. I input a code on the panel above the handle, wait for a beep, and then pull it open.

 

My locker had been technologically advanced by me to make it easier to use. It wasn’t until the third year I had done this though, when work began piling up. Not only does it use a ten digit button panel input system, offering more protection than a standard padlock or combination lock, it was also about three times as roomy as a standard locker leaving me with plenty of space for everything. Everyone else always came over to look at it and they were always amazed at how well I had upgraded it. I even gave it a new paint job, making it a vibrant pink.

 

“Let’s see...”

I shuffle through my binders and notebooks as I look for my notes. I soon get distracted by something else though.

“I remember this!” I say happily picking up my old camera copter. “I wonder if it still works.”

I push the button on the end and toss it into the air. The propeller begins to spin and the red light on the side starts flashing.

 

I began work on this about a year ago to minimize the need and ability of recorders and camera men for movies and other things; it would have given them the ability to capture at any angle and anywhere they wanted to shoot from, relatively safely. It was tube shaped and the camera was built into one end and the propeller on the other. It could record live action events and capture pictures, perfect for movie projects and live action films. It didn’t weigh much and, when not in use, could easily be stored away like a pen or pencil in its holder. I consider it one of my better inventions.

 

“Let’s see here...” I mumble reaching back into my locker.

I pull out a small flat screen from my locker that’s linked to the camera copter to see if it’s capturing anything. The small screen allows me to control it as well as give it commands, but when it doesn't turn on, I get frustrated.

“It still doesn’t work,” I sigh, tossing it back into my locker along with the camera copter. I proceed to grab my notes and close the locker door. The panel then resets, waiting for my next command.

With my notes now in hand, I head down the hallway to what will be the introductory class for this year.

 

“Random!” calls a faint, yet strange and familiar, voice from behind me.

I spin around and look up and down the hall to see who could have possibly said my name. But all I see are other students talking in small and large groups. I shrug my shoulders and continue on, seemingly have imagined it.

 

“Random!” the voice calls again, only now growing in intensity.

I quickly turn my head around to see if I can spot who is calling out to me, but with no success; the hallway is too crowded to spot anyone. Once again, I continue on my way, but it's not long before that person quietly and quickly, almost cat like, comes up from behind me and causes us both to collapse.

 

“Ow, that hurt,” I mumble rubbing my head.

Once I gain my bearings, I look around at the possible person who knocked me over. I soon spot a girl with dark, brown hair.

“Random, you don’t keep in contact, do you?” they whisper with a familiar voice.

“Cocoa?!” I shriek with surprise, finally figuring out who it is.

She throws her arms around me before I can get up.

“I’ve missed you so much, Random. Why didn't you come and see me during the entire break?” she asks as I help her up.

“I had work that needed to be done," I respond, wiping any dirt off of me.

 

This is Lilly Vanswell, but her love of hot chocolate has long since given her the nickname Cocoa, which is what she’s usually called by. Her love of hot chocolate was more like an addiction though. When her parents got it for her one Christmas, she fell in love with the taste and the smell. She’s been in love with it ever since and wants to open a hot chocolate shop of various flavors.

 

She had dark, brown, straight hair to reflect the appearance of hot chocolate, and match her brown eyes. Her body weight and height were about on average for her age. Although not as curvy as me, she was still quite beautiful. She was a year younger than me and looked up to me like a sister. She wore brown framed glasses around her rounded face and a dark brown shirt with a tan skirt. She was very sociable, mostly with me, and had a very bubbly attitude. She was always a team player and one of the first friends I’ve ever made here.

 

“You always say that,” she responded, crossing her arms and pouting.

“Sorry," I apologize. "So how’s the first day?” I ask her, continuing to the class room.

“There isn’t anything new that I know of, but rumor has it there’s going to be a change in how things are done this year compared to the past three for seniors. We’re supposed to meet in the auditorium after class to hear about it. The Principal will be the one speaking about it.”

They’re doing something different this year? I wonder what it’ll be.

 

As we continue to class I zone out and try to figure out what’s going to be going on this year.

“So tell me what you’ve been doing these past few weeks, Random.”

When no response comes from me, Cocoa looks over; I have a habit of getting lost in thought and blocking people out without meaning to.

Soon, Cocoa stops outside our classroom and asks, “Random, where are you going?”

I snap out of it and stop. I turn around to realize I had zoned out for too long and walked completely by the classroom.

“Sorry,” I apologize as I walk back over. As I go to put my hand on the doorknob, Cocoa grabs my hand.

“You all right, Random?” Cocoa asks me, concerned.

“I’ll be fine.” I tell her. “Come on, the bells about to sound.” She nods and we both head inside.